The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1884-07-11
ALLAN PINKERToN,
The Famous Detective Dead at Chicago
Sketch of His Life.

Allan Pinkerton, the head and founder o
of the great Pinkerton National Detective
Agency, who died in Chicago July 1st, wa
born in Glasgow, Scotland, August 25, 1919
and was Is years old. His father was ser
geant of police and weaver by trade. He
attained prominence in his ewn country
when % years of age, by taking al active
part In the Chartist movement, agitating 9
ment resulted in the Birmingham riots and
the arrest of several of the leaders who were
tried, convicted, and sentenced to death OF
to long terms of imprisonment. Mr.. Pink.
eftoh, realizing his danger, and preferring
liberty to confinement, made hurried ar
rangements and sailed for America. He es.
| tablished a cooperage business at Dundee,
Illinois, prospering to such degree that he
soon employed large number of men. 1t
| was while he was thus engaged that Mr..
PiLkerton showed his detective qualities,
and made a name in detective circles.
In 1854 his services were in such great de-
mand throughout the csuntry that he came
to Chicago and established the Pinkerton
Detective Agency, which in later years be-
came national in Its work. From a few
good men and true in his employ at first,
their numbers increased into hundreds and
his success as managing detective was as
tonishing. Train robbers, bank thieves, and
criminals of all classes personally known to
him, and by their method Of work could he
locate them. lie established branches at
New York and Philadelphia with great sue
cess, and the men under his instructions
worked wonders in unsarthng criminals and
criminal acts. His early detective work was
marked by his conviction of Augustus Stuart
Byron, the illegitimate son Of Mary Stuart
and Lord ByIon, and nephew Of Admiral
Napier of the English navy, for train wreck
ing and plundering the United States mails.
One of the most notable of Mr.. Pinkerton's
early cases was the arrest of Nathan Marc
ney, agent Of the Adams Express Company
at Montgomery, Ala, who stole $4,000 from
the company and ran away. After some
months of labor Maroney was found and
nearly all the money recovered from its hid
ing place in New Jersey farm house. A
little time afterward he ran down Andy and
William Roberts and others, recovering $780,
900 which they had stolen from an express car
on the New Haven Railroad. While looking
for incendiaries along the Philadelphia, Will
mington and Baltimore Railroad in 1861, he
discovered plot to assassinate President Lin
coin at Baltimore when he should pass
through that city on his way to Washington
to be inaugurated. Mr.. Pinkerton carried
the President through Baltimore in disguise
and landed him safely in Washington. Dur
ing the war Mr.. Pinkerton was authorized by
the President TO organ ize the Secret Service
Division of the Union Army. He served at
its head under the name Of L. J. Allen dur
ing the war. After the close Of the war Mr..
Pinkerton resumed his private detective
work. He secured the arrest and conviction
of six thieves who stole 100000 Of the
Adams Express Company from train near
Baltimore, recovering all the money. He
also brought to justice the robbers Of the
Harnden Express Company, at Baltimore.
The Carbondale Bank at Carbondale, Penn
sylvania, the Adams Express Company on
the New Haven Railroad, Mylart's Bank at
Scranton, Penna., and the perpetrators Of the
Hudson River Railroad robbery, in which
$500, 900 were stolen from the Merchants
Union Express Company. The money was
all recovered, and Morton and Thompson,
the robbers, were arrested in Canada and
brought back. They broke prison, however.
and escaped to Europe. In the same year,
1868, MIR. Pinkerton arrested the four Memo
brothers and CHARLES Anderson, express rob-
bers, who had terrorized the whole country
around Seymour, Indiana, where they lived.
One oftheir acts was the robbery of an ex-
press car of S07 900 near Osgocd Station, In
diana. On their arrest they were placed in
Jail In New Albany. Masked men oyerpow-
cred the Sheriff in charge aud hanged the
desperadoes. ..s s-
Mr.. Pinkerton was stricken Down by pa
rslysis in May, 1869, from the effects Of which
be never fully recovered. Since then tie
management of his agency has been mainly
left to his two sons and other superintend-
ents. One of the last cases which he man
aged was The breaking up Of the MolIie Ma
guires In Pennsylvania. He succeeded in
fully exposing their secret organization and
furnished proof on which twenty-four CT
them were hanged and more than fifty sent
to prison for long terms. The great detect
i've published fifteen volumes of experience
with criminals. Many of them have had a
large sale. He was man of the most dog
ged persistency and courage, and possessed
of strong likes and dislikes. His life was
greatly shortened by hard work and expos
ure. His last appearance in public was in
the court room of Judge Anthony on May
27th last, when Neil McKeagul was on trial
for the murder of the Wilson's at Winnetka.
lie was taken very Ill q few days later, and
never again left his bed. He leaves widow,
Mrs. Jean Pinkerton, whom he married on
leaving his home In Scotland. Three chill
dren survive OF the eight who were born to
them. Mr.. Pinkerton was quite wealthy,
owning much valuable real estate, besides
his elegant residence and magnificent conn.
try place. -- s#a e y#