Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-05
THE DIVORCE DETECTIVES,
Men and Women who Furnish Tesei
nROny To Order.

SOME PRIVATE DETECTIVES AND THEIR woRK-How
EVIDENCE AGAINST WIVES OR HUSBANDS Is Sc
CURRD-JEALoUs MEN SUPPLIED WITH FACTS OR
FICTIoNs TO CONFIRM THEIR Suspicious.
washington now has its full share OF private
detectives" said oficer OF the law TO a STAR re-
porter. 'Of course there are some who have
of1ces, with their signs out, whose business is
legitimate, but there are others who do business
on the quiet and do not publicly announce their
calling. Some OF them really play the part OF 60
betweenS- They often turn up stolen property
but never or seldom expose the thief. When
these men. whom they stand In with, and the
owner who has been robbed Is soon given a chance
70 purchase his own property. There seems
cies In various cities, and property stolen
In one city and carried TO another frequently
passes through the hands OF both agencies, and
the owner has TO stand a double tax Tnis class
OF private Detectives not only handle stolen prop
erty, but Will obtain evidence In divorce cases TO
suit the charges fled against either the wife or
the husband Take. for instance, a man who
fmagnes certain evil things against his wife which
are, In fact untrue He will visit one OF these
men, 70 whom he will state his case and pay down
q good sum TO start an Investigation. Then the
woInan's footsteps are logged from place 10 place.
and sooa areport Is made TO her husband OF al
legged suspicious conduct on the part OF his wife,
but TO continue the Investigation another fee
must be paid. and so the case Is conducted until
the man mas paid hundreds OF dollars and he either
gets nothing In return or witnesses are produced
20 olaeken his wifes character. II, on the other
ployed TO make her acquaintance. After awhile
he visits places OF amusement with her and soon
sne Is found oy the husband or some other person
IN a compromising position with her supposed
friend. frequently In divorce cases persons are
found as witnesses who would not De able to rec
ognize the parties 20 the suit, but who will, for
certain sum, give the most damaging testimony
WORKING FOR BOTH SIDES
'Sone private detectives" continued the official
ssare straightforward men, and would not stoon 10
do a mean act, while others would do any Kind Of
might 0f
are no more or less than Crooks who are unable
To get other employment some OF them go so far
by one side, and what they get In confidence they
VIII disclose the other side If paid for their
duplicity. When business Is duh some OF the peo-
pie who DO dirty work will address a commun ca
ton 70 a husband informing him OF his wife's un-
faithrulness- The husband viii probably think
that the anonymous communication is from some
friend. and begins 10 look after and perhaps sus-
pect his wife. Then he Will call IN a private
detective 70 shadow hts wife, and often the
result Is that his wife's reputation is ruined
and the happiness OF a home Is destroyed They
don't care how much trouble they cause In a
family OF whom they fnjure II they can make a
few dollars. and IN this way many alleged scandals
are brought 70 the attention OF the public. Take
as an Illustration the celebrated Belt divorce case
IN which the most important part OF the testimony
was taken In this city-that Is, the testimony
which tended 10 inJure the ladys character. What
became OF the witnesses? Three Of them are now
In the penitentiary. Their evidence went TO prove
that the lady 10 the suit was not the proper per-
son for wife, but the truthful evidence counter
acted the effect OF this perjured testimony and
the guilty witnesses were brought TO Justice It
Is however, only one case In many where the
scounoreis are caught and made to pay the
penalty.
LICENSING DETECTIVES
There IL law here" continued the Official
(which requires private detectives 10 furnish a
bond OF $4,000 and make daily reports 20 the
chlef oil police, and unless the bond Is given the
oetecuves are not recognized BY the autnorities
The dlnnculty with the law is that there Is no
bonded or licensed private detectiye in This city
In working up divorce cases or course they wouid
hardly be expected TO make their report 10 the
Chief OF police but In cases where thefts are COM
order that when they recover stolen propery the
thief may also be captured
.'What advantage has a licensed detective over
one who Is not hcensed?" asked the reporter
the power OF making an arrest When he RECEIVERS
stolen property he sometimes makes an arrest or
n he fails 70 capture the thief the regular force
has o chance TO get him.
WOMEN KNPLoYED IN DIVORCE cAsES
swomen," he continued, ARE often employed by
private detectives especially II they are working
up divorce case and want 70 get evidence against
the husband women OF bad character are then
called In and employ their wiles upon the un-
suspecfing husband and lure him 10 q place where
some one appears VINO Is acquainted with him. He
can make no excuse and these circumstances are
Afterward part OF the evidence In the proceed
fn2s for divorce. ON the other hand II the wife Is
20 be traduced the female detective makes her &C.
Quaintance, learns her habits and succeeds In
establishing something against her that Will
court In more than one-half OF the divorce cases
where there Is any money TO be had and detectives
are employed the divorces are granted and homes
are Destroyed chieny on the per1ured evidence OF
persons VINO have been well paid Tor their dirty
WORK