Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-04
WANT A CITY FORCE.
Hotel Men Find Fault With the Pri-
vate Detective Agencies.
SOME CARELESS WORK CONDEMNED
Mr.. WitherOw, of the Duquesne, Thinks
They Should Be Abolished.
OFFICERS RESPONSIBLE TO NOBODY

The amusing experience of Mr.. Chisholm,
the Cleveland nail manufacturer, with two
smart detectives from private agency
here, who took him fora counterfeiter pro-
duced considerable merriment among hotel
men and iron people yesterday. Mr.. CHS
| holm is well known in Pittsburg, and when
Inspector McAleese asked him if he could
| identify himself, which was perfectly
proper, he said r. with twinkle in his eye
that he knew Harry Oliver quite well, and
then he named over number of local iron
manufacturers whom he thought might rec
ognize him in pinch.
Detective Murphy wants it understood
that the mistake was not made by a Gilkin-
son man, but by private from the Holmes
agency. Before Mr.. Gilkinson was killed
these agencies were one and the same. Since
then they have dissolved partnership, and
Mr.. Murphy asks that the right people bear
the odium of the blunder. Mr.. Chisholm
got considerable guying from his fellow nail
men, but he enjoyed the. joke, and invited
all hands to drink, including the detectives
Wants Private Agencies Abolished.
William Witherow, of the Duquesne,
said Yesterday that such mistakes should
not happen. He thinks private detective
agencies should be abolished by law, as they
seem to be responsible to nobody. The city
should have well organized detective
force, and they should do all this kind of
work needed. He said also that alleged de-
tectives frequently abuse their privileges,
and resort to blackmailing schemes to worry
people and get money.
Chief Clerk Crosby, of the Anderson,
spoke in similar strain. He remarked
that they were always willing to assist the
officers in their work, but sometimes the
business was conducted so loosely that they
were, compelled to call halt. He then
spoke of a detective who not long ago
slipped into the house through side en-
trance, and said he had man in the hotel
spotted, and he wanted to go up
to his room. Mr.. Crosby didn't
know him, and as his appearance
was anything but prepossessing he asked
him to show his authority. The detective
answered that for all he knew he might be
a clever thief and thought it best for him
not to go upstairs The detective insisted
that the man he was looking for was on the
fourth floor, though he had never been in
the house, and he claimed that by listening
at the keyhole he could locate him. Finally
the watchman was instructed to watch the
fellow to see what he would do and he was
allowed to go up.
Fired Him Unceremoniously.
He took the elevator and got off on the
second floor. He tramped through the
house unconscious of his guard, and finally
opened guests room and peeped in. The
latter ordered him away. The detective
then came down into the lobby of the hotel
and sat down. After awhile he undertook
to go up the elevator again. Mr.. Crosby |
he had gone far enough, and he |
him to take his frame to the street,
which he did in double quick time. The |
next day well-known detective called at |
the hotel and apologized for the fellows |
actions. He was detective, but his man.
ner of working was so slipshod as to excite |
suspicion.
''Now what do you think of that for de-
tective work?" continued Mr.. Crosby 'We
certainly can't recognize seedy-looking in
lividuals without authority and allow them
TO tramp over the house. The detective
who apologized for his man said had done
right. Detectives are liable to make mis-
axes like other people, and they are excus-
able, but they should never depart from
business and common sense methods if they
wish to be successful.