Telegram-herald., 1890-09-05
TIE PINKERTON FORCE
A AerosnGry Array Not Always
CO@DSssG of Ehe Best Lex
Hes Is Il orgsa1zed asa - ssstsza -
Dsei Rsias IL 1s~Rssrs CofelsNy
k4tsd - the Esyel4F folie~ ~aa
Al L46aF OrssalEa --e4s.

The PzBkerton feaoe. ssys the Ae~
ferk Jo4rnzl. oHes its e2ts-eace - lie
energy and sart sdness - Allza ftAser-
ton- Hs sas bern e Glasgow scotland.
IA 1919. aaa a ls4s he arrived - Cue
bee &tter 9 stormy voyage. lie found
hss say 70 Chicago snd 0penea eooPer
shcp. Wben in search u uGterl-is t1g
his work ne discovered a gang q eoan-
terfeiters on an island ia the FOX river
lie succeeded in breaking up the gahg,
and displayed - much Skill and nerve
that be sas appointed : deputy sherin
u Cook County
While holding this position be con
ceiYsd the idea of creating > detective
organization free from political innu-
ences. Associated With lawyer named
Edward L. Rucker. IN 1852 PiHkerton
started the agency Which now has ottices
in New York, Chicago, Ph&adeiphla,
Boston and Denver
The greatest achievement OF Allan
Pinkerton was the discovery Of a plot 10
ass&ssinate Abraham Lincoln while on
his way 70 Washington 10 be inauga-
rated and the Illustration OF IL. Pinker-
ton organized the seeret-serviee division
dgring the war OF the rebellion. His
other detective feats consisted Of the
arrest OF innumerable law-breakers and
the restoration OF millions OF dollars 10
the owners.
lie died at Chicago on July 1, 1884.
He left a widow and three children. OF
eight born 30 him. or these the eldest
son, William A. is now in charge of the
Western division OF the detective
agency, and his other son, Robert A, is
general superintendent and has imme-
diate charge OF the Eastern Offices.
Since the death of the elder Pinkerton
the organization has increased in
strength and efficiency until at the
present time 1t is recognized as the great
private resource by large corporations .
for the protection OF lives and property
in times of stress and storm.
About 500 detectives, both men and
women. are continuously employed at
stated salaries varying from So per day
TO S, 900 per year. There are nearly 100
detectives employed by the New York
Office alone.
The chief business of the agency is
with banks aud express companies. The
methods of the concern are hidden under
vail of the closest secrecy, and infor-
nation with regard 10 the details of the
work is kept inviolate.
AS an organization, however, which Is
closely allied with lawlessness of every
kind, the pinkerton Detective Agency
has been the subject Of good deal of
harsh criticism. 1t is cordially hated by
most OF the labor organizations. Wheth-
er this opposition is justifable is wholly
matter of opinion. In the excitement
of great strike, such as the one recent
ly in force on the New York Central
road, man is often killed by the Pink
erton officers.
But these fatalities are more than Of
set by the deaths in the ranks of the de-
tectives themselves, as was shown in
the fight with the James boys. While
engaged in the parsuit of these desper-
ate men in Missouri the Pinkertons lost
five men in one year.
OF course there are not always on
hand in the various Offices a sufficient
number of men TO supply an extraor-
dinary demand such as has occurred
during the past two weeks. To meet
such demands lists of selected men are
kept, and when necessity demands these
men are sent for.
AS rule these deputies are not in
uniform, because of the enormous ex-
pense involved. Neither have they any
legal right to carry arms, although they
often do so. The Pinkerton men, as a
rule, have no more authority to make
an arrest than private citizen. When
employed in large mum -rs, as they
have been on the New orlx Central
road, the agency is paid at the rate OF
s. per day for each man, of which the
detective receives 81.
They are required to make a written
report every evening OF every thing
done during the day, and the converse
tion overheard down to the smallest de-
tail, together with every item of ex-
pense incurred in the prosecution of tho
work. They are kept continually adj
visod from the home Office as TO what
their movements shall be.
The position of Pinkerton detective
is not an enviable one. They are cor
daily hated by the regular police and
consequently never reveal their identity
unless forced TO do so.