The Evening post. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1888-1889, 1888-12-20
DETECTIVES AT WORK.
SOME OF TIE WAYS oFTBE HUNTERS
OF MEN.
How Criminals Unconsoiously Betray
Themselves--The EightFoot Walk, II
"Reminiscences of the Prison Cell-some
Clever Tricks.


most commonplace man | have met for
some time. He is simply leaning against
a pile of boxes, trunks and the like at
railroad station. Upon first glance he
looks like q sleepy old fellow, who may
have drank more than tlagon of rum,
or he may have walked long distance,
and, therefore, he is fatigued. AS any
one approaches him in the crowd he
looks sharply, and then seems to be-
come oblivious.
That man is one Of the sharpest detec-
tives in the State of Massachusetts,.
"What are you doing there?' is the
question again.
Quickly, without moving muscle,
without looking up again, he answered.
in a low distinct voice: Don't speak to
me now; I'm watching man, l moved
away.
Presently the crowd gets thicker
The sleepy gentleman by the trunks
becomes suddenly aroused. He moves
about very rapidly among the people.
What will he do?
Hardly is there time to walk ten PAGES
when he has disappeared. The train
thunders into the station and the people
went aboard. The man was nowhere.
That night one Of the boldest burglars
was arrested and lodged in Jail. He was
arrested on the train, and by the sleepy
| man.
The arrest was accomplished thus: As
q rough looking man with tin pail in
his hand walked quickly from the depot
TO the train the detective followed him
closely, and lust as he was about TO put
his foot on the step he tripped and fell
upon the platform. In an instant the
detective fell on top of him.
The two men were assisted into the
car, and then the detective apologized
for having fallen on him. They sat
down together in the smoking car, the
old-fashioned detective took out OF his
pocket lot of cakes and apples, and they
began to eat and talk about the news.
"That was bad bit of work those fell
lows done there in Boston. Did you see
the evening papersr'
"What do you mean9" said the man.
"Why, that safe burglary laat night. y
"Was there burglaryY"
"Yes; didn't you hear Of itr Why,
they stole over $100,0 worth of cash,
securities and bonds from the ----
bank"
Indeed Any arrests2'
"Not yet, but the officers are close on
| JDt JTdCh VI bhC VI ohO 6uhBs
care theyH Do they think they have
the right MANI"
Eyes, they are watching q man in East
Boston by the name Of Ridgewood, a
noted burglar.
Just at this moment q man arose from
the seat behind and walked out of the
car. He passed on into the next car.
"That's our man." whispered the de-
tective to his apparently injured com,
panion.
The two men arose and passed into
the next car after the fellow who had
arisen.
They caught up to the man as he was
going out of the next car. The train
was stopping at a short station. The man
got off. He was arrested.
GLOW did you know that was Ridge
woodY' was asked Of the detective
because, when / mentioned his name
he started and left the car. There Ii
something about criminal that gives
him away 10 practical eye. saw tha
man on the platform; he was walking W
and down. He did not walk more thar
eight feet before he would turn and wall
back again. At this l became aroused
and watched him closer.
at was when tripped up my friend
that I wanted to avoid suspicion; tn,
burglar was behind us; the man whC
fell first is one of the best detectives il
Boston. He was dressed like a work
ingman and carried pail. When WI
fell the man whom we were watching
did not notice us, but hurried into the
cars; all the other people stopped ant
looked on.
THE man went directly to the smoker
and lit cigar nervously; he drew his
hat over his eyes and nestled down il
his seat apparently engrossed in his
newspaper. The man read the SAINT
paper for long time; he did not seem tc
be interested in it at all, although his
ewes were intently upon it. They were
only on one spot. We sat down in front
of him and began to eat apples and talk
When mentioned the name of Ridge.
wood he started from his reverie. /
looked him square in the eye. He go
up and left the car. He was our man.
90, about the eight-foot walkS Well,
you see an old criminal who has done
time will never get out of the habit OF
walking up and down as he has done so
long In his cell. He will only 90 about
eight feet; that is the regulation length
of the cells. He does this unconsciously
and even though he may guard himself
against it, before he knows it he will
begin to walk up and down.
"Of COURSE" said the detective, "no
man gives himself up to justice-no GRIM
inal tells the detective that he is the
man. We are compelled to judge from
our experience. A criminal has a certain
look, peculiar way of moving secretly,
even in public places-in hotels, at the
theatres all over. No one but skillful
man in criminal work can tell the differ
ence, but their actions are readily APP
parent--they become larger part of the
criminal nature; he cannot cast off him
self
Then there are other things; certain
we'll known criminals have" he added,
"a distinct style of work The crime is
always carefully investigated, and the
detectives learn the methods OF the diff
ferent men. 1t is n school. ! cannot
describe it to you unless you are close
observer of human nature.
ga criminal walking along the street
will unconsciously turn his head and
give a quick glance backward, almost
every so often, generally within every
hundred steps. | can tell man instantly
when | enter crowd That's why these
fellows hide away; they know that il
they appear in public that they will be
recognized"