Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-09-02
THE LIFE OF A DETECTIVE,
1t Involves Much Prosaic, Hard Work,
with Very Little Romance,

1t Involves Much Prosaic, Hard Work,
with Very Little Romance.
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. In fact,
it is the hardest thing we have to con-
tend with to get honest, bright men
whom we can trust and rely upon.
We select our men from all branches
of human endeavor, and railroad
brakeman, carpenter, store clerk, or
any man in the humblest walks of life
Is often found to make the best detec-
tive. The first question asked of an
applicant is whether he can read and
write. If he is not familiar with these
common branches his application is at
once thrown into the waSte-baSket and
he is told his services are not needed.
On the other hand, if a bright young
man comes into the Office and possess
es these two qualities, he receives at
tention. A blank APPLICATION sheet is
given him and he writes out his his.
tory from childhood up. This is placed
on file and he is told to call again In
the meantime his past life is most thor
oughly investigated and If the slight
est flaw is discovered the Applicant
goes into the waste-basket.
The first work that Is given to
new man Is 'shadowing' This consists
in getting on the track of a certain
person, keeping him in sight and
watching his movements without let
ting him know it. This is the incipient
branch of the business, and contrary
to ordinary ways of starting man
with the easiest work we give him the
hardest. Usually he is accompanied
by one of the old men who are famil-
lar with the work and who gives him
instructions. 1t does not take the ex-
perienced 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 apti-
tude for the work he is at once placed
on the salary list and given a job.
This Swallowing business is one of
the most important branches of dctec-
tive work, and to do it successfully re-
Quires the skill of an artist, and not
one man out of half hundred is suit
able for it.
New men are watched carefully
during the first few months they are
with us, and while many of them think
they are full-fedged 'shadowers' Il de-
tective is on their heels all the time
watching their movements. They do
not know this, as it would not do to
let them know too much. 1t is an er-
roneous idea that man in one de-
partment knows what is going on in
the 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. Neither are they allowed to
enter the business office or commune
cate with the clerical force. The work
has been sharpened down to such
fine point that man can go to China
and back, being gone for weeks at
time, and his most intimate friend
will never know it. OF course his alb.
sence 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
jewelry that may be offered them by
people for whom they have accom-
plished good job. This is done to
prevent our clients from saying that
they are working for reward, and any
man caught taking anything except his
salary is summarily discharged 1t
often happens that after a detective
has recovered a large amount of stolen
iewelry, found some missing friend, or
solved murder mystery he is offered
reward, and many times it is large
amount, but it throws discredit upon
the force to have men accept such
things, and we do not allow them to
do it.
THE greatest enemy we have to con.
tend with among new men is drink
They seem to be imbued with the idea
that detective is a hail fellow well
met, posing as gambler or man of
leisure, and taking a drink at every
corner. Another idea is that he must
assume false name and go through
the streets disguised with fake whis-
kers and sandbag in each hand. This
comes from reading the trashy liter
allure that is flooding the country tell
ing of the wonderful exploits of some
detective who has been 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 us. What we want are cool,
level-headed men who keep their wits
about them, and drinking man can
not do that