The Washington times., 1901-09-01
PASSING OF THE DISGUISE.
No More "Old Sleuths" in the Mod
ern Secret Service.
"Getting Close to the Criminal the
Aim of the observation-disclosures
Himself with Vicious Classes-
The Counterfeiter Very Secretive.

NEW YORK. Aug. si--In the Govern
ment Secret Service makeup ward
robes have gone their way to the old
clothes man. and the wigs and mustachios
of the yenturesome agents now IND
the limit of their usefulness at masquer-
ade balls The ''lynx-eyed" sleuth, whom
yellow-covered literature was wont 10
picture always 'hct on the trail, is usu-
ally found, these days, quiet and com
posed behind a roll-top desk in an easy
armchair, with telephone at one hand
and push-bells at the other. Here ne
transacts most of his work without NOV
ing from his seat He will tell you that
stories like Sherlock Holmes, the develop
ment of the police columns in the daily
newspapers. and their. devotion OF
so much space to the rascals ana the
catchers of rascals have broadened the
criminal mind, as well as educated the
reading public. and smashed the theory
of disguises to smithereens." This has
revolutionized the whole business.
William P. HaZen, who has just become
the head of private bureau, after twen-
ty years in the Government service, sald
today that agents in running down GRIM
inals have to depend for their disguise
solely upon their own ability to be one
of them" Oftentimes their careers 90
not vary much from the life OF COM
mercial traveller, inasmuch as the object
of each is to ingratiate himself IN the
good will of the tradesman in his particu-
lar field Decoy letters and jadicious use
of the coin" have superseded the bulls
eye dark lantern and the sixshooter.
The working force of the Secret Ser
vice, up to date" said Mr.. Hazen, lis
,,ie oil ola In yph X
lists This includes men and women of all
nationalities. Some lead a nomadic ex-
istence over the length and breadth of
the country, under assumed names; 9th
ers do not change their residence or their
Names They live the life of the people
they hunt; they make them their friends;
the resorts of those wanted are their
resorts; their friends are mutual, and
they even share each others bread. When
a case is made against lawbreaker the
Secret Service agent has been known to
be the first to extend his sympathies to
the man whom his wits have placed with
in reach of the law. Unless it cannot be
avoided the Secret Service man does not
reveal his identity by tesiifying for the
Government at a trial. That is left for
others for Just so soon as the informer
gives himself away from that period be
gins his uselessness to the Government,
and also his danger of being removed
by friends or members of the family OF
the man he has run down.
There are those in other walks OF ire
who look down upon the Secret Service
agent on account of the work that he
performs. They say it Is filled with hypo-
crisy and deceit, which they think would
make the calling loathsome to any man
of princi 1le; but these well-meanins per
sons know little Of the people that the
Government; is pittod against. Nioators
of the E,w lay great s-less on trickery
and deceit To many Of them human
life is of little account, and to match t-is
desperate cunning, nothing has proved
so effective as the very same methods
Chief r'ikie. who is now at the head oil
the Seen Service, says that New YORK
| maintain IN unenviable pre-eminence in
the counierfeiting of coins During The
twelve months just closed" he adds,