The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-01-10
"HM WATCHING A MAN,n

The man to whom it is addressed Is a
short, thick set man ; there is nothing
about him to attract attention. He is
the most commonplace man have met
for some time. He is simply leaning
against pile of boxes, trunks and the
like at railroad station. Upon first
glance he looks like sleepy old fellow,
who may have drunk more than a flagon
of rum, or he may have walked lon z
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 z" is the
question again.
Quickly, without moving a muscle,
without looking up again, he answered,
in low distinct voice, Don't speak to
me now I'm watching a 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 rough looking man with tin pail
in his hand walked quickly from the
depot to the train the detective followed
him closely, and just 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 shook out of his
pocket lot Of cakes and apples, and
they began to eat and talk about the
news.
That was a bad bit of work those fel.
lows done there in Boston. Did you see
the evening papers y
"What do you mean 2" said the man
why, that safe burglary last night.
"Was there a burglary 2"
"Yes didn't you hear of it Why
they stole over 100000 worth of cash
securities and bonds from the - bank.
Indeed ! Any arrests ?"
mot yet, but the officers are close or
the track of the leader of the gang"
"Are they Do they think they have
the right man 2"
Eyes; they arc watching man il
East Boston by the name of Ridgewood
noted burglar"
Just at this moment man arose from
the seat behind and walked out of thu
car. He passed on into the next car.
That's our man. whispered the de-
tective to his apparently injured com.
pauion.
The two men arose and passed int
the next car after the fellow who haC
arisen.
They caught up to the man as he wa
going out of the next car. The trair
was stopping at short station. ThC
man got off. He was arrested.
How did you know that was Ridge
wood p was asked of the detective.
Because, when mentioned his namC
he started and left the car. There i,
something about criminal that gives
him away to practical eye. saw
that man on the platform he was walk
ing up and down. He did not wall
more than eight feet before he would
turn and walk back again. At this
became aroused and watched him closer
at 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 working
man and carried pail, When we fell
the man whom we we're watching did
not notice us, but hurried into the cars
all the other people stopped and looked
on.
"The man went directly to the smoker
and lit a cigar nervously he drew his
hat over his eyes and nestled down iu
his seat, apparently engrossed in hi:
newspaper. The man read the same
paper for a long time he did not seem
to be interested in it at all, although hi:
eyes 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 revere.
! looked him square in the eye. He goI
up and left the car. He was our man
"Oh, about the eight foot walk? Well
you see an old criminal who has don,
time will never get out Of the habit oi
walking up and down as he has done sc
long in his cell. He will only 20 about
eight feet /; that is the regulation length
of the cells. He does this unconscious
ly. and even though he may guard him
self against IT, before he knows it ht
will begin to walk up and down.
"Of course" said the detective, "nC
man gives himself up to jusiice-nc
criminal tells the detective that he /,
the man. We are compelled to Judge
from our experience, y criminal has {
certain look. peculiar way Of moving
secretly, even in public places-in hotels
at the theaters, all over. No one but 3
: skillful man in criminal work can tel
the difference, but their actions are read
lily apparent-they become large part
Of the criminsl nature he cannot cssl
off himself.
} Then there are other things. Ger
tain well known criminals have" he ad
, ded, "a distinct style of work. Tn,
J crime is always carefully investigated
and the detectives learn the methods OF
the different men, II is a school.
: cannot describe il to You unless you are
close observer Of human nature.
! "a criminal walking along the stree
will unconsciously turn his head ant
give a quick glance backward, generaIl,
within every hundred stems / can raj