Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-29
THE HOTEL DETECTIVE.
Something About Secretary Windom''
New Special Agent.
From the New York sun.

From the New Yorh sun
Prior used 10 be the detective st the Firth
avenue hotel, and was known rs the best
dressed detective IN the whole city, but he vac
pushed hard IN the matter OF handsome attire
Ds n"ie Abe Jacobs Neither man svsrwors . suit
that cost less than S7S and their clethss ere
made by New iork's SWEETEST tailor.
The well-dressed hotel detective, ara an A.
pointed oy The police commissioner. and wear
police badges concealed under their coats.
Iney are required TO report once . month TO
Chief Inspector Byrnes and Roundsmau saul a
police Headquarters IN Mulberry street keeps
all these records on file. But though the COM
missioners appoint them the city doesn't have
TO pay their salaries, which are dofrayed bv
the hotel keepers who have them appointed
Their regular salary is from q. 200 20 Oh 500.
the latter being the same a. a detective SER
geant gets, but there is always handsome in
crease over and above the regular salary In
perquistes.
The detectives have 20 keep themselves in
formed OF the whereabouts aud doings Of all
the crooks IN town, aud a class they are
among the most industrious readers of the
newspapers. They are Also required TO know
all about the town and all points of interest
and how to get there. While primarily ek-
pected 10 keep the crooks away from the hotels.
they are also, in large hotels like the Fifth
avenue and the Hoffman house. required 10
look after all the help" In cases where the
property OF guests is lost or stolen the detec-
i've Is immediately appealed 10 to hunt it up,
ana II II ls found by any other employee the
latter Is required by the rules of the house 10
turn II over at once 10 the detective. who IN
turn hands II TO the proprietor.
The hotel detectives hours Of work are in
the afternoon and evening. when the tbrong Of
patrons Is greatest, between and pm. and
from 10 midnight They are always around
al dinner hour, and keep watchfnl eve upon
strangers who walk into the dining room I'm
Va snort time ago one of the commonest i'm
positions upon the hotel proprietors was 20
nave men, whose dress and appearance indi-
Gated little Of the crook, walk INTO the dining
room along with the other guests, sit down at
table. and order of the best There was no
instance whore beat" lived on tie fat of the
iand IN TINS style for over a fortnight before
he was detected lie got a month on Black
Wen island. Nowadays he must be q clever
snafp per who could dine thus luNuriously with
out bringing the detective down upon him.
Prior was a patroiman and roundsmAn and
special detective IN Lord a 1aylors dry goods
store before he became special detective OF the
fHth-aFenue hotel eleven years ago Detec-
tive Abe Jacobs trained under the late Capt
Irving, who set up private detective bureau
when he gave up service on the regular police
force. he has been detective for eight years
and has got under Boniface Ed Stokes what the
Detectives say Is the best berth Of all the hotel
detectives.
1t is when the detective is called upon 10 be
agreeable 20 the guest that he comes out
strongest Tins, too, Is the time when be gath
ers ia HIS perquisites, which are often very
hDeral 10 be guide, philosopher and friend
70 party who want to go ''slamming" is con-
sidered worthy OF a handsome recompense in
cash. The detective always knows lust where
10 10, and has presence Is guarantee that the
sometime perilous excursion can be made
safely. Ten dollars is usually the lowest fee
that Is rendered for this service, and sometimes
the perqulslte runs up to $50. As matter Of
course he gets the best OF refreshments along
with those 10 whom be Is showing the neither
side of New York.
''one OF the things that won't do" Detec-
sive Jacobs said the other night 10 a well dressed
but upsy man who had come from down
east with a big Doodle that was fast burning a
hole IN his pocket, lis TO tell you where Won
can go and make a id fool of yourself with
that roll III give you some advice for moth
ing. though. lake some bicarbonate of soda
and go to bed"
SHAY" stammered the visitor, as he stag
gered INTO the elvator car, Jus yer gimme yer
car-yer card. Blamed faint lhie) er-bric'.
Goo1nlg (hicl goo-nig. shee yer n morn
ihlc). Goo-nig'."
Before he went Clerk Peacock had that fat
roll, as the detective called it, locked up safely
in the big hotel safe.
One of the oldest members OF the craft is the
detective at the Aston house, who saws that he
an ucais NuOst ucAIuebs Is asserted TO be
only clever dodge" In his method of doing
business. Regular guests have often gathered
near him and watched with broad smiles the
funny spectacle OF a stranger trying TO hold a
conversation with him. The detective stands
at such times leaning against the register az
the foot OF the staircase, and looks straight az
| the stranger with face as expressionless as q
cigar store Indian.
''Huh!" said the detective. lifting his hand 20
bis ear. Yes, guess 30. They viii tell you
at the Office"
The detective of a famous hotel said last
night when questioned that the popular idea of
the extent to which visitors 10 the city get
guides to show them the sights Of the town u
very much exaggerated.
There Ian nearly AS much Of that sort of
thing as is imagined" he said Il find that
men whom the unthInking take for country
men can pilot themselves around AS well az
people who have lived here ali their lives,
Some OF the married ones a.e sharper than
steel traps. L saw man stand out here little
while ago and open the back cover OF his gold
watch and take slip Of paper oni of it, The
paper had the addresses OF several sporting
resorts OH IT. lie put 1t back carefully he had
got the addreHses Oh a previous visit TO town
and kept them III the watch cover, because
that would be the last place in the world that
he tancled hIs wife would look for evidence OF
what lie had been up 10 on his little run into
town Oh business, my dear"