Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-07-03
ALLAN PIRRBnqoE.
Bldg rapbteal Sketch OF the OhteT of
Dciectiyes-iAts EscDrt Of Itnc0in
tO the CapttaI-How the Molly

I -4e----=s
Bldg raplteaI Sketch OF the enter
Deiectfyes-SA is F.scDrt Of Itncni
Co the Capitai-How the MOL
Maguires Wore BroEeD Up.
| Allan Pinkert0n, ths detoctly.. VII
died at Chicago Tuesday was b. ~ !
the environs of Glasgow, Scotland, on ia
25th Of August, 1873. His parents wsr
in humble circumstances, his father
William Pinkerton, being employed as
police sergeant by the municipality. q
died when Allan was a small boy, of 10
juries received In the discharge OF hi
duties.
Allan, after earning his living for som
years In minor employments, learned tn
trade Of q cooper, but having Joined tn,
Chartists, he was impelled to leave tn,
country, which he did in 1912, sailing I,
Quebec with a newly. married wife. Il,
settled at first in Chicago, working at hi
trade as cooper, and afterwards estab
lished himself in business ct Dundee,
Kane county, where an accident changed
the whole course Of his life. His BUSINESS
required him to visit the islande OF FoS
river, where he discovered band OF
counterfeiters. These he broke mp and
secured the arrest and conviction Of the
leader. The reputation thus gained led
to his appointment as deputy sheriff OF
Kane county, where he further distin.
Ruished himself by his detective abilities.
His success In Kane county led to his ap-
pointment as deputy sheriff of Cook
county, more important field Of
operations. After serving two terms
he was appointed the first detective on
the Chicago police force, and thus began
his useful and distinguished services In
1852 he established the Pipkerton Dsteo.
tive Agency in association with Edward
L. Rucker, an sttorney-st-law. This was
the first institution of the kind in the
United States. After about one year Mr..
Ruoker retired, leaving Mr.. Pinkerton az
sole manager. The agency employed in
Its early days only four or five men, in
Guiding George Fl. Bangs, after wards
superintendent until his death about a
year ago, and Timothy Webster, who
was hung as Union spy at Richmond
during the war. The agency has grown
since until it now numbers nearly 300
men. The same love Of freedom that
made Mr.. Pinkeiton ChRrtist in England
impressed him with hatred OF American
slavery, and before the war he was an
aotive Abolitionist, and engaged in man.
seing what was called the Underground
railroad to assist slaves In fleeing from
their masters.
PROTECTING LINCOLN.
In 1861, being employed by Mr.. FELTON,
and other officials OF the Philadelphia,
& Baltimore railroad to look
int for incendiaries on their road, Mr..
Pinkerton discovered in Baltimore a plot
10 assassinste President Lincoln on the
Quincy from his home to Washington to
be inaugurated as President. Mr.. Pink
'rton at once t"ok charge of affairs and
'arried Mr.. Lincoln safely through Balti-
more and delivered him to his friends in
When the war OF the rebellion broke
nut, President Lincoln sent for Mr.. Pink
'rton to come to Washington and author
zsd him to organizes the Secret Service
division of the army, the first government
,olioe force ever organized in this country,
This was done with Mr.. Pinkerton at the
read, under the nom de plume Of K. J.
Allen. In this cspaoity he served the
ountry during the war, leaving his
;hicago office In the charge Of capable |
'eople, aud at the close of the war came
,aok to take charge himself. His first
important case on reBuminR his former |
luties was the detection OF the robbers Of |
he Adams Express Company near Balti-
more, who threw the safes from train |
7hile in motion and got away with over
l0O,O0O. This case, like other cases Of |
he same nature, was q success, the |
in number-being arrested,
ried and convicted, and all the money
eoov cred.
On May 7th, 1869, Mr.. Pinkerton was
tricken down with severe stroke Of |
analysis, from which he never fully
covered, and since that time has never
een actively employed in his business,
saviDg the management Of II to his two
ons and other superintendents.
One OF the last cases he managed was
he work Of breaking up the Molly
laguires In Pennsylvania. BY working
10 operatives into their secret organiza-
ions, and having them admitted to a full
Of their mysteries and plans,
lr. Pinkerton was enabled TO at last
ring their schemes to q full exposure,
nd to stop effectually their course OF
obbery and murder. Twenty-four Of
hem were hung, after due trial, and
lore than 80 were sent TO the peni.
sntiary for long terms of imprisonment.
Mr.. Pinkerton was the author of Is
olumes of detective experiences, which
ave had an extensive reputation
nronghout the country, and has left
sveral volumes in manuscript behind
i'm, which will probably be given to the
ress at an early date.
Mr.. Pinkerton never worked for re
ards or contingent fees, nor did he
How any of his employees to accept Rra-
titles Of any kind. He paid them liber-
lily, aud worked for those who engaged
i'm at fixed sum per day. He would
OF, under any circumstances, serve In
ivoroe case, or where family matters
ere in dispute. He wAs man Of strong
i'll, great perseverance and strict integ-
ty. He held that the maxim, "set a
lief to catch thief, was morally wrong,
nd that, on the contrary, the honest
an would always prevail over
dishonest man OF the same
entail oslibre. Mr.. Pinkerton's
rge business, with its agencies In New
ork and Philadelphia, brought him a
fortune aud he leaves much
sluable property, including famous
ock farm in Illinois. His wife, with
HON he fed from Scotland, survives
i'm. They had sight children, three of
hom are living, daughter, now the
lie OF William j. Chalmers Of Chicago;
lillian A. PinkertoD, in charge Of the
hicago office, and Robert A general
lperintendent in charge OF the eastern