Wichita eagle., 1889-01-10
DETECTIVES WAYS.
ONE OF THEM TELLS HOW THEY
SOMETIMES NAB THEIR MAN.

CRIMINALS O1S "a a 20 Sso"'A
by a Subtle Instinct-sIen Betrayed by
Their Manner of Observation-Disclosures
Common to Professionals.
s'What are you doing therew
The man to whom it is addressed is short,
thick set man; 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 pile OF boxes,
trunks and the like at railroad station.
Upon the first glance he looks like sleepy
old fellow, who may have drunk more thar
a fagon 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 become
oblivious.
That man is one of the sharpest detectives
in the state of Massachusetts,
t'What are you doing there?" is the cues
ton again
Quickly, without moving muscle, without
looking up again, he answers in low, distinct
voice: Don't speak to me now. I'm watch
ing man" 1 moved away.
Presently the crowd grows thicker. The
sleepy gentleman by the trunks becomes sud-
denly 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 get aboard.
The man was nowhere
CATCHING A BUaGLLR.
That night one of the boidest burglars WIS
arrested and lodged in Jail. He was arrested
on that train and by the sleepy man.
The arrest was accomplished thus: As a
rough looking man with tinpail 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 steps he
tripped and fell to the platform. In an IN
slant 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 pocket lot of cakes and ap-
pies and they began to eat and talk about
the news.
THAT was bad bit Of work those fellows
done there in Boston. Did you see the even
ing papersP'
What do you mean?" said the man.
"Why, that safe burglary last night"
"Was there burglarys"
eyes; didn't you hear Of it? Why, they
stole over 100000 worth of cash securities
and bonds from the - bank"
'Indeedl Any arrestsa"
"Not yet, but the officers are close on the
track of the leader of the gang"
"Are theys Do they think they have the
right mang'
Eyes, they are watching a 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 car. He
passed on into the next car.
''That's our man." whispered the detective
to his apparently injured companion. 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 small station. The man got OFF. He was
arrested
Glow did you know that was RidgewoodF
was asked of the detective
because when l mentioned his name he
started and left the car. There is something
about criminal that gives him away to
practiced eye. l saw the man on the plat
form; he was walking up and down. He did
turn and walk back again At this became
aroused and watched him closer
sit was when l tripped up my friend, that
I 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 workingman and carried pail When
we fell the man did not notice US, but hurried
to the cars; ali the other people stopped and
looked on.
SIGNIFICANT EIGHT FOOT WALK.
''The man went directly to the smoker and
lit cigar nervously; he drew his hat over his
eyes and nestled down ip 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, 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 1
mentioned the name Ridgewood be started
from his reverie- l looked him square in the
eye He got up and left the car. He was our
man.
''Oh, about the eight foot valkP 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 so about eight feet; that is the
regulation length of cells He does this IN
consciously, and even though he may guard
himself against it, before he knows it he viii
begin to walk up and down.
''Of course" said the detective, mo 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 hes a certain look; a peculiar way
of moving secretly, even in the public places
in hotels, at theatres, all over. No one but
G skillful man in criminal work can tell the
difference, but their actions are readily ap-
parent-they become a larger part of a
criminals nature; he cannot cast off him.
self
Then there are other things certain well
known criminals have" he added, "a dis
tinct style of work The crime is always
carefully investigated and the detectives
learn the methods of the different men. 1t is
q school | cannot explain it to you unless
you are a close observer of human nature.
"a criminal in walking along the street
will unconsciously turn his head and give q
quick glance backward almost every so
often, generally with every hundred steps. 1
can tell a man instantly when | enter a
crowd That's why these fellows hide away.
They know that if they appear in public they