The times., 1898-06-28
spotters on street Cars.
From the kansas -City Star)

SpOtters on Street Cars.
(From the Kansas City Star.)
The sole occupation of four or five men
often, too, of several women-in Kansas
City is to ride on the street care, watch
the conductors closely and stealthily, and
report the results of their observations to
the general superintendents of the street
railway companies. These persons are
called spoilers" and usually they are in
conspicuous. ordinary men, but there are
women, and even Cinnamon and negroes,
in the service.
City, st. Louis, Chicago and other West
ern cities employ the same individuals as
spoilers" After one of these detectives
has been at work in Kansas City so long
that it is feared that his identity Is
known, the 'spotter" is sent to st. Louis
or Chicago, and another from some other
city in the circuit takes his or her place.
In this way four or five spoilers are
daily occupied on the street cars OF Kan
sas City, while in larger cities more are
employed. There is a circuit of Western
cities which the same spoilers" cover
and by this system they are seldom de-
tected by street railway employees.
These detectives are paid, and paid well,
by the companies employing them. AS
they register the beginning and ending of
a days work. their remuneration is COM
puted by the hour The Pinkerton detec-
tive agency also has a bureau of street
railway detectives. but their services are
not employed TO any considerable extent
in Kansas City.
A street railway "spotter" is a most
unassuming person. He has none of the
conspicuously mysterious airs of the
''sleuth" so noticeable in the conduct of
a stage detective. He may be a mild
gray-beared man, carelessly glancing
over the newspaper as ne sits at your
side on the street car. He may lounge
with his hat off smoking, the wind lift
ing and tossing his hair. But he is aware
of every movement that the conductor
makes He may be a smiling, hesitating
Chinaman with a laundry bundle under
his arm, but should the conductor knock
down a fare, the Celestial 'spotter"
would invariably take a mental note of
il. In fact, one of the most efficient
spoilers who ever rode over the lines
of Kansas City was a Chinaman of ap-
parent ignorance and simplicity.
One day he boarded crowded yellow
car bound for Troop Park. The conduc-
tor was hurriedly collecting and ringing
up fares. The "spotter counted every
tap on the bell, and at the end of the trip
he looked at the conductors register.
There was a wide disparagernent between
the number shown on the face OF the reg
lister and the number of fares indicated
ny INt OF tIie Deli. Inc UlHbIenCe
was in favor of the bell
The ''spOtter' reported at once TO the
power house al Ninth and Washington
Streets, and the conductor in question
was taken from his train on its return
trip. The road officers led him into the
private office Of the division superinten-
dent and removed his blue coat and vest.
The disparagement was explained e.
what the search revealed. Hung by a
81 rim nf 10 ah
tors neck so that IL rested directly be-
meath the fare register. was a brother
in-law." a simple device with bell in
size and tone like that OF the register,
and spring and cord with a little brass
knob at the end for ringing it. The
"brother-in-law had been concealed by
the coat and vest of the wearer, only the
knob being exposed, 20 be pulled when
a fare was collected. The employe was
/ only discharged. Street railway COM
/ panies do not often prosecute conductors
; who are known 10 steal
This same Chinaman has reported to
| general superintendents instances when
/ the scent pieces which he himself paid
! for fare were knocked down by conduct
/ ors.
/ Another spotter who has been of great
! service TO street railway companies is
| a woman. She is gentle and quiet, but
| very observing. One successful employe
4 on the street car detective service is a
/ young negro. Conductors never suspect
/ that one of his race would be a detective.
( Street railway officers seldom if ever.
! discharge conductors upon the report of
/ single "spotter" When an emplove is
under a cloud four or five different men
/ are put on his trail. If their reports are
/ uniform the spotted man is quietly
/ dismissed.
! In the service of the exchange system
/ of the Western cities are many men who
| have been street railway conductors
! themselves Some of them, perhaps. are
/ familiar with the methods of the dishon-
/ est conductor from personal experience;
! others from association and observation
Spoilers are constantly on duty in Kan
sas City BY their means the officers of
/ the street railway companies are inform
/ ed always as 10 the moral condition of
( their men. They know the record of
every emplOye, although the latter usual
| ly thinks he is unobserved.
Several years ago the Metropolitan
/ Street Railway Company prosecuted sew
/ eral of its employees, who We're charged
with confiscating fares, and found with
! "brothers-in-law' in their possession.
! Two conductors were sent 10 Jail for
! short terms. and the cases against the
| others were dismissed The Metropolis
| tan Company has in It's possession now
! varied collection of the little devices
| for knocking DOWN fares. Most of
them are simple brass frames for holding
/ a little bell, held in position by a slender
leather strap about the neck, and there
| is an attachment of cord or chain with
which to ring the bell. A few of the
brothers are very crude. One is made
of wood, carved evidently with pocket
knife. and the different sections of the
| frame joined together with pins. The
wood bears evidence of much wear 1t
must have been in service several weeks
| before its wearer was detected.
The birthdays of National Flags.
(From the Birmingham Age Herald}