The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-22
SLEUTH AFTER SLEUTH.
Another Detective Used by the
Peoples Bank.
Pratt Says he Is Not a Detective and
the DepositOrS Committee Did Not
Scare Him a Bit.

There is a detective on the trail of a de-
tective in the employ of the Sheehan-Watt
outfit. If he discovers how the other fellow
came to give himself away there is likely
to be a vacancy in that department OF the
Peoples Bank directorate.
T. S. Williams Jr., 2S7 Bush street, was
approached yesterday by another of those
keen-eyed fellows who are out after facts,
and misrepresenting himself TO be re-
porter asked how the depositors' executive
committee learned Detective" Pratt's
name and address. He was cast in differ
ent mold from Pratt The latter is a stout,
stocky man with a jolly looking face, ex-
cept when he is engaged in the serious bust
ness of securing handwriting, while the
new detective is tall and lank. has a nose
of some prominence and displays mus.
tache. He is probably not so shrewd man
as his fellow, for really he did not get any
Information at all.
Mr.. Williams did not confide to him the
secret OF the little scheme, and then this
detective No. went away quite downcast.
Mr.. Williams and. his co-workers, having
done as much as they think necessary to
tickle the egotism of the enemy, are now
devoting their attention to more important
business.
D6I6CtlN6 WHO b0dL ne
is not a detective, says he thinks the de-
positors' committee learned his name and
address by shadowing him to his home
and laundry Office at 1882 Folsom street.
But the real fact is that Pratt gave him
self away by telling Mr.. Mahoney's brother
to come down TO his house and get an
order for some lumber to make some
shelving.
When Pratt was seen at his residence
Io- he cold - II
not talk.
But he did talk
He said, and said it repeatedly. that he
does not claim to be detective.
II am not in the employ of the Peoples
Bank, he persisted. IT don't know the
Sheehan-W att people. Never had any talk
with them. I was employed to secure the
handwriting of those men, and did not
know what 1t was to be used for. I did not
care I got their handwriting and they
are now sore about it. 1 have to make a
living, and that is one of the ways do it.
But | suppose this newspaper expose will
cause me to lose my job"
"Who employed you to get the handwrit-
ing of persons?'' was asked.
Pratt was silent.
Cant you tell?"
Continued silence and shake of the
head.
what about your injured hand and
your invalid sister,"
He turned away. He was not disposed
to discuss the affair. There had been
enough already published, he said.
But did these members of the de-
positors' executive committee speak
truthfully in their statement of their visit
to you?"
mo. was not scared bit. Of course,
was surprised and little unsettled by
their familiarity"
ibid Wheeler call you Har?"
eyes, but you don't suppose was going
to kick up row in my own house over
that. But did not turn an ashen hue-I
was not scared. And I did not say any,
thing about hoping they would not use
violence"
What is your name or initials, Mr..
Pratt?'
lie drove his hands to a comfortable
depth into the pockets of his trousers,
turned around and slowly shook his head
That was another question be would not