Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-20
FAMILIES SAVED FROM DISGRACE
Two Incidents in the Recent Career Of
Washington Detective Officer.

Among the guests at an entertainment re-
Gently given by gentleman who resides
on street northeast was an old and ex-
perienced detective who Is probably as
we'll acquainted with the intricate work
ings of the detective system of police
work as any man in the business.
In the course Of the evening this gentle
man interested the company with various
stories of his experiences and among these
were two instances of recent happenings
that occurred in Washington.
Not very long ago. he said, "a young
gentleman called at my Office and requested
my Services in aiding him to ascertain If a
certain person who was devoting much
attention to his sister was as he repre-
person endowed with fair amount of the
worlds goods. The brothers suspicious
had been aroused but he wished to be
careful and not act upon mere mstrust.
THE young brother gave me the name
of the person, but he could not give his
residence. No one seemed to know, but he
thought he could tell the locality in which
he resided, and / went to work on that
He also described the personal appearance
of the man. After few saunterings about
the place near about the neighborhood in
which he thought the presumably bogus
beau resided 1 struck the trail. A corner
groceryman gave me the first clue. / asked
him about the party and the grocer knew
him at once. oh, yes said he, his wife
was just in here and bought loaf of
bread but the name he gave me did not
agree with that given me by the girls
brother.
Il renewed my quest, however, at once.
I didn't intend to allow the crocuses to
bloom in the parks before l solved the
matter straight. Going directly to the house
to which l was directed by the grocer /
inquired If Mr.. So and So lived there, at
the same time mentioning the name given
to me by the grocer. Third flight up said
a woman, who answered my pull at the door
bell So up l went and raped al the door.
1t was opened by distressed-looking wo-
man and there was a half-grOwn girl in the
room washing dishes. ! asked if the man
was at home still giving the name l had
from the grocer, and was informed that he
was not. l asked her if she was his wife
and was answered affirmatively. Then l
told her that l called in obedience to in
structons from a New York lawyer who
was looking for party here by that name
who had fallen heir TO large amount of
money through the death Of a relative in
England. The woman's eyes opened as
larger as the proverbial saucer. She didn't
know whether her husband would be back
before night, but if 1 would give my ad-
dress he would call on me Immediately.
This was just what l wanted, and told
her to have her husband call at my office
at 10 o'clock on the following morning and
/ made certain that the girls brother would
be secreted in the office at the same time.
because perhaps, the heir to the estate
in England might not be the suspected
party at all. Everything worked all right.
AT 10 O'Clock next day the man wanted
to see put in his appearance. He was
breathless with haste and the first words
he said were my wife Informed me that
you wished to see me on important bust
ness Just then the brother, obeying a
signal, stepped from behind a door to look
the heir over and see if he was the man
who was counting his sister He certainly
was, and his jig was up. The fellow, how
ever, was anxious about the estate that
was lowering over him and l told him
that my search was over and I had learn
ed that he was not the individual sought
1.-The grateful thanks of the brother for
saving his sister from disgrace was worth
much more to me-" said the griZzled detec-
tive, than the generous sum he paid me for
my services
He told another story somewhat similar
in its circumstances This was concern
ing the knowledge of ma5t who. repre-
Senting himself a single man and as a
man of means had secured the consent of
a young woman, then residing in this city,
to become his wife. The mother of the
young woman, who not satisfied with
her daughters choice. wanted TO know
more of the lover and investigation of
his character proved that he also was mar
ried and was living entirely upon his wife's
small income. He. 1t was found out, also
was a brutal, graceless husband, and when
the detective presented the proofs to the
mother that lady. who was ill in her bed
at the time, placed her hand under her
pillow and drawing out a pocketbook
handed him hundred-dolar bill.
My charge" said the detective. lis not
quarter of this and I haven't the change
for such large bill" Il want no change"
said the mother 1T is all yours, for you
have constructively saved me ten thousand
dollars besides uncomfortable disgrace That
amount / intended 10 have settled upon my
daughter upon her wedding, and without
the positive proof you have furnished me
she would have been married to this rascal
within fortnight"