The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-07-23
The End of Allan Plnkerton's Strange and
Romantic Career.

Allan Pinkerton, the greatest detective
OF the United States, who died in Chicago
July LIST, Was born in Muirhead street,
Ruglen Loan, it the Gorbali of the City
OF Glasgow, Scotland, on the 18th day of
August, 1919. His parents were in hum
Die circumstances, his father William
Plnkerton, being employed as a police
sergeant ty b municipality. When
Allan was but u small boy his father died
from Injuries received AT the hands of a
prIsoneI whom he Was arresting, and the
family were thus deprived other means
OF support.
Before attaining his majority young
Plnkerton became imbued with the
sentiments OF independence and reform
winch We're advocated 10y those who put
forth the "Ptople's Chartern in Great
Britain, ana lie soon became identified
with the celebrated Cnariisl movement
OF TIE dlsaf1rcteu people. The govern
ment Reserved to crush This revolution
AIRY movement. and several oftne leaders
were arrested and transported. Fearful
OF his own safety, Allen PlnNerlon re-
solved to leave The country and seek
q refuge Ill America. Accordingly in
lS42 he Was married " Mis- Juue Car
frae, ami on the following day the young
couple set st.ii ior America, landing at
Quebec. alter Il l~erilous voyage, in which
their vessel Wa, wrecked, and tle suffer-
ing passengers picked up by u passing
vessel and carried " that port. From
Quebec Pinkerton II his young wife
made their way to Chicago by The Lakes.
Inc young couple, owing To their mis-
fortunes, were nearly destitute, but with
a stout heart he applied himself to Sc
curing employment. Meeting George
Anderson, who was then engaged in the
tobacco business, he enlisted the serv-
ices OF that gentleman III his behalf, and
SOOn succeeded III Obtaining employ
ment at his trade-that OF Il cooper.
While employed afterward in his bust
ness as a cooper at Dundee, ILL.,, he had
frequent occasions to visit some of the
Islands III Fox River to procure materials
for his stock, and while Oh one Of these
he discovered the existence OF Il gang of
counterfeiters made the island their
retreat and established their headquar-
ters. Having a natural love for aaven-
ture, and being a stranger to fear, he
determined 10 thoroughly investigate
the entire operations of these counter
~feiters, which he eventually succeeded
in doing, effectually breaking up the
existence of the gang, and securing the
arrest II conviction of John Craig, the
leader Il prime mover, together with
the most prominent and dangerous of
his associates.
When Mr.. Boone was elected mayor
of Chicago he appointed Pinkerton as a
detective Of the city force. This was
the first appointment of a detective in
Chicago. In 1852 Pinkerton became
impressed with the Importance Of es-
tablishing a detective agency which
would be independent of political inf1u-
ence, and by whose efforts the criminal
could be punished without fear of per-
sonal favor. He accordingly associated
attorney-at-l law, and securing the pa
tronage Of several railroad companies,
then in their infancy, they started the
"Pinkerton Detective Agency the
first institution of its kind in the United
States. Rucker continued with him
only about a year, when Finkerton
undertook the entire management.
When the agency was first established
they employed some four or five men,
among the most prominent being George
H. Bangs, afterwards general superin-
tendent, and who remained with Mr..
,Pinkerton until his death, which oc-
Cured last year, and Timothy Webster,
who, while in his employ, was taken as
a Union spy and executed at Richmond,
Va, during the rebellion. From that
small beginning the detective force under
Mr.. Pinkertom's orders increased stead
lily until it now numbers nearly 800
men.
In prosecuting his business MI. Pink
ertOn made it his infexible rule never
to operate for rewards or on payments
contingent upon success, and would
never allow any of his operatives to re-
ceive any reward or gratuity for his sue
cess. He paid his employees literally, and
worked for those who engaged him at a
certain fixed sum per diem, which was
all that was ever received. Another
noticeable feature of the nature of his
immense business, and one of the strict
est rules of his institution, was that he
never under any circumstances could
be induced to operate in a divorce case,
or where family matters were in dis
pute.
He leaves a widow and two children,
William A, the eldest, has charge of
the Chicago office and the western divis-
ion, while Robert "A. is the general super
intendent and has immediate charge of
the Eastern offices. His daughter is the
wife of William J.. Chalmers, Of the
firm of Fraser & Chalmers, in Chicago.
A CARD.-To all who are suffering from errors
and indiscretions OF youth, nervous weakness, early
decay. loss of manhood, &C., I will send a recipe that
will cure Won. FREE OF CHARGE This great