Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1901-03-16
a TRIANGULAR GAME,
The Reports of the Three SpOtteF
nis~usfoH fha RaiIrOnd Official

J western roads," said a veteran paSSe
ger conductor of this city, 1.-THE 'spG
ter was virtually necessity, but t
trouble about him was that he ney
could be relied upon with absolute ce
tainty to tell the truth. He knew b
popularity and prestige with his er
! ployers depended on the number
eases he worked up, and if he couldr
catch a conductor knocking down
was only too apt to manufacture Ii
tie circumstantial evidence and FepO
the poor fellow anyhow.
"Of course am speaking of tt
average spotter, and no doubt the
were plenty of exceptions to the rul
but that was the great defect of Il
system and, incidentally it reminds n
of a curious little story.
"Back in the eighties" continue
the veteran, ga tip was one day give
to well known and very popular co.
ductor on a certain line leading out {
New Orleans that spotter of consic
cradle note in the north had been p,
OA ulS LICll, Will 111SIL uCIlOl1S W 4hSS
tigate him thoroughly.
''This conductor was big, jovial
low, fond of good clothes, good
and good living, and, while there
no evidence of anything wrong, he
fallen under suspicion on general
ciples. The company officials
persuaded he was living far beyond
means and inferred that he must
helping himself to the cash, but
prior efforts to get line on him b;
failed ANONYMOUSLY, and for that re
son the expert sleuth had been impor
ed from the north and told to go to Il
bottom Of the case, if it took s.
months.
'fWhen the conductor himself heal
chat spy had been put on his trail, ]
was highly indignant and also consi,
erably alarmed. He reasoned that tt
fellow would be especially anxious
sustain his reputation as thief catcl
er and was in all probability fully pr
pared to fake up a case in the ever
that he discovered no evidence.
protect himself against such name
yer he quietly telegraphed to a big
tective agency in Chicago and engage
a first class operative to spot the gpc
ter.
"Both men went on duty at about tt
same time, the spotter taking the 70
Of commercial traveller who had Fl
quent business up and down the roa
He watched the conductor, the Chica!
detective watched him, and the COZ
ductor sized them both up and chu
killed. in his sleeve.
Nov comes the funny part Of IL
yarn. The double watch had been
progress only few days when
treacherous brakeman went to the ge:
eral superintendent and told him Il
whole story The superintendent W.
q pretty wise person himself, so he sa
nothing, but simply engaged an entil
~ new man and set him watching t
two spies.
'.The triangular game went on
several weeks; then the conductor
summoned to headquarters. He
ried his detectives report with him
was staggered when the superint
ent showed him two others.
THE original spoilers report exc
ated the conductor, the Chicago M
report agreed exactly with the sp
ter's, and the last spy asserted fat
that the two other men had stood
together, SO as to please all hands al
save trouble. That disguised one roa
with spoilers, and the superintendel
swore he would never employ anothe
The conductor, by the way, retaine
his job."-New Orleans Times-Demt
crat.