The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-04-13
THE LIFE OF DETECTIVE.
1t Involves Much Proeaic, Hard Work
With Very Little Romancs.
From Dc Chicaro Trtbnne.


From the Chicago Tribune
Selecting suitable men and training them
for the detective business is not the easiest
part of our work" said an old detective the
other day. an fact, i: Is the hardest thing
we have to contend with TO get honest,
bright men whom we can trust AID rely
upon. We select our men from all branches
of human eudeavor, and railroad brake.
man, carpenter, store clerk, or any man in
the humblest walks of life is often found to
make the best detective. The first question
asked Of all applicant is whether he can
read and write. II he is not familiar with
these common branches his ap.
plication is st once thrown into the waste
basket and he is told his services are not
needed. On the other hand, il a bright
young man comes into the Office and
possesses these two qualities, he receivessat-
tention. A blank application sheet is given
him aud he writes out his history from
childhood up. This is placed on file and he
is told to call again. In the meantime his
asst life Il most thoroughly Investigated and
IL the sl!gl est flaw is disco vered the appli-
cation goes into the waste basket.
Tho first work that is given to a new
man is 'shadowing.' This consists in get
ting on track of a cart in person, keeping
MIN in sight and watching his movements
without letting him know it. This is the
incipient branch of the business and oon-
trary to ordinary ways of starting a man
with the easiest work we give him the hard.
est. Usually he is accompanied by one of
the old men who are familiar with the work
and who gives him instructions. 1t
does not take the experienced man
long to learn the ability of his
scholar, and after two or three trials he
makes a report to the Office If the new man
has shown any aptitude for the work he is
at once placed on the salary list and given
job
This 'shadowing' business is one Of the
most important branches o detective work,
and to do it successfully requires the skill of
an artist, and not one mau out OF half a
hundred is suitable for it,
New men are watched carefully during
the tirst few months they are with us, and
while many Of them think they are full
tiedged 'shadowers' a detective is on their
heels all the time watching their move
ments. They do not know this, as il
would not do to let them know too much
1t Is an erroneous idea that man in one
department knows what is going on In an
other. He knows nothing except his
individual work. as the men are not
allowed to talk to each other on
matters pertaining to the business in any
way 4NSLOucI al tLey blAOWeu TO euUeT JD6
business office or communicate with the
clerical force. The work has been sharpened
down to such fine point that man eau 60
to China and back, being gone for weeks at
time, and his most intimate friend will
never know it. OF course his absence is
noticed, but then men are SO trained that
they ask no questions. When men take a
position on our force they sign an iron-clad
agreement never to accept any presents
OF money Or ieweiry that may be offered
them by people for whom they have
accompl shed good job This il done to
prevent our clients from saying that they
are working for reward. and euy man
caught taking anything except his salary Is
sumnarily discharged. 1t often happens
that after detective has recovered a large
amount of stolen 3Swelry, found some mis-
sing friend, or solved a murder mystery he
is offered areward and many times it is a
large amount, but it throws discredit upon
tue force to have men accept such things
and we do not allow them to do It,
The greatest enemy we have to contend
with among new men is drink. They seem
to be imbued with the idea that detective
Ia a hail fellow well met, posing as Il gamb-
Ter or man Of leisure, aud taking q drink at
every corner. Another idea is that he
must assume false name and go through
the streets disguised with fake whiskers
and sandbag in each hand. This comes
from reading the trashy literature that is
flooding the country, telling of the wonders
next door to death dozen times, but has
managed, through some hook or crook, to
escape each time. No man who drinks can
work for u. What we want are COO, level
headed men whoQ keep their wits about
them, and drinking man cannot do that