The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1890-11-20
THE PINKERTON FORCE.
A Mercenary Army Not Always
Composed Of the Best Men.
How 1t 10 Organized and lts systsm ef
Discipline - Its Mom5ers Cortliallv
Hated by tho Regular Police and
All Labor Organization

The Pinkerton force, says tho New
York journal, owes its existence to the
energy and shrewdness of Allan Pinker-
ton. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland,
in 1919, and in 1912 he arrived at Que.
bee after stormy voyage. He found
his way to Chicago and opened cooper
shop. When in search of materials for
his work he discovered a gang of coun.
terfeiters on an island in the Fox river,
lie succeeded in breaking up the gang,
and displayed so much skill and nerve
that he was appointed deputy sheriff
of Cook County.
While holding this position he con.
ceived the idea Of creating q detective
organization free from political influ-
ences. Associated with lawyer named
Edward L. Rucker, in 1852 Pinkorton
started the agency which now has Offices
in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia,
Boston and Denver.
The greatest achievement of Allan
Pinkerton was tho discovery of plot to
assassinate Abraham Lincoln whilc on
his way to Washington to be inaugu-
rated and tho Illustration of it. Pinkcr-
ton organized the secrct-servicc division
during the war of the rebellion. His
other detective fcats consisted of tho
arrest of innumcrable law-breakers and
tho restoration Of millions Of dollars to
tho owners.
Hc died at Chicago on July /, 1854.
He left widow and three children, OF
eight born to him. OF these tho eldest
son, William A.. is now in charge of tho
Western division of tho detective
agency, and his other son, Robert A., is
general superintendent and has immo-
date charge of tho Eastern Offices.
Since the death Of tho elder Pin,5crton
tho organization has increased in
strength and efficiency until at the
present time it is recognized rs the great
private resource by largo corporations 8
for the protection of lives and property
in times Of stress and storm.
About 500 detectives, both men and
women, arc continuously employed at
stated salaries varying from IS per day
to s., 900 per year. There are nearly 100
detectives employed by tho New York
Office alone.
The chief business of the agency is
with banks and express companies. The
methods of the concern are hidden under
vail of the closest secrecy, and infor-
nation with regard to the details of the
work is kept inviolate.
AS an organization- however, which is
closely allied with lawlessness of every
kind, tho Pinkcrton Detective Agency
has been the subject of q good deal of
harsh criticism. 1t is cordially hated by
most Of the labor organizations. Wheth-
er this opposition is justifable is wholly
q matter of opinion. In tho excitement
of great strike, such as tho ono recent
ly in force on tho Now York Central
road, a man is often killed by the Pink
erton officers.
But these fatalities are more than off,
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 pursuit OF these desper-
ate men in Missouri tho 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 tho 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 numbers, as they
have been on the New York Central
road, the agency Is paid at the rate of
SO per day for each man, of which the
detective receives s..
They are required to make q written
report every evening of every thing
done during tho day, and the converse.
t1on overheard down to the smallest de.
tail, together with every item of OK.
pense incurred in the prosecution of the
work. They are kept continually al.
vised from the home office as to what
their movements shall DO.
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.
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