The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-18
AN INSANE SLEUTH.
A Barber Crazod by Reading De-
tectivo Stories.
Ills Strange Conduct Whilo Shaving a
zeal Detective Gives the Latter
Some Very Uncomfortable
Sensations.

Much has been said about the life of
INC detective, his manner of working
ana the tricks of his trade The fact
IS however, the outside world has lit
tic knowledge of the business and what
has to DC learned in it before Il man be-
comes proficient officer.
Some mon get the idea that they
would make good detectives, and be-
come ambitious to follow the business.
They read thrilling detective stories
and become SO much worked ND in
them that they think of nothing else.
There is certain class of people in this
city who read of the work done by the
detective force, and can give full ac-
count OF the work accomplished by
each individual detective during the
year, says Pittsburgh paper
There is Il barber in Allegheny who a
year or moro ago became very much alb
sorbcd in detective stories. lie would
read with the greatest aviditv the
newspaper accounts of how detectives
had gone about to work ND certain
cases. He soon became possessed with
the idea that he would make n splendid
detective. A member of tho force was
in the habit of going to his shop for n
shave. The barber would besicrc the
officer every time he came with oues-
lions concerning the detective business.
Finally it was noticed that the barber
was going insane on the subject One
day recently the detective went to the
shop for his usual shave. 1t was the last
time he patronizcd that shop. He had no
sooner taken his seat than he noticed
the actions of the tonsorial artist were
somewhat peculiar. He strapped the
razor with unusual vigor, and mutter-
ing to himself would now and then
look around in n wild-cycd manner at
the officer The latter was becoming
thoroughly frightened. He had dealt
with all kinds of desperate criminals
and had been in the business all his
life He never knew fear, and was al
ways prepared for the worst. When
he saw that the barber was evidently
out of his mind each individual hair on
his head began to stand on end.
lie did not like the idea of sitting
Quietly down and letting crazy barber
slash his throat from car to ear without
demonstrating. Yet he knew that he
would run great chances if, after he
had got I'll ready and the barber was
PiSF"iiHS W ~ W work, lie Should at
tempt to leave the shop without wait
ing for his shave. He decided to sit it
out and watch carefully every move
mcnt of the barber. lie ncrvcd himself
for tho ordeal, knowing, too, that the
barber could sever his jugular in the
smallest fraction of q second and that
would be the end of him. The barber
had no questions to ask.
This taciturn disposition was unusual
for him, and the detective was morally
certain he was concocting something
evil. He seemed to be hours in shay
ing him. There was not another soul
in the shop, and the detective had no
hopes of defending himself if the luna
tic decided he should die. There never
was Il i:lorc thankful man in the world
than that Allegheny detective when the
barber had at last finished his worl:
and called next" to the empty chairs
along the sides of the room. The man
suddenly disappeared from town n few
days ago, and nothing since has been
bno,.,1 l.;