Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-10
INSPECTOR BYRNES.
How the Famous Detective Won His First
Laurels.
Philadelphia Times.

LaurelS.
Philadelphia Times.
Inspector Byrnes is probably the best
known man in New York, just at present,
and the public is constantly looking to
him for some new revelation whenever
it is reported that some crime has been
committed or daring 'steal' or bride sus-
pected. Probably Vidocq, the great Paris
ian detective, with all the sensational de-
scriptions of his daring exploits, never
performed more dangerous or useful
duties than has Inspector Byrnes during
the past five years. When the great de-
tective lounges around in his chamber
of Horrors" where are collected all the
CHASTITY relics of robbery, murder and
sudden death in every form, it may be
difficult to carry the mind back to the
time when this broad-shOuldered, hand
some hero was an ordinary sidewalk
measurer," patrOlIing the streets in blue
uniform for his small monthly payment.
Yet such is the discipline imposed upon
every individual who aspires to an envi-
able position, even in police circles, that
Inspector Byrnes was forced to pass
through the successive stages of patrol
man, sergeant, captain of a station, cap
tain of the Broadway squad, and captain
Of the central Office detectives. Each
position he filled with praisewOrthy credit
and garnered up such flock of knowl
edge and experience of ''the ways of this
wicked world" that stood him in good
stead in after life.
CuriousIy enough, as great things are
said to result from small beginnings
sometimes, the inspector owes his spurs
in one senee to a very insignificant piece
of red ribbon. A number of yeers ago
the inspector was put on the scent of a
Madison avenue robbery. 1t was as skill
full piece of work, and the robbers had
SO successfully covered their tracks that it
was evident at once that they were all ex-
perts in the business The house had
been entered, the safe unlocked or open
ed in some manner, the money and jew
els extracted and nothing left to show
how 1t was all performed. But in this
case excessive care in trying to cover
their tracks proved to be the robbers
weak point rather than double precau-
ton. Between the sides of the safe and
the inner drawer very small piece of
scarlet ribbon had been caught. It was
merely a few threads, yet enough to tell
a long tale. This was carefully preserv-
ed by the inspector and efforts made to
attach some clew of the robbery to it. He
connected in some way with the work,
and his first thought was to look among
the servants for the owner of the ribbon.
OF the dozen or more women servants
connected with the house one only was
noticed to have aliking for scarlet rib
bcns. On several occasions she was seen
to wear a ribbon which corresponded in
color to the piece snugly slowed away
In the inspectors pOcketbOOk. The
chambermaid, for such she was, was @
light blonde, with an intelligent-looking
face and of very yivaciOus manners. She
always appeared in neat tidy dress, and
carried herself with evident self-inde-
pendence. The inspector fixed upon her
his suspicious, and watched her every
action.
The little chambermaid likewise became
suspicious and endeavored to avoid the
slOuth-hOund on all possible occasions.
One day 1t was announced that she was
about to leave. She had secured another
position that suited her better was her
only excuse. The detective felt that he
was narrowing her down and determined
to watch her all that night. His reward
was forthcoming. About midnight she
was observed leaving the house all alOne<
She carried nothing with her but small
bundle. A Madison avenue car was stop
ped by her and with the inspector on the
front platform it slowly rolled down town
At Canal street she dismounted and hurri-
ed along toward the East river until she
suddenly disappeared in one of the dark
alleyways which runs in that street. The
detective followed her and with her the
assistance of two policemen the little
chambermaid with her two accomplices
were captured in a small tenement house
where they had taken up temporary
quarters. Finding themselves caught
the three readily acknowledged their
crime and considerable of the money and
all the jewels were recovered.
This of course gave the inspector con-
siderable notority and gained him fresh
laurels. Hewas placed on more difficult
jobs after that and step by step he elm
bed up in his profession until suddenly
1t was announced that he had been appoin-
ted inspector. This astonished many
politicians and city officials at the time
but as it was common to say, " it was
Brynes luck"
STUDYING T0RNAD0ES.