The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1884-07-19
The End of Allan Pinkerton's Strange
and Romantic Career.

dtlG nOtii1!ltiI SdiCSIs
Allan Pinkerton, the greatest detective OF
the United States, who died in Chicago
July 1, was born in Muirhead street,
Glasgow, Scotland, OH the 18th day of
August, 1919. His parents were in humble
circumstances, his father, William Pinker-
ton, being employed as Police Sergeant
by the municipality. When Allan was but
a small boy his father died from injuries
received at the hands of prisoner whom
ne was arresting, and the family were thus
deprived of their means of support.
Before attaining his majority young
Pinkerton became imbued with the senti-
meEts of independence and reform which
were advocated by those who put forth the
Peoples Charter" in Great Britain, and
ne soon became identified with the GEL
ebrated Chartist movement of the dis
affected people. The Government resolved
to crush the revolutionary movement, and
several OF the leaders were arrested and
transported. Fearful of his own safety,
Allan PlnkeFton resolved to leave the coun-
try and seek refuge in America. Accord
ingly in 1912 ho was married to Miss Jane
Carfrae, and on the following day the
young couple set sail for America, landing
at Quebec, after perilous voyage, in which
their vessel was wrecked, and the suffering
passengers piked up by a passing vessel
and carried to that port From Quebec
Pinkerton and his young wife made their
way to Chicago BY the Lakes. Tie young
couple, owing to their misfortunes, were
nearly destitute, but with stout heart he
applied himself to securing enc ployGnent.
Meeting George Anderson, WHO was then
engaged i'll the tobacco business, he enlisted
the services of that gentleman in his behalf
and soon succeeded in obtaining employ
nent at his trade-that of cooper.
While employed afterward in his business
as cooper at Dundee, ILL.,, he had frequent
secession to visit some of the islands in Fox
River to procure materials for his stock.
and while On one of these he discovered
The existence of a gang of conterfeiters,
who made the island their retreat and
established their headquarters. Having a
natural love for adventure, and being a
stranger to fear, he determined to thorough
~ investiga the entire operations of these
oounterfeiters, which he eventually sue
ceeded IN doing, efectually breaking I'D the
existence OF the gang, and securing the arrest
and conviction of John Craig, the leader
and prime mover, together with the most
prominent and dangerous of his associates.
When Nj. Boone was elected Mayor of
Ch:cago he appointed PinEerton as a detec-
tive OF the city force. This was the first |
appointment of 4 detectiFe ip Chicago. In
1852 Pinkerton became Impressed with the |
important of establishing detective |
agency which would be independent of |
political influence, ard by whose efforts
the criminal could be punished without I
fear or personal favor. He accordiRgly |
with him Ir. Edward j.. Rucker,
an attorney at law, andsecusing the patron
age of several railroad companies, then in
their infancy. they started the g Pinkerton
Defective Agency" the first Institution Of
its kind in the United States. Rueker con-
inued WITH hin. Gully about a year, when
Pinkerton undertook the entire manage
nent. When the agency was FIRST estab-
ished they employed some four OF Eve men,
'mong The most prominent being George
I. Bangs, ,afterward General Supsrinter-
lent, and who remained with Mr.. Pinker-
on until his death, which occurred last
ear, and Timothy Webster, who, while in
lis employ, was taken as Union spy and
Executed at Richmond, Va, during the Re-
,ellion. From that small beginninp ttia
Effective force under Mr.. Pinkerton's
riders increased steadily until it now NM
'ers nearly 800 men.
In prosecuting his business Mr.. Pinker-
on made it his iniexibIe rule never to
rerate for reward Or on payments con- :.
ingeilt upon success, and would never AL
ow any of his operatives to receive any
eward Or gratuity for their success. He
ain his employees Iberaip, and worked
or those who engaged him ut certain
xed sum per diem. which was all that was
yer received. Another noticeable feature
the nature of his immense business. and
ne of the@stsictest rules of his institution.
as that he never under any circumstances
ouid be induced to operate in a divorce
ase. or where family matters were in dis
ute.
He leaves q widow and three children.
lillian A.. the eldest, has charge of the
hicago Office and the Western Division.
lille Robert A. is the General Superiuten-
ent and has immediate charge of the
:,stern offices. His daughter is the wife