The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-06-25
a DEAD LINE FOR CROOKS.
wall Street and the Big Buildings
Closely Guarded.
From the New York World.

Closely Guarded.
rom the New York World.
The EQUITABLE building is one OF u g
areest general office buildings III the
world. Its actual floor space IS bout
too 600 square feet, equal in extent to
eieht or ten city blocks. 1t is Il busy,
hnstling city in itself, and is occupied by
nearly 4, 000 tenants.
special police force OF seven men are
contantlv on duty in the halls and cor
ridors. They are under the command OF
ex,Detective Sergeant Dusenbufy, VINO
for nearly thirty years was on the oetec'
five force of this city and was one OF the
hos+ known and most successful OF in
spector Brynes' staff. There are few
men who have wider acquaintance
with the outlaws OF society. lie mas oeeh
the guardian ever since the arcade wa'
opened, and it is owing to the Vigilance
aisnlayed by him and his subordinafes
that 60 little ANNOYANCE has been suffers
ed bv the tenants and the general pno-
lie.
1T is thoroughly understood by the
lawless element and by professional
criminals that they are not allowed oe>
low John street Inspector Byrnes long
AGO issued an order 10 his down town
detectives to arrest any known thiei-
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 keenast officers in the
inspectors command. Professional GRIM
inals, aware of the sharp lookout, rs
usual thing give the financial center OF
the city 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. Bas they
are so soon spotted and SO closely watch~
ed that no serious case of depreciation
has been known for number of years.
When these people do venture down
town they invariably visit the Equitable
building.
WATCHING "CHECK BEATERS.
In the Cafe Savarin another special
detective is employed to look after the
undesirable customers III that favorite
resort of down town business men. Theo-
dore Wandell who was for long time
one of Pinkerton's agents, looks out for
this especial corner in the busy city. He,
too. keeps a bright lookout that 10 pro-
fessional rogues enter the place and rub
elbows with their honest neighbors. But
with Dusenbury 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 beaters are our special annoy
ance here,' said Mr.. Wandell to re
porter Aiou would be surprised to see
how many men attempt to beat the bai
and the lunch counter. Their method
is very simple one and nearly the same
in all cases. An apparent gentleman
comes in, steps up to the bar and calls
for drink and receives his check. He
then goes to the lunch counter, orders a
more or less elaborate lunch, which he
eats leisurely and receives another check
Then be 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 fer few times, but eventual
ly we discover their game and then we
take our innings.
1--WE are very careful not to make a
mistake in following up gentlemen OF
this ilk We sometimes allow them tC
go through their operations several
times in succession until we are abso
lutelv certain that it is their intention tC
cheat the place. We quietly inform
them that they are discovered, and tel
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 moi
always able to discover. Their ostensi
BILE 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 yoluble. AL
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 theil
pockets. 1t is these people that invade
offices and stores under the guise of le
Ultimate business, but too often are
nothing more or less than sneak thieves
on the lookout for every opportunity to
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 their
shoulders or packages OF bills in their
hands Messengers are scurrying hither
and thither with stocks ana bonds for
delivery, sometimes in large amounts.
Clerks and porters with boxes and sach-
els containing securities of great value
are constantly coming and going to and
from the different safe deposit vaults.
Express wagons with gold and bills
are on the streets at all hours and even
trucks loaded with silver bricks are seen
daily in front OF the assay office or the
bullion brokers' There is no place in
the world where so much portable
wealth is handled with such apparent
carelessness, and yet there is probably
no place where a successful robbery
could be less easily affected.
The Trend of Iron Production and
Manufacture.
Washington Critic.
BIRMINGHAM, ALA. May l0.-The first ship
ment of iron pipe ever made in the South left
for Baltimore yesterday by way of the Richmond
Roi1 W a