Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1892-08-12
A DETECTIVES STORY.
HOW A NEW YORK VIDOCQ
CAUGHT A HOTEL THIEF.
Says Wigs, False Beards, and Things of
That Kind Arc Not Essential to
Good work, But Some
dimes Prove Useful.


ty. young man" remarked the head
of one OF the greatest detective organ
izations in this country TO the awed
representative of the Chicago Mail
take good, steady look at the real
hesh-and- blood detective before you
get him into type. The detective
found on the stage and between the
covers OF the summer novel oXists no.
whore else. People In general do not
come in contact with men in our line
of work. and hence the stage carica-
lures and the wild imaginations of
penny-a-liners are accepted in good
faith by Il too-credulous public So
far as my observation goes secret
service men do not wear cape coats
SLOUGH hats and false boards and carry
gold-headed canes or dark lanterns
They DO not stand behind trees and
in "a hollow voice eXultantly cry. An
han just at the most exciting stage of
the game. They do not drag their
toes when they walk. nor do they
calculate Demnition!' whenever they
are fOiled.
1--we been in this business for the
past twenty years and my work has
taken me all over tho world. l have
personally met and worked with the
operatives Of the best detective
agencies In this country and in Eu.
rope, and in all my experience never
saw any sort Of disguise used but
once.
when l first began detective work
] was attached TO the New York city
force One day was sent over to one
of the large hotels TO investigate a
series OF mysterious robberies which
had been committed there. The pro-
prietor told me that the guests OF the
house had been missing valuatles
during the past two months. Watches,
valises. and in short all sorts of things
had disappeared. He was utterly un-
able to locate the thief but all indi-
cations pointed TO the conclusion that
the work was done by an employe of
the hotel
. Il was inexperienced then and this
led me to do what would not do now
! cross questioned all the employees.
After had gone through the list |
was pretty well convinced that could
pick out the guilty man. AS soon Us
/ questioned one of the night porters
the fellow began 10 explain to me how
easily sneak thief could enter the
hotel do his thieving and escape
without detection. Every thing he
said seemed 10 point to an outsider as
the culprit and this made me sus-
pic!ous. The more / questioned him
the more firmly convinced / was that
he was the man had to deal with.
After leaving the hotel tried to
outline the plan OF action. / wanted
to catch the fellow myself but he
would recognize me the next time he
saw me SO / decided that unless |
disguised myself in some way would
have to surrender the case TO new
man. 1t was my first important case
and / wanted TO win. So | went to a
costumer and had him fl me out with
false beard AMI a wig.
That night about midnight /
had friend or mine call cab. put
me in it and send me to the hotel
Just before 1 entered the cab | took
drink OF whisky poured n little of
the liquor over my shirt front. dis
arranged my clothing and smashed
my hat. At the hotel was unable to
get out OF the cab The driver opened
the door, dragged me out upon the
sidewalk and turned me over to the
night porter-the man / was after.
lie summoned another porter, and be-
tween them they carried me upstairs
to room. Throwing me on the bed
my man promptly went through my
pockets securing a gold watch and
500 in bills. Then he locked me in
and withdrew.
Early next morning before tho
night force won't of duty. / rang tho
bell. The porter himself answered 1t.
l ask him where | was. lie told me-
/ inquired how l came there He ex-
planned.
"What time Is it?' said !. Just
look at tho watch in my vest pocket
or the chair there and find out
The porter fumbled over my vest
There s no watch here he said.
What's thatp'
"Your watch is gone
Z" Where did it go?'
"'How shoald / know. You've
been robbed
4" Robbed Don't sh-ee how could
be robbed. Never mind. You'll find
roll OF bulls in my vest pocket Take
it and go down and send me up a
quar- o. w-wh whisky
AFTER another moment OF search
ing he said: But there Is no money
here. either
I" No money? Thash queer. Had
some money. Go down and bring up
the clerk.
'IIe did so Before the clerk had
the porter tell OF his visit to my room
and his discovery that / had been
robbed. Then / pulled Of my false
whisIzers and called the turn. The
fellow weakened at once and made a
full confession.
That was my first and last attempt
TO use disguise and 1t also was the
only time ever knew one TO be used
successfully.