The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-07-30
INSPECTOR BYRNES.
low the Famous Detective Won His First
LaureIs.

| How the Famous Detective Won His First
Laurels.
Inspector Byrnes is probably the best
known man in New York just at pres
ent and the public is constantly look
ing to him for some new revelation
whenever it is reported that some crime
has been committed or daring steal
or bride suspected. Probably Vidocq,
the great Partisan detective, with all the
sensational descriptions of his daring
exploits, never performed more danger
Gus or useful duties than has Inspector
Byrnes during the past five years.
When the great detective lounges in his
Chamber of Horrors" where are col
lected 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, handsome hero was an or
binary acknowledgements" patrolling
the streets in blue uniform for his small
monthly payment Yet such is the dis
cipline imposed upon every individual
who aspires to an enviable position,
even in police circles, that Inspector
Byrnes was forced to pass through the
successive stages of patrOlman, sergeant,
captain of the station, captain Of the
Broadway squad, and captain of the
central office detectives Each position
he filled with praiseworthy credit and
gathered up such stock of knowledge
and experience of 1.-THE ways of this
wicked world" that stood him in good
stead in after life
Curiously enough, as great things are
said to result from small beginnings
sometimes, the inspector owes his spurs
in one sense to a very insignificant
piece of red ribbon. A number of years
ago the inspector was put on the scent
OF a Madison avenue robbery. 1t was
skillful piece of work, and the robbers
had so successfully covered their tracks
that it was evident ut once that they
were experts in the business The house
had been entered, the safe unlocked or
opened in some manner, the money and
| jewels extracted, and nothing left to
show how it was all performed. But in
this case excessive care in trying to
cover their tracks proved to be the rob-
bers' weak point rather than double
precaution. Between the sides of the
safe and the inner drawer very small
piece of scarlet ribbon had been caught.
1t was merely a few threads, yet enough
to tell long tale. This was carefully
preserved by the inspector and efforts
made to attach some clew of the rob-
berry to it. He naturally concluded
that female was 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
liking for scarlet ribbon. On several
occasions she was seen to wear ribbon
which correspondent in color to the piece
snugly slowed away in the inspectors
pocketboOk. The chambermaid, for
such she was, was slight blonde, with
an intelligent-looking face and of viva
cious manners. She always appeared
in a neat, tidy dress, and carried herself
with evident neutrality-suspicious.. The in
spector fixed upon her his suspicious,
and watched her every action.
The little chambermaid likewise be-
came suspicious and endeavored to
avoid the sleuth-hound on all possible
occasions. One day it was announced
that she was about to leave. She had
secured another position that suited her
better, was her 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 leav-
ing the house all alone. She carried
nothing with her but small bundle.
A Madison avenue car was stopped by
her and with the inspector on the front
platform it slowly rolled down town.
At Canal street she dismounted and hur-
ried 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 the assistance of two policemen
the little chambermaid with her two ac-
completes, were captured in q small
tenament-house, where they had taken
up temporary quarters. Finding them
selves caught the three readily acknowl-
edged their crime, and considerable of
the money and all the jewelry were re-
covered.
This, of course gave the inspector
considerable notoriety and gained him
fresh laurels. He was placed on more
difficult jobs after that, and step by
step he climbed up in his profession, un-
til suddenly it was announced that he
had been appointed inspector. This as
tonished many politicians and city Off
cials at the time, but, as it was common
to say, lit was Byrnes' luck.
Ihttddetptta Times.