The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-04-24
SLEEPING-CAR SPOTTERS.
How They Bring Unwary Conduct
ors to Sudden Grief.

Not hundred yards from Grand
Central depot is q saloon largely fire.
quented by railroad employees, and es-
pecially by sleeping-car conductors,
who, as a rule, indulge in fancy drinks
of first quality and display very fas-
tidious taste. A reporter happened
the other night to stroll into this resort
and ran across an acquaintance whose
occupation consists in shadowing sus-
pected conductors.
"You desire, then, to learn about
the secret service on railroads." COM
menced the detective, after q converse
ton in the course of which such de-
sire had been expressed. "Well, those
sleeping-car conductors we saw Just
now in the saloon afford excellent
specimens for observation. The tempta-
ton to knock down fares is great, yet
it is altogether different now from
what it used to be in the olden times.
Some fifteen or twenty years ago a
conductors berth was worth quite as
much as u seat in the Stock Exchange
or sheriff's appointment, but those
flush times have had their day and it
takes a great amount of sharp practice
to beat the vigilance of spotter.
However, to present correct idea of
the clever detective work carried on in
this unique line, it would be as well to
give you thorough insight into the
business.
Now. then, the Pullman Palace Car
Company on several occasions found it
necessary to engage the services of de-
tectives to watch some conductors on
whom suspicion had crystallized, and in
most instances conclusive proof, show
ing a systematic robbery, was fur
nished. The dishonest employees re-
ceived, of course, the grand bounce;'
new men were selected to fill the va
cancies, and still it was apparent that
heavy depredations continued to be
carried on. The case could only be
explained in way exceedingly dispar-
aging to human nature, but detective
who had been assigned on the work
for some length of time and thus
gained considerable experience, based
on close observation, ventured to make
bold assertion impeaching the homes
ty of nearly all conductors. He sug-
gested, consequently, to organize an
elite corps of railroad detectives, es-
pecially picked to meet the require
ments of that particular service, and
subject the men to an incessant and
rigid vigilance. Headquarters were
established in this city, and although
the extra running expenses incurred
by the service are quite heavy, there is
no doubt but many thousand dollars
have been saved for the company,
while the thieving propensities of many
employees encounter severe restraint
by the constant fear of detection and
disgrace.
''You think that long service has
hardened my judgment andI am wrong
in considering the majority of conduct
ors more or less inclined to dishonesty.
Allow me, then, to offer an explana-
ton. | am sincerely convinced that a
great many of these fellows would be
trustworthy in any other position, but
somehow the wrong-doing appears
trivial or even pardonable because it is
corporation of millionaires which has
to suffer, and the employees claim as an
eXtenuating circumstance that the bad
example of greedy directors helps to
destroy their feeling of moral response
bilitv.
''But, to draw an illustration, let us
imagine case like this An elderly
gentleman who in vain has endeavored
70 aHiItct bip,ca1f into fO fol lx
recumbent position on the rigid seats
of an ordinary passenger car, resolves
to spend few dollars in order to Sc
cure good nights rest. Well, he is
courteously shown an inviting berth in
the sleeper, while dusky porter eager
ly grabs the passengers sachel, and
grins complacently at the prospective
tip. The features of the conductor, on
the other hand, assume strictly bust
ness-like expression, although there
might be reason to question his integri-
ty of purpose if one could only catch
his stealthy glance. The fact is our
friend has cleared the way for a knock
down fare by overlooking the slight
formality of issuing a berth-check to
the new passenger, and he is now med.
itating the problem whether every
thing is all right-a phrase which in
his vocabulary figures as a synonym
for 'spotter' being in sight. How
ever, the clever fellow has unfortunate.
ly failed to observe the piercing eyes
of detective who is watching the
whole transaction through small
opening in the curtain of an upper
berth, and you bet he will get him on
the list.
you must understand the checking
of sleeper is avery complicated affair
and the detective who escapes making
some sort of blunder on long run
has to be pretty well trained. Taking
a coach with fourteen sections, making
double the number of berths, it may
however, accommodate considerably
larger number of passengers, as each
berth often is occupied by two persons
But the thing most likely to confuse {
novice in our service is whenever the
same berth is sold twice during single
night. A passenger, for instance