The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-11-09
Millionaires Who Use Detectives as
Scouts in the Great Battles Of
Finance-shadows Who Are shad-
owed-How Walters Are Fixed to
Keep Tab on the Conversations.
New York Herald.

Shadowing Wall streets captains
Of industry" in order to learn in adj
vance what is doing" has become a
regular recognized branch Of the many
detective agencies in New York city.
So far has the business been developed
what they call financial work. For
a consideration they will furnish pre-
else information as to where Ger
tain individual goes, whom he sees
and even what he says, for day, Tor
a week, or for a year, for that matter.
And they are doing lots Of business.
j. p. Morgan, it is said, is constantly
under surveillance and whenever j. j.
Hill goes to New York his every move
is watched.
No one knows who sends these
shadows forth to pry into the private
affairs of men. The managers Of the
detective agencies keep the secret well.
Frequently even they do not know for
whom they are working, the real
client being hidden behind a lawyer
go-between. But the purpose and
value Of the espionage are plain even
to the lay mind. It is important for
rival fnanciers to know who supplies
the millions which go west for the pur-
pose of building rival railroad. 1t
serves to explain the future actions or
the firm in other deals and enables
judge as to the purpose of their rivals.
They make them "shoW their hand,
before they are ready to show it, and
since the rival believes himself undls-
covered the advantage rests with the
man who employs the detective.
When David H. Moffatt returned to
Denver, Col, last spring he told some
Interesting tales of how he was shad-
owed during his stay in New York
x1yI,4 =,
Northwestern & Pacific deal. He was
trying to raise money in Wall street
to build the road and other financial
interests were trying to prevent him.
Agents supposed to represent these OPP
ponents were engaged to watch his
movements and learn who visited him
and upon whom he called. 3
A Watch on Moffatt.
Everywhere he went some one was
watching. Finally, just as his financial
affairs were reaching decisive stage,
ponents. He left his hotel, registered
at another and awaited results. Half
an hour later a we'll dressed man en-
gagged a room adjoining and seated
himself inside with his door open. He
read a book and comp1acently smoked
a. cigar.
Mr.. Moffatt locked his door and
Instead, he turned out the light and
took his. departure quietly thru an.
other door. He rejoiced over the
ease Of his deliverance and repaired
| to another hotel, this time an out Of
! the way place, where he thought ne
one would think Of looking for him
He engaged lodgings without regis
| tering, and as he started toward the
elevator he was dumbfounded to SET
| the well-dressed stranger appear a
| the front door, still calmly smoking
Tho the financier's scheme had failed
he was not defeated. He next spen
| the night with relatives.
where I got the money to build tina
road" he said, describing the. event
Furthermore, they never will"
4 But Mr.; ,Moffattg does not need tt
| be. too sure about his success II
finally battling his shadow, because
the men who n1ask'Ssss shafdowing a bust
ness are not SO sasiiy thrown off tn
/ liam N. Anory. +
When subpoenaes were issued abou
March IT, 1903, for. James r. Keen
and for. his son-in-law, Talbot. J. Tay
/ lor, by the defense in Mr.. Amory's &C
ton for criminal libel brought agains
! H. II. SVreeland, president Of the Met
| ropolitan Railway company, it was de
V6lOpeu lndC MT. AulOiy duu ,I1CIlIy4 q
| Braker, who was backing the forme
in the fight against the railway com
pany, were being constantly Swallowed
Every time Mr.. :Braker left his of
flee four men followed him. Wheneve
Mr.. Braker turned his head these mel
would secrete themselves in conven
lent. doorways. He was not moleste'
and was rather amused than an
noyed by the actions of his guar
ians,'' as he called them.
Persecution of Mr.. Amory.
i In the case Of Mr.. Amory the pur
suit was more persistent. Soon afte
he began his investigation Of the Met
ropohtan company's condition he real
Lied that he was being constantly fol
|lowed, sometimes by two men and OF
various occasion by a man and
woman. While on a trip to Norfolk
Va, he was constantly under espion
i age, and at one time was approache,
1 by a detective, who tried to engag
him in conversation about famil
4 affairs. ~a-ia
(. One day, while driving in Centre
park, the two men who had followe
him for months kept short distanc
behind him in a cab, and two other:
Ia man and a woman, on horseback