Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-02-15
WAYS OF DETECTIVES.
How They Track and Identify No
torlous Criminals.

Rocord there is nothing about him TO
attract attention. He is the most com
monplace man / have met for some
time. He is simply leaning against a
pile of boxes, trunks and the like at a
railroad station. Upon first glance he
looks like a sleepy old fellow, who may
have drank more than ilagon of rum,
or he may have walked long distance,
and, therefore, he is fatigued. AS any
one approached him in the crowd he
looked sharply, and then seemed to be-
come oblivious.
That man is one OF the sharpcst de-
tectives in the state of Massachu-
sets.
What are you doing there?" is the
question again.
Quickly, without moving muscle,
without looking up again, he answers,
in low, distinct voice: Don't speak
to me now; I'm watching man"
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 disar Deared. The train
thunders into the station and the peo-
pie went aboard. The man was no
where.
That night one OF the boldest burg
lars was arrested and lodged in Jail.
He was arrested on that train, and by
the sleepy man.
The arrest was accomplished thus:
As IA rough-looking man with tin pail
in his hand walked quickly from the
depot to the train, the detective follow
him closely, and, just as he was about
to put his foot on the step, he tripped
and fell to the platform. In an instant
the detective fell on 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
pockets a lot of cakes and apples, and
they began TO eat and talk about the
news.
THAT was a bad bit of work those
fellows done there in Boston, Did you
see the evening papersP'
What do you meanP" said the man.
why, that safe burglary last
night"
WAS there a burglary?"
Yes; didn't you near of it? Why.
they stole over one hundred thousand
dollars worth of cash securities and
bonds from the 49, Bank"
Indeed! Any arrests?"
Not yet, but the officers are close
on the track of the Leader Of the
gang"
Are they? Do you think they have
the right man?'
Yes; they are watching man in
East Boston by the name of Ridgewood,
a noted buglar,"
just at this moment 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
ponion. The two men arose and pass
ed 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.
"How did you know that was Ridge
wood?" was asked of the detective.
because when mentioned his name
he started and left the car. There is
something about criminal that gives
him away TO a practiced eye. | saw
that man on the platform-he was walk
ing up and down. He did not walk
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 a work
ing-man and carried a pail. When we
fell the man whom we were watching
did not notice us, but hurried into the
cars; all the other people stopped and
looked on.
The man went directly to the smok-
err and lit cigar nervously; he drew
his hat over his eyes and nestled down
in his seat, apparently cngrossed in his
paper for long time; he did not seem
to be interested in il at all, although
his 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 Ridgewood he started from his
reverie. / looked him square in the
eye. He got up and left 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 hab-
it of walking up and down as he has
done so long in his cell. He will only
go about eight feet; that is the regula-
ton length of cells. He does this I'M
consciously, and even though he may
guard himself against 1t. before he
knows il will begin to walk up and
down.
"Of 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 a
certain look. IA peculiar way of moving
secretly, even in public places-in
hotels. at theaters, all over. No one