The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-08-15
ALLAN PTNKERroN.
A Few Anecdotes of tine Famous Chicago De-
tectiYe by an Old Reporter.

eCStAtC
$50 Allan Pinkerton is dead remarked a re-
tired news-gatherer Of Detroit, as he perused
the columns of daily newspaper. He was a
wonderful man in some respects
Were you acquainted with himf
VERY well al one time, but haven't seen
him since 1S68-or was il 1863! I'm not certain
as TO the year, but think it was 1868 l re-
member the first time met him just as well as
if it were but yesterday It was at the time of
the extradition proceeding against Reno and An
dersonf
.'And who were Reno and Anderson inter
ieeted the reporter
Frank Reno and Charles Anderson were two
members of gang Of Indiana free hooters, who
made specially Of robbing express cars, The
last job they did was to rob car down in Indi-
ana, when they made haul Of 1926, 900. 1t was
big haul but it cost every one of them his life.
/ don't remember what road it was on, but a
night express train stopped for wood and water
at a lumber station where there was nothing but
a saw mill The engineer and fireman saw half
dozen men coming toward the train from the
mill, and supposed them to be hunting party.
The fireman was throwing wood into his tender,
and the engineer was down upon the ground oil
ing some of the bearings Of his locomotive, when
two Of the supposed hunters leaped into the
cab, and while one of them covered the
engineer and fireman with revolver in each
hand the other reversed the engine for an in
slant, then drew the throttle wide open, and, be-
fore the trainmen could realize what was up,
away Went the engine, tenQer ana the express
car like a fash When the two men leaped
upon the engine, the other four sprang upon the
express car, uncoupled it from the rest of the
train, and their treasure was secure. They ran
down the track about six miles, during which
time they burst in the car doors. seized the mes
senger and hurled him out. He was found alive
the next day, and was unconscious for weeks,
but subsequently recovered sufficiently to give
evidence against the robbers, but was never
able to work again.
FAT that time was doing the late criminal
reporting for one of the city dailies, and one
night the night editor handed me special dis
patch from Chicago stating that it was there
rumored that two of the gang. Frank Reno and
Charles Anderson, were hiding in Windsor,
Hunting up an old detective showed him the
dispatch, and he told me to put itinto my pocket,
say nothing about it, cross to Windsor the next
evening, and should have scoop Old Sam
Port, since dead by his own hand, was then chief
constable over there, and by IL o'clock the next
night he had Reno and Anderson behind the
bars, and had big scoop over the other owl
reporters
The Adams Express Company employed Mr..
Pinkerton to bring the scoundrels to Justice, and
gave him carte blanche as to the funds. 1t was
a difficult task the old man had before him. but
he set about it in his dogged, methodical way
that knew no failure. The gang had separated
and scattered but one by one he located them
until he could place his hands upon every one.
Then his hands closed with tenacious grip that
never loosened.
1.-THE next day Superintendent of Police Borg
man telegraphed to the express company that
the men were arrested, and for the company to
send on its witnesses The only reply received
was to the effect that Pinkerton had been given
sole control Of the case You can bet that this
made the Detroit and Windsor officers hopping
mad, for there was big money in the case, and
few days afterward two of Pinkertons detectives
who were hanging around the foot of Woodward
avenue comforting with two others in Windsor
who, under the guise of crooks were watching
the Detroit detective, and locked up,
charged with being Migrants They were
tried at the Police Court, convicted and SEN
fenced to the House of Correction but they
didn't remain there long, their fines being mys-
teriouSly paid by prominent attorney.
Mot long afterward Reno and Anderson were
arrested upon charge of assaulting with intent
to kill the conductor of a train, at whom, by the
way, they fired and wounded as they made. off
with the express car, and on the morning set
for the examination crossed over the ferry
Never before nor since have seen Windsor so
bubbling with excitement and suspense. The
American House and most of its surroundings
were thronged with people, many of whom ap-
| who was noteworthy from his enormous size.
He was oversix feet tall and fully half as broad
| He was smoothly shaVen and was neatly dressed
in blue flannel man to attract attention any
where.
sYou are reporter said he with Just the
least bit of an inquiring Tone and he pointed at
my notebook that protruded from my pocket
Eyes, sir, said /.
tttHave you seen Allan Pinkerton YETI
6 No; is he herep
"'Yes; he's here, and if you haven't already
! seen him you will before great while, and he'll
! fill you so full of lies that you'll have to use
| some of them or bust
s'Then tho mammoth stranger looked at me
| sharply for moment as if sizing me up, and
then said: Would you like to know all about
Allan PinkertonP
II answered in the affirmative, and, at his re-
quest followed him up to his room in the hotel
There were two strangers in the room, but be-
fore introducing me he threw himself into
chair and said: I'm glad met YOU for can
give you lots of items before this thing is over
with And I'm glad you want to know about
old Pinkerton, for we're just the fellows who
can tell you My name is Sam Felker, and
have been a detective more than twenty years
This man is Detective Eaton. and this is ex-
Sheriff Yates. of Chicago He has known Allan
Pinkerton ever since he was boy. and can tell
you all about him.
- I've known him more than thirty years,
said Mr.. Yates, and don't know nothing good
of him I'll never forget the first time / saw
him. I'd been elected sheriff Of Cook county,
and one of the back townships had given me q
big majority. Some time afterwards several of
my friends there came to me and asked me to
appoint fellow named Allen Pinkerton as one
Of my court deputies, and I did. When he
showed up at court he had an old cook-skin cap
on, and he didn't know enough to take it off
when opened court-had to tell him to take it
off. All he ever learned about detective work he
learned from me during that term Of court, and
that wasn't much, can assure you He doesn't
know the first rudiments of the business to day,
and never will know them
ssAll this, and much more, came out as an
interview the next morning, and Iwended my
my way down to Sandwich at an early hour
congratulated myself upon having done a com
mendable piece of reportorial work. That morn
ing as entered the old frame h0tel--since re-
placed with brick one. near the courthouse
the landlord told me that there was q man In
the parlor who would like to see me, and led the
way thither The introduction that followed
was decidedly Informal The landlord simply
is the mani withdrew, closed the door, and
left me face to face with man of uncommon
appearance He was nearly six feet tall but