The Dickinson press., 1891-05-30
A DEAD LINE FOR CROOKS
WALL STREET AND BIG BUILDINGS
CLOSELY GUARDED.

Why Men Of Doubtful Reputation and
Questionable Appearance Are Prohibit
ell from Being Inside of New York's
Recognized Money Center.
Tho Equitable building is one of the
largest general Office buildings in the
world. Its actual floor space is about
100000 square feet, equal in extent to
eight or ten city blocks. 1t is a busy,
bustling city in itself. and is occupied by
nearly 1000 tenants.
A special police force of even men are
constantly on duty in the halls and cor
ridors. They are under the command
of ex-Detective Sergeant Dusenbury,
who for nearly thirty years was OH the
detective force of this city, and was one
of tho best known and most successful
of Inspector Byrnes' staff. There are
few men who have a wider acquaintance
with tho outlaws of society. He has
been the guardian ever since the arcade
was opened, and it is owing to the vigil
ance displayed by him and his subordin-
ates that so little annoyance has been
suffered by the tenants and the general
public.
1t is thoroughly understood by the
lawless element and by professional
criminals that they are not allowed be-
low John street. Inspector Byrnes long
ago issued an order to his down town
detectives to arrest any known thief,
burglar, confidence man or others of that
class who intruded upon that section of
the city. Broadway, Nassau, Wall and
Broad streets are constantly patrolled by
the sharpest and keenest officers in the
inspectors command. Professional GRIM
inals, aware Of the sharp lookout, as a
usual thing give the financial center of
the city a wide berth.
But in spite of the vigilance occasional
visits are made by the more daring or by
those who believe they are not person.
ally known to the detectives. But they
are S soon spotted and so closely watched
that no serious case of depreciation has
been known for a number of years.
When these people do venture down
town they invariably visit the Equitable
building.
CHECK BEATERS.
In the Cafe Savarin another special
detective is employed to look after the
undesirable customers in that favoritc
resort of down town business men. Theo-
dore Wandell, who was for a long time
n of Pinkerton's agents, looks out for
this special corner in the busy city. He,
too, keeps a bright lookout that no o
fessional rogues enter the place and rub
elbows with their honest neighbors. But
with D%usenbury and his force keeping
general guard over the whole building
he is seldom called upon to exercise his
authority over the more serious charac-
tiers, and his duties are generally con-
fined to looking after check heaters.
"Check heaters are our special annoy
ance here" said Mr.. Wandell to a re-
porter. "You would be surprised to SEQ
how many men attempt to beat the bar
and the lunch counter. Their method
is a very simple one and nearly the same
in all cases. An apparent gentleman
comes in, steps up to the bar and calls
for q drink and receives his check. He
then goes to the lunch counter, orders q
more or less elaborate lunch, which he
eats leisurely, and receives another check.
Then he visits the cigar counter, selects
a cheap cigar and gets another check,
and finally walks to the cashiers desk,
throws down his cigar check and the
change and walks out with the other
two checks in his pocket. They may be
successful for a few times, but eventual
ly we discover their game and then we
take our innings.
"We are very careful not to make a
mistake in following up gentlemen Of
this ilk. We sometimes allow them to
go through their operations several
times in succession until we are abso-
lutely certain that it is their intention to
cheat the place. We quietly inform
them that they are discovered, and tell
them to make restitution for the checks
they had not formerly paid for. OF
course these men are never allowed in
the place again."
A BIG CHANCE FOR THIEVES.
There is one rowing class of people that
even the sharp eyed detectives are not
always able to discover. Their ostensi-
bic business is honorable enough, and
there are sometimes honest men among
them. They are the 'fakirs," peddlers
and agents. There is an army Of them
in this city, and they circulate freely
wherever men gather. Generally they
are cheeky, plausible and voluble. An
innocent looking parcel, such as any
business man might carry, often con
tains their stock in trade. More often
they carry their entire stock in thei1
pockets. 1t is these people that invade
Offices and stores under the guise of lie.
Ultimate business, but too often are moth.
ing more or less than sneak thieves or
the lookout for every opportunity tc
steal.
The reason for the strict police regu'
lations as to the Wall street district are
obvious to the casual visitor to that sec
ton. Every day men and boys may be
seen going from Office to Office and from
bank to bank with bags of coin on theil
shoulders or packages Of bills in thei1
hands. Messengers are scurrying hithe,
and thither with stocks and bonds 70,
delivery, sometimes in large amounts
Clerks and porters with boxes and sach
els containing securities of great value
are constantly coming and going to ant
from the different safe deposit vaults.
Express wagons with gold and bill
are on the streets at all hours, and ever
trucks loaded with silver bricks are seer
daily in front of the assay Office or tn
bullion brokers'. There is no place il
the world where so much portable wealth
is handled with such apparent careless
ness, and yet there is probably no plac'
where a successful robbery could be les
easily affected.-New York World.
The president of France, who is o
course the best paid official of the re
public, receives a salary of $4,000
year, to whichis added $50, 900 for house
1,o11 n-~oo,oo o,,5 ecn 0n0 fo, ro,o1;,o