Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1889-01-02
WAYS OF DETECTIVES
how They Track ana Identify
Notorious Criminals.
The Eight-Foot Walk which Betrays Old
Prison-Birds - Peculiar Actions That
Become a Larger Part of a Proges-
sional Law-Breaker's Nature.
awhat are YOU doinr tberep,

"What are you doing therep'
The man to whom it is addressed is a
short, thick-set man, says the Boston
Record; there is nothing about him to at
tract attention. He Is the most common
place 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 sleepy old
fellow, who may have drank more than q
fagon Of rum, or he may have walked a
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 il one of the sharpest detect
ives in the State of Massachusetts,
"What are you doing therel" is the
question again.
Quickly, without moving muscle, with
out 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 dot
Hardly is there time to walk ten PAGES
when he has disappeared. The train thun-
ders 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 that 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 MIN closely,
and, just as he was about to put his foot on
the step, he tripped and fell to the plat
form. In an instant the detective fell on
top of him.
The two men were assisted into the car,
and then the detective apologized for hav-
ing fallen on him. They sat down together
in the smoking car, the old-fashioned de-
tective took out of his pockets lot OF cakes
and apples, and they began to eat and talk
about the news.
lows done there in Boston. Did you see the
evening papersP'
/ "What do you meant" said the man.
"Why, that safe burglary last night'
WAS there burglarys"
Yes; didn't you hear Of it? Why, they
stole over one hundred thousand dollars
worth Of cash securities and bonds from
| the - Bank"
"Indeedl Any arrestsa"
"Rot yet, but the officers are close on the
track of the leader of the gang"
"Are theya Do they think they have the
right mani"
Boston by the name Of Ridgewood, 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 de-
tective to his apparently injured COM
panion. 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 go
| ing out of the next car. The train was
stopping at short station. The man got
OF. He was arrested.
"How did you know that was Ridge
wooda" was asked of the detective.
because when mentioned his name he
started and left the car There is some
thing about criminal that gives him
away to practiced eye. I saw that man
on the platforn-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.
at was when l 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
|
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.
1.-THE man went directly to the smoker
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
1t at all, although his eyes were intently
upon 1t. They were only on one spot We
sat down in front of him and began to
eat apples and talk. When I mentioned
the name Of Ridgewocd 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 walk9 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 go about eight feet; that is the
regulation length Of cells. He does this un-
consciously, and even though he may guard
himself against it, before he knows it he
| will begin to walk up and down.
"Of course" said the detective, s'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 ap-
parent-thev become larger part of the
criminals nature; he can not cast OF him.
self.
"Then there are other things certain
well-known criminals have,' he added, "a
distinct style of work The crime is always
carefully investigated, and the detectives
learn the methods of the different men. It
is a school. / can not explain it to you un-
less you are close observer Of human
nature.
"a criminal in walking along the street
will unconsciously turn his head and give
quick glance backward, almost ever so
often, generally within every one hundred
steps. can tell man instantly when 1
enter crowd. That's why these fellows
hide away; they know that if they appear in
public that they will be recognized"
ABSURD BLUNDERS.