Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-07-11
ONE OF PINKERTON'S FEATS.
The Accusing Blood that Led Murderer 20
Commit suicide.

philadelphia Press.I
~ was just thinking" said Captain Il.
j. Linden, superintendent OF Pinkcrt0n's
detective agency, on his r,turn from Chi
cago, where he had been attending the
funeral OF Allan Pinkerton, OF the won
derful will power and untiring perse-
verapce Of tsle man whose body was laid 10
rest last Thursday. Very few persons,
unless they were intimately associated
with him. would believe that any person
could possess such a patient persist
ence, which surmounted obstacles that
10 ordinary men would appear like i'm.
passable mountains. Major Pinkerton
was man with big heart. j don't think
he knew how to do mean thing. He was
one Of those honorable, flir-minded men,
who, while giving everybody their due, eX-
acted the same for himself. In matters OF
business he insisted on getting every penny
that belonged to him, and once he made
promise it was lived up 10. il ii cost him
every penny he owned in the world. His
likes aud dislikes were intense. III he be-
came your friend, no amount Of calumny
on the part Of your enemy could change
his opinion; but il he disliked you, nett Ter
arguments nor entreaties could shake him
an iota.
"Major Pinkerton's perseverance and
ingenuity were the secrets OF his success in
all his undertakings. If he could not ac-
complish his purpose by one plan heimne-
d.Gtely resoTted TO another. His mind was
wonderfully fertile in expedients, and it
was rare thing for him to fail when he
had once set his mind upon success. You
can form some idea Of his ready tact and
capacity for planning in the case OF the
cOlored murderer johnson, OF South Caro-
lima, who killed an enemy under the most
brutal circumstances. Major Pinkerton
was pretty positive as to the man
guilt, but it was impossible to obtain
complete chain OF evidence. With
the natural seeretiyeness OF his race, john
son refused 10 fall into any OF the man.
traps laid for him and make confession,
which was Pinkerton's object. After weeks
OF patient but abortiye work, u novel plan
was hit upon. The murderer was sur
prised one morning when he went 10 take
plough into field TO find Ii spattered
with blood. In the open field where he
was TO work the murderer found little pools
OF blood along the course he was to
plough. When he went back TO the sta.
BILE he was startled by seeing the bloody
imprint OF human hand on the stable
uOOT. Every IOC OF rake OF Olnef ldr1n Inn
plementthat the man picked up had blood on
1t. When nightfal came the murderer was
so paralyzed with fear that his teeth were
chatterlng and he was afraid to go TO bed.
He believed that the spirit of his victim
was haunting him. The detective and his
assistant noted these symptoms, and were
confident that the right plan had been
struck at last. II had been, after fashion,
and there was horrible proof given the
next day. johnson was found in the barn
with bis throat cut from ear TO ear. He
had killed himself rather than endure the
fortunes OF guilty conscience. need
not explain that the blood marks which
frightened the murderer's guilty soul were
the work OF the detectives and not of
spirits.
II was In that kind OF detective work
that Major Pinkertcn excelled. He could
change his tactics so that the man or men
he was seeking would be led into trap
when they really thought they were get
ting out OF one. There are scores and |
scores Of such instances. but they have all |
been published from time TO time as they |
occurred, and do not suppose would In |
lerest you. II was one OF Major Pinker-
IQn's yulss 70 ceuceM p9thlpg fgoW the |