Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-11-24
THE PINKERToN FORCE.
a Mercenary Army Not Alwayp
Composed Of tho Best Mon.
How It Is Organized md Its system OF
discipline - It's Members Cordially
Hatoa by tho Reg lar Toiico and
! All Labor Organizations


energy and shrowdncss of Allan Pinkcr-
ton. Hc was born in Glasgow Scotland.
in 1910, and in 1842 no arrived ut Que
bee after stormy voyage. uo found
his way to Chicago and opened q cooper
shop. When in search Of materials for
his work ho discovered gang Of coun-
terfcitcrs on an island in tho Fox river
Ho succeeded in breaking up the gang,
and displayed SO much skill and ncrvc
that he was appointed O deputy sheriff
OF Cook County.
Whilo holding this position tc con-
ccivcd tho idea of creating a detective
organization FREQ from political in1u-
cncos. Associated with n lawyer named
Edward l.. Rucl1cr, In 1852 Pinlicrton
started tho agency which now has Offices
III New York, Chicago, Philadelphia,
Boston and Denver.
Tho greatest achievement of Allan
Pinkorton was tho discovery Of plot to
nssassinato Abraham Lincoln wEilo on
his way to Washington to be inaugu
rated and tho Illustration Of it. Pinllcr
ton organized the secrct-scrvico division
during tho war of tho rebellion. His
other detective fcats consisted Of tho
arrest of innumcrablo law-brcakcr3 and
tho restoration of millions Of dollars to
tho owners. 49,
uo died Of Chicago on July 1, 1884,
IIo left widow and thrco children. of
eight born to him. OF these tho Oldest
son, William A., is now in charge of tho
Western division of tho detective
agency, ard his othor son. Robert A., is
general superintendent. and has immo-
diato charge of tho Eastern Offices.
Since tho death of tho elder Pinkcrton
tho organization has increased in
strength and efficiency until at tho
present timo 1t is recognized as tho great
private resource by large corporations
fer tho protection OF lives and property
in tines Of stress and storm.
About 500 detectives, both men and
women, arc continuously employed at
stated salaries varying from So por day
to$3.oO0 per year. There arc nearly 100
detectives employed by tho New York
Office aIonc.
The cEict business OF tho agency is
with banks ard express companies. Tho
methods Of tho concern arc hidden under
vail OF the closest secrecy and infor-
nation with regard TO tho details Of tho
work is kept inviolatc. ...
AS an organization however,, which 10
Kind, tho Plnkcrton Detective Agency
has been the subject OF q good deal of
harsh criticism. It is cordially hated by
most of tho labor organizations. Wheth.
or this opposition is justiHablo is wholly
matter of opinion. In tho excitement
Of II great strike, such as tho ono recent
~ In torco on tho New York Central
rad, man is often killed by tho Pink
erton officers. :
But thcsc fatalities arc moro than of
set by tho deaths in tho ranks of tho de-
tcctivcs themselves, as was shown in
tho frh5 with tho James boys. Whilo
engaged III tho pursuit of these dcspcr-
alto mon in Missouri tho Pinkcrtons lost
five men IN ono year.
OF course thcro arc not always on
hand in tho various Offices sufficient
number OF mon to supply an cxtraor-
binary demand such as has occurred
during tho past two weeks. 10 meet
such demands lists Of selected men aro
kept, and when necessity demands these
mon arc sent for ...
AS rGlo tEcso deputies arc not in
uniform. because OF tho enormous cx-
pcnso Involved. Mother havo they any
legal right to carry arms although they
often do SO. Tho Plnkcrton mon, us q
rule. havo no moro authority to mako
an arrest than n private. citizen. When
mrloycd in largo numbers, az thoy
havo been on tho Now York Central
road. tho agency is paid at tho rate OF
So rcr day for each man, Of which tho
detective receives 81 .'a ......
They arc required to mako q written
rercrt every evening Of every thing
demo during tho day, and tho converse.
ti1n overheard down TO tho smallest do
tail. together with every item OF OK
pcnsc incurred in tho prosecution of tho
work. They arc kept continually e:l-
VI5cd from tho homo ofIico as to what
their movements shall DO.
Tho position of q Pinkerton detective
~ not an cnvinblo ono. They arc cor-
hIallY hatcd by tho rrnllnr n,ili.n mi