Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-12-19
The Boston Detective,
From the Boston Record.


"What are you doing there? ?"
The man to whom it is addressed is a
short, thick-set man; there is nothing
about him to attract attention. He is
simply leaning against pile of boxes,
trunks and she like at railroad station.
That man is one Of the sharpest detec-
tives in the state of Massachusetts.
Quickly, without moving muscle, he
answers in a low, distinct voice: Don't
speak to me now; I'm watching man."
Presently the crowd gets thicker. The
sleepy gentleman by the trunks be-
comes suddenly aroused. He moves
about very rapidly among the people.
What will he do?
As rough looking man with tin
pail in his hand walked quickly from
the depot to the train the detective iol-
lowed him closely, and just as he was
abont to put his foot on the step he
tripped and fell TO 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
ld-fashioned detective took out OF his
pockets lot of cakes and apples and
they began to talk about the news.
THAT was bad bit of work those fell
lows done there in Boston-that safe
burglary last night"
"Was there burglary ?"
Eyes; didn't you hear of it? Why,
they stole over 100000 worth of cash
securities and bonds from the
bank"
"Any arrests?'
"Not yet, but the officers are close on
the track of the gang"
care they? Do they think they have
the right man."
eyes; they are watchinga man in East
Boston by the name of Ridgewood, a
noted burglar"
Just at this moment man arose from
the seat behind and walked out of the
owr. 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
after the man who had arisen. The
train was stopping at a short station
The man got off. He was arrested.
'HoW did you know that was Ridge
wood?" was asked of the detective
Because when l mentioned his name
he started and left the car. There is
something about a criminal that gives
him away to a practiced eye. [ saw that
man on the platform-he was walking
up and down. He did not walk more
than eight feet before he would turn and
walk back again. At this l became
aroused and watched him closer.
ut was when | tripped up my friend,
that | wanted to avoid suspicion; the
burglar was behind us; the man who
fell first is one of the best detectives in
Boston. He was dressed like n work
ingman and carried a pail. When we
fell the men whom we were watching
did not notice us, but hurried into the
cars; all the other people stopped a1d
looked on.
''The man went directly to the smok-
er, and lit cigar nervously; he
drew his hat over his eyes and nestled
down in his seat, apparently engrossed
in his newspaper. The man read the
same paper for long time; he did not
seem to be interested in it at ALL When
| mentioned the name of Ridgewood he
started from his reverie. looked him
square in the eye. He got up and lett
the car. He was our man.
"Oh, about the eight-foot walk 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
o: cells. He does this unconsciously
and even though he may guard himself
against it, before he knows he will be-
gin to walk up and down.
'tOf course" said the detective, 'no
man gives himself up to justice-no
criminal tells the detective that he is
the man. We are compelled to Judge
from our experience. A criminal has
certain look, peculiar way OF moving
secretly, even in public places-in
hotels, at theaters, all over. No one
but skillful man in criminal work can
tell the difference, but their actions are
readily apparent-they become larger
part of the criminals nature; he cannot
cast off himself