The sun., 1897-11-15
DETECTIVES TO BURN.
How the Universal Detective Agency
Makes Them at 81 Apiece.

WAACo AuCbu ~ 90 1APsoS~
p. L. Barnum, the veteran Snowman
used to say that the average American
dearly loved to be humbuggcd. That hu
man nature has not changed is shown b!
the fact that the following advertisement
which has appeared for some time pas
in one OF the Wilmington papers, ha'
had several replies:
WANTED-Men in or near Whining
ton. Mddletown or Newark to act as prl
yate detectives, under instructions. EN
perience unnecessary. Address Uni
versal Detective Agency, indianapolis
Ind.
The Sucker" who answered the ad
received the following:
HEADQUARTERS UNIVERSAL
DETECTIVE AGENCY,
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. Nov. 10.
John Smith, Wilmington, Del,
Dear Sir:-Your letter OF inquiry
received, and in reply to same we
send you our circulars and copy OF olr
official journal, ''lhc Universal Dctcc-
tive and Sheriff and Police Record"
Please read them over carefully and give
the matter your earnest consideration.
We need man in your locality t, repre-
sent this Agency, and if you are trust
worthy, honorable, sober and indus
trious We will be glad to give
You the appointment. We furnish
You with credentials, introduction
card, badge and a certificate which en-
titles you to life membership in the
agency, and the book of Claws Of Ar
rest and Detectives Guide" together
with full instructions. Our instructions
are easily understood, although you may
never have had any previous experience
in this line OF work. However, if they
are faithfully observed and carried out,
you cannot fail to acquire the necessary
knowledge that will win you high rank
in the profession. We are at all times
glad to recommend any of our representa-
tives who have pursued thei duties with
diligence and efficiency to positions on
their local police and detective force,
also to corporations and others who are
daily in need of good men for specia!
duty. If you wish the appointment for
your locality, and mean business, fill out
inclosed application and forward to US
Awaiting an early reply, We are
Yours most truly.
UNIVERSAL IErEcTIvE Agency,
Perl +. PRlTCIIARD, Supt.
paper sent you under separate cover
also a blank application in which the
would-bc detective agrees to keep all bust
ness entrusted to him secret and invo-
late He also agrees to read up and post
himself SO that if at any time he br
called upon to accept Il position on the
home force or to act as chief OF Il country
branch he will b, prepared to DO So
To assist him in his work and to
keep him posted in the workings
OF the association he desires a copy OF the
book "Detectivcs' Guide and Laws Of
Arrest" and the ''TnivcrSal Detective,
Sheriff and Police Record" sent to his
address. for which he ,n'loSr< 81, the
price Of subscription to tie same. Among
the questions h' is required to answer
are "Can You remember ia c?'' Are
you considered Il god jndg' oi human
naturr?" "Iiayc y Il ever had any rXpc-
rioncc at all in Il is linr??" ''Agc?'"
"Wcjght?" "Color OF lIar?' ''E,c~?:'
also explicit directions as TO the way to
send money.
In regard 10 remuneration tn, follow
ing naive announcement is Ina lc:
awe cannot guarantee any stated
amount to a new man rs some men make
more ont Of the business than others, bat
W, feel SO conidcn' Of your success that
W. wi refund tie 800 il you can show
an in .t"nnc in which We have not lived
up to our Promises t. YOU.
Several more lines Of encouragement,
and the advice closes with the cd maxim,
'Ronc Was Not BuiIt in a Day. in
larg. letters. At the close Of one OF the
las, circulars sent is appended the fol-
lowing:
An explanation-We receive grva.
many letters from persons who want Il
place ON the saari ii force, and we will
say, to avoid al unncccS a"y corrcSpol-
dcncc that We never employ men on Il
regular salary at first. We have noticed
that men who posses the requisites for
making fr't-clasS detectives are found in
the country districts as well as in tie
large cities.
When all this information is assn.u-
lated, and the 500 parted from the em-
bryo slcuth, he receives a German silver
badge, which he could probably buy
anywhere for five cents, and he is equip
ped to detect any and all things until he
has Use for his authority" when he is
taught by httcr experience that his an
thority is lut dream, and that while
he has agreed to 50 much the company
has agreed to nothing. BY the way, scv-