davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
An English Member of the Profession Exposes His
Errine Brothers and Recommends d More Strict
State Supervision Over Their Queer Activities.

and manufactured. Private detectives such as l
have described do not as usual thing 60 out 10
learn facts but rather 10 make at all costs. the
evidence desired by the patron. The result is
that often innocent persons are trapped into
compromising positions and then testified
against by agents to whom perjurv is only an
ordinary incident in the routine OF business.
While this system is applied to all kinds Of cases
II is moro common in Investigations conducted
for the purpose Of securing divorce evidence.
The growth OF this condition of affairs has
been simultaneous with the increase Of pros
perity and wealth in America, and coincidental
feature is that. generally speaking. In the filthy
cases Of divorce and scandal and Matchmaking I
Is the rich and not the poor who suffer. Pri-
marily this Is true because the poor have no
money to spend for private detectives even If
they desired. but it Is a fact that people Of
wealth are prone 10 place themselves liable to
exposure, though. by reason Of their position ex-
posure Is the more 10 be feared
The reputable detective like other professional
men. formerly sat I'm his office and waited until
he was approached by client who wished 10
retain him But American proEressiveness put
a face the matter. and Instead of sitting
down and waiting. the detectives began % drum
up business So long as this was carried on in
a Legitimate way there was harm but 10 the
takers this was not progressive enough. Soon
there were not enough cases % go around and
then with the aid OF spies and informers. the
unscrupulous detectives began To- make cases.
Agencies began 10 work UP evidence against
persons and then resort 10 blackmaiI or else
approach those T. whom the information might
be valuable. and by careful rnanoauvrlng have
themselves retained 20 unravel the case This
brought into existence hordes Of professional
informers who secured tho opening wedges for
tho fake agencies Men and women. many of
them Of some social standing. made II a practice
TO pry around for secrets which might be vaIu-
able: spies kept up their work IN large business
establishments and began 10 haunt the cafes and
resorts II doubtful reputation. on the watch for
persons OF wealth and prominence who might
he foolish enough 10 place themselves in COM
promising circumstances. Even the servants In
wealthy families soon learned that certain se-
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
3z WHITE TRASH Dore GREAT n4rn IN THE ORIENT 2zg

ot an known varieties and some nev kinds cal
culated % make handling them "a difficult posi-
Die. double force Of baggage and transfer men
met the constantly arriving stream. but 70 long
oeIore thinss again moved with their usual smooth
ness ana regularity Perhaps the most difficult task
OF all was 20 answer the questions Of qucrulous
passengers VINO could not understand why they
We're singled OFT 70 be made butts o." The n
hapFN indiVfdu1 whose duty n give informa-
uon Which ne Gtd nor possess had paraded before
MIN every human emotion in the course Of thirty
mlnuteS-CoquetTy, anger. indignstiO pathetic ap
peals 10 please accomplish the impossible and long
explanations OF the reasons why il would be alb
souteiy necessary 20 have Just those two trunks
beIore to-night As relief an occasional tDdi-
Nioual threatened 20 commit assault. but always
.nought better OF II and used 'angwidse" instead.
Meanwhile the seemingly endless stream kept iow-
Ing IN and out. and two three trains srrivinz
tosether caused IN overflow OF trunks which were
piled Up on the cOrcoUrse and cleared away in
feW hours, only 70 be replaced BY a dozen
trunk loads. The most successful attacks these
mountains Of baggage were delivered BY the night
shift. after y O'Clock. Before the morning rush
began the lanes through the piled-up trunks were
cleared out and some vestige OF system was intro
dUced-a thing rendered impossible by the indvidu-
al appeals Of baggage seekers IN the day.
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16

hide their dishonesty. Be the victim client of
tho preying agency. 10 expose IL would be 20
expose his own secret 20 the world: be he a
brbe-houndcd victim pilloried because Of some
sin he shuns his own exposure which would be
the price Of theirs. And SO # is that thugs and
thieves and criminals don the badge and out
ward seInblance Of the honest private detective
in order that they may prey upon society. secure
In tho knowledge that their victims cannot AFFORD
20 take retributive measures
In passing. let point out the difference be-
tween the English and American systems of su-
pervlsion which fits this particular condition. Be
he other than retired official. the record OF n
man who wishes to become private detective in
England is subjected tn exhaustive investigation
and the slightest incident Of shady character dis
covered against him would as a bar to his
taking up the work I know that there are de
tectves AT the head Of prominent agencies in this
country whose pictures adorn the Rogues' Gal
lery: men who have served time In various pris-
ons for almost every crime on the calendar.
From time 20 time this great American public
with wrath at some encroachuent OF
the trusts some beef packing iniquity or some
Insurance scandal. all the while complacently
ignorant Of this virulent sore that is eating
its way into the vitals of the social structure
without rhyme or reason. except that these de-
tectives may reap their financial harvest homes
are wrecked. the confidence Of husbands and
wives IN each other shattered. promising careers
cut short. and even suicides and murders pre-
cplated, simply on perjured suggestions and in
nuendoes. Not only is the sanctity of the home
Invaded. hut even the courts and public officers
Are del"eed ano pr0stituted, and Justice herself
Is loFtled out 81 the way. provided the game IS
b's enough and the stakes worth playing for.
BTo2dly speaking. there are two courses along
which these private detectives pursue their prac-
tces' ana the course always determined upon Is
the one that viii yield the most money The
first ana most popular method IS 10 gain the
secrets ~ The patron, and then with money f,r-
nished by him. 70 out and gather evidence ,r
possible. against the person to De investigated
The case is strung out with false reports and
clews. until the patron refuses 10 pav mora
money. and then. provided the person invest
gated can pay the Information IS sold 10 hin, -
her as the case may be. There are safe meth
ods by which This trick can De turned
BY the other method the sgencv f. l,,.,
enough 10 the patron. the dishonesty consists 8,
the manner in which the evidence in p-z,,ra0
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16

doing the work. Sometimes this sufices but not
always
The qualifications for operating detective
In one OF the scamp agencies are varied and Pc
culiar. l know one such now running his own
agency in New York who served time for steal
Ing and who was employed because he was
familiar with the methods Of railroad thieves
Another detective who at the time 7 writ
Ing is figuring prominently in the newspapers in
connection with a famous case drifted into
business IN most peculiar way He was en-
ployed by famous clairvOyant TO procure infor
nation which she could dish out TO the wealthy
patrons 10 whom she catered. On the first call
the patrons were told that IL would take time to
establish a spiritual sympathy with the clair
vOyant. and they were instructed to return
week later. Leaving the house. the dupe was
shadowed TO his or her home by the man in ques-
tlOn- BY careful inquiries In the neighbOrhOOd
he would secure a mass OF information. which
was then revealed 10 the dupe on the occasion
Of his second call on the ClairvOyant
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
BLACKMAIIING A FATHER.

recently popular dodge Of the dishonest
agency is TO select some wealthy family and then
lay information that plot Is on foot to kidnap
one Os the children. Anonymous letters plant
the seed. and in view of the many recent at
tempts at kidnapping. the parents are usually
distracted and only too glad 10 retain the de-
tectives who bob up So opportunely with knOwl-
edge of the supposed plot. The case is "investi-
gated" and guard kept until the parents tire
Cf paying out money
Not long ago the residence OF q wealthy man
was robbed under peculiar circumstances and in
order 10 avoid premature publicity private de-
tectives We're brought IN. They easily dis
covered that the supposed burglar was really
the dissolute son OF the house. and when this
was proved 10 the father the sleuths were retired
from the case. But. knowing the father would
make any sacrifice To avoid The disgrace OF Iub-
tcity. the detectives resolved 20 turn this to ae
count. They Informed him that two newspaper
reporters had gained knowledge OF the facts and
would undoubtedly publish sensational story
unless subsidized. The supposed bribery was
arranged by the detectives. and although the
father afterward learned that he had been vie
tmized he IN no position 20 punish the
blackmailers
private detective retained to gather divorce
evidence against woman separated from her
husband had become guest OF her hotel In the
hope OF securing proof OF an discriminating eorre-
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
ATTACKED BY sEAGULLs

A Danish sailor has had a narrow escass :
Meeting death from a hock OF seaglls. Hs :
the Flandria, was from Cronstadt 70 Coss---
and was within Atty miles OF her dssiiisl-- ;
the sailor was washed overooard oy . go
NJ 1-as 1..-~he NeWcastle Chronicle" cores
savs) a powerful swimmer, and divest.ns ~
OF his clothing. prepared 70 make a stoes =. = I.
life No sooner, however. had the Msn - :
~ hts garments than a grear mock G - -
sathered round and began a fierce attack ". +
F1rrIIdar fnEO their quiet DOMAIN, W. :
pscked az remorselessly with their oeaks ~ -
o.5t,,s, orT bfz uarsecurOrs as best ne eo-.-.
or two ships passing without noticing N. ~ -. "
a. Issr a R-lssian steamer. the Elisa o9A -. p,
BOARD. his strength was utterly eNhsu''''
Globe.
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
It's PITY Says Ex-Aache. That Exclusion Laws Can
Be Enforced Against Them-Ex-
annpIes Of Their iniQuites.

course thero is no mercy for outcssts of this
character.
There are just two categorles moro Of these
undesirable whites in the East. They are. first
of all. the men who have been tempted 10 try
their luck out there I'm business, who had failed
and find themselves destitute. For white man
10 be utterly without resources IN the Orient.
object Of charity 10 his fellow countrymen
and 20 the natives. is about disagreeable a
fate II Is possible to conceive, and every
foreign consul or colonial magistrate should have
a fund at his disposal for the immediate re-
patriation Of these individuals before they are
driven 10 desperation. to crime and to the dis
gracing OF their fellow countrymen. Finally
there are the white women who. sometimes
victims OF circumstances and sometimes through
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16

moment are those of two FrenchTnen. Caussade
and Martin. both dead. and of a Dane. a
certain Oberg. who before drifting out 10 Cochin
China used to he we'll known I'm San Francisco
II would he interesting 70 know what has be-
come Of the dozen or so Europeans who, accord
ing 10 Father Ohrwalder and 10 other equally
trustworthy authorities were formerly with the
Mahdi I'm the Soudsn. They comprised the
Prussian sergeant OF artillery. Klotz. and Rus
stan by the name OF POowski who had held a
commission as colonel Of Dragons in the Cars
army. bur who had been obliged TO leave it on
account OF some disgraceful episode in which he
was implicated. Both men had abjured Christi
anity. embraced Mahdism and were distin-
guished among the dervish leaders for their
fanaticism and for their relentless cruelty
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
BY Thomas Rect

clspyr-sht ZOO. BY D Appleton q co..
Few save the victims and those whose official
professional capacity makes them familiar
with the methods OF the vast majority Of pri-
vate detective agencies as conducted IN this
country recognize in them an evil which is rap
sdly becoming a yi-sl menace TO American So
ciety. ostensibly conducted for the repression
and punishment OF crime. most Of them are, n
fact ver1tahle hotbeds Of corruption. traflck-
ing upon the honor and sacred condolences Of
their patrons ana the credulity of the public
and leaving in their wake an aftermath Of dis
grace. disaster. and even death
Such pernicious conditions as shall lay bare
3n detail could not exist IN England because Of
T5gfoly enforced government regulations: they
DO exist and grow apaoe IN America because
o. Inadequate laws and the seeming impossiibI-
tty OF enforcing such triaing restrictions as do
exist.
Lst Il be understood that do not wish 10
give the impression that all private detectives
and their agencies are bad. Such statement
would be not only absurd but utterly untrue
To my knowledge there are many men in this
necessary profession who are as honest IN all
Transactions the light OF day. men whose IN
tegTity - above question and who fulhl every
obligation 10 the letter. But. unfortunately. the
honest members Of the profession are, cornpara-
lively speaking. few that sooner or later.
when society awakels and takes cognizance of
this growing Ill. they. too, viii suffer from the
odium tha; inevitably VIII attach TO the very
name private detective"
IL may seem sweeping statement but I am
morally convinced that fuily 20 per cent OF the
private detective establishments, masquerading
IN whatever form are rotten 20 the core and
simply exist and thrive upon a foundation OF
dishonesty. deceit. conspiracy snd treachery O.
the public in general and their own patrons N
rff fFn1a q 81
exists in plenty. but, unfortunately those most
often IN possession OF the evidence are. through
selfish motives anxious as the dishonest de-
lccllEaE u LaeL. lEa L---.---- --.a--o E-.-a.--
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
The FARCE OF THE LAW.

For this immense task OF fighting the evils
In tho private detective system the State Of
New York employs one man. who. on a totally
inadequate appropriation and without assist
ance goes on year after year hampered by lack
of finances and cooperation of courts II is like
the battle Of Don Quixote with the windmills.
this war waged by one man on one side with an
army Of unscrupulous men the other.
The man who wishes 10 operate as private
detective in New York files an application az Al
bany. and after this application has been passed
upon by an agent appointed to look into such
matters he Is eligible to operate after furnish
inS bonds and paying license fee Of 500 The
detective is now at liberty to start an agency
and employ as many operatives as he sees fit.
These operatives are answerable only TO the head
or the agency, not being licensed or under bonds
Thus IL is that the head OF a bureau may be
honest and yet have I'm his employ q stan OF
irresponsible crooks. SWindllug agencies DO not
care what the character of the employe may be
provided he Will work cheap. Think OF the
called detective whose agency pays him So or
q 80 a day being engaged upon confidential
work and in the possession OF secrets that he
knows are worth money. Is It any wonder that
so many cases are cold out by employees even
when the agencies are honest?
The average charge to the client is So or s. a
day for every operative employed. and. I'm addi-
uon. any expenses they may incur \ popular
practice among most OF the agencies is 10 have
one operative work on many as half dozen
cases on the same day. turn In reports for each
and thus enable the chief" 10 collect full rates
from all six clients
While the selling out OF clients is common. u
is the head of the bureau who usually Teaps the
proht from this course. To partly guard against
his subordinates forestalling him at his own
game, he carefully withhOas from the opera
tiyes the identity OF the client for whom they are
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
PILES OF TRUNKS.

The annual home rush after vacation has passed
but Il left IN its wake veritable Jam Of trunks
The baggage rooms at the Grand Central Station
were piled 70 the ceiling last week with trunks
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
WHY THE PUBLIC Is IGNORANT

Persons % an inquTing turn q mind may
question that q condition such as describe can
exist uEoeknown 20 the public The explanation
= simple The very necessity for secrecy Ia in
NestsaiiOn which brought the private c.tective
into existence i the lever by which the sgin-
osrs S0rG ard the cloak under which they
New-York tribune., 1906-09-16

crets Of the master and mistress could be turned
to profitable account. We shudder when we
hear Of the system of espionage maintained in
Russia. while IN the large American cities un-
noticed are organizations Of spies and inform
ers on every hand who spend their lives digging
pitfalls for the unwary who can afford 10 pay.
The Washington times., 1906-10-21
REASONS WHY THE PUBLIC
GONRONG IN SPECULATlNG

The public as a body, never buys any
thing when il Is cheap. There are nu-
mer0us reasons for this To begin with.
the point of view Of the successful
speculator and that Of the public trader
are entirely different The first named
operates or deductions, on carefully
erected theories of what conditions will
ae a vear-tW0 years hence. the un-
sophisticated trader acts upon whatever
~ the IgtTe is already apparent. II is
again rlatlGGe 60 say that Wall
Street discounts everything good or
bad. but how many people who mouth
this axiom realize that this diseouutiug 8
means. nos the gaueiug of the known.
but Of the wholly unknown. The man
who acts today on the probable cOndi-
lions OF The long, unseen future, is the
man who makes money. in Wall Street
or i'm any other enterprises, for that
natter and the man whose mind goes
farthsst ahead makes the most money.
III / could only see the tape month
ahead cries the Jyro. There are many
men who see 10 a year ahead, not in its
fiurTIes and fractions but in its great
and important eutiTety-ThOmas @ DsOn,
in Moody Magazine,
The Washington times., 1906-10-21
"TaIZOIIlaTark

Mr and Mrs. L. r. Palmer of Noun
tain View, Cal, have left for Vermont
20 visit relatives before returning TO
their home in California.
Prof j J.. Shaw and wife left here
Friday 10 go to New York, where they
will embark on the Baltic with a COM
pany of sixteen bound for India. All
go as missionaries Of the Seventh Day
Adventists.
Miss FIoy Wilson. who came recently
from Portland, Me, is the guest OF
Mrs. II. =. Rogers, Of Pine street
Elder C. A Irwin left here last Tues
day 10 go 10 Africa. where he will re-
main for several months.
Edward L. r. Conrad. Of Hamburg,
Germany, has returned home from phil
adelphia. where lie was the guest of
Prof. Wilkinson. Of Butternut street
before going on 10 Lincoln, Neb.
Mrs. McLane. Of Boulder Col, has
arrived TO visit friends a few days.
whIle on her way 10 India.
a vacation day last Thursday.
Miss FIoy Wilson. Of Pine street. is
III at the sanitaTium at the Iowa Circle
this week.
Mrs Z. s. Baird was visiting friends
here last week.
Mrs J. W Lawhead visited friends
In the city lasC week
Elder +. w. Farusworth, who has
been visiting at Elder Prescotts, on
Blair road, has left for his nome ia
south Lancaster. Mass.
Mrs Ruth left Takoma Park Friday,
en- route ID New York. where she viii
sail 10 India
Mr. O'Dounell has given mp "Dresden
Hail." on Carroll street, where he spent
the summer. 20 return 10 the city.
Mrs J. J.. Shaw addressed the young
people at the Christian Endeavor meet
ing last week. her subject being Mis-
siOuary Worl, in India"
The Washington times., 1906-10-21
BIRTH RATE DECLINING GENER
ALLY.

In practically all of the great coun-
tries of the world the birth rate is de-
clIning II is a world movement. and
though France was a little earlier in
revealing Il than was any other great
country all of them are falling into line
with her Coincidentally, however, with
the falling IN the birth rate is decline
i'm the rate OF deaths, which may pre-
serve the equilibrium In population, as
il evidently does in France. where the
total of Inhabitants remains virtually
stationary. Coincidentally. moreover.
with the shrinkage In births comes an
increase in the food supply of the world.
If Nautilus were here in 1906 he would
be compelled to revise his notions about
the increasing pressure of population on
the means OF subsistence.-St. Louis
Globe-Democrat.
The Washington times., 1906-10-21
lexington

Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob w. Collins have
issued cards for the marriage Of their
daughter. Mary Darley, to John NJ.
Glover. on Wednesday evening. Octo-
Der "A, at o'clock. in the lexington
Presbyterian Church
hiss Maryone Ruth Mertz. is 10 be
maid Of honor. and the Misses Hazel
Magic, Bertha Bean, Esestine and
Aurora Hodges are to be bridesmaids.
Rust Hall has opened under President
c. w Gallagher. There is a large
enrolment in all subjects Some of the
young ladies pursuing a kindergarten
course are Miss Dorothy Dewey. Cali
fornia; Miss SoEenberger. Chambers
burg, Pa; Miss Margaret Langworthy,
>Pittsburg, Pa; Miss Anna Price. Balii-
more; Miss Cecilia Rogers. New York,
and Miss Helen Kirk. Ohio
Miss Annie Harman entertained the
'Washingtonlans" Monday night at
her home. a pleasant evening was
spent Those present were Miss Slater.
Miss Appleby, Miss GIddings. Miss Bres-
lin and Messrs. Phelps, Bricker, Chase
Clitt, Helbig. Leamon-
Mrs. Edgar Speiden has moved from
Rhode Island avenue 10 the residence Of
her son. Edgar, 68s Elliott street north
east.
J, T Grober, who has been visiting
relatives in this vicinity. has returned
TO his home n Philadelphia.
The Washington times., 1906-10-21
BLooll1lngda1e,

The Washingtonians held their regu-
lar meeting at the home of Miss Ap-
pIcby. The clubs opening ball was
held in National Rifles Armory Thurs
day evening, October Is, The club will
meet Monday evening at Miss Har-
mons. 11lO Sixth street
The Washington times., 1906-10-21
Laurel

The funeral of Mrs. Sarah J. Waters.
widow of George W. Waters, who died
on Tuesday after an Illness of several
months. took place Thursday afternoon
from 81. Philips Protestant Episcopal
Church, the Rev. T. A. Johnstone Of
fciaung She was eighty-one years old,
and Is survived by three children, George
w. Waters and Randolph r Waters. Of
Laurel. and Mrs. William Han Of Bal
timOre
The Washington times., 1906-10-21
Brookland

The BROOKLYN Chapter OF the Eastern
star Is making preparations for a lit
eFaFy ana musical entertainment 10 be
gwen IN the town han October %. The
program promises 20 be exceptionally
s'oo. The committee in charge has Sc
! cured the services of some Of Washing
ton noted entertainers.
A surprise party was given in honor
OF Miss Katie Parsons. Of Twelfth
street Many games were played after
winch refreshments were served. Among
those present were Josephine Parsons.
| Elsie Schooley. Ruth Wilson. Gerald
/ Hensey. Arthur and Valentine Nc
! Craight. Harry and Courtland Keans
and William Bailey.
Col c. 5 Brown gave a picnic to
Great Falls, in honor Of his guest Mrs
J. T. kempf- Among those who were
IN the party were the Misses Bessie.
Lucy and Katherine Lynch, Media and
Helen Love, Edith and Sarah Brown.
Josephine Patton and the Messrs.
Brown and Martin Eiker.
Donald Scott recently received rs aP~
pointment - the Navy Department
Miss ToTrey. Of Massachusetts. is visit
ing Mrs Hughes. u E.varts street
Mr.. and Mrs. Scott. OF Lawrence
street, are visiting in Buffalo. \. Y.
Mrs. James a. Greer. who has been
visiting her mother Mrs. Wetzel. Of
Girard street, has returned TO her home
In Cedarvlilc Md.
=. =. German. who has been visiting
Mrs W. o. WeJZel. has returned to mis-
home in Washington
Mrs. Dyhe and family. Of Washington.
nave moved into the house recently va
Gated by Mrs Robertson. Ninth and
keaTney streets.
The Brookland football team opened
us season by defeating the strong
Hyattsville eleven. 10 TO D.
HARD To CHOOSE
The Washington times., 1906-10-21

George c. Billiard. formerly of Laurel.
has left for Havana, Cuba. Mr.. Billiard
goes with the army expeditions as stem
ographer to Lieutenant WetherspOOn,
chief of staff.