Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-25
TOLD BY THEIR WAYS
SHOWN By STU
DENTS OF MANKIND.
Varied Views of Detective Sergeant,
Newspaper Man and Hotel
Detective.

.That man who just passed us IS
night worker" said a detective sergeant
to some companions, as they were walk :
ing down Pennsylvania avenue few ar
ternoons. ago. HE is probably a faro
hank dealer or a roulette-wheel spin
ner."
IT thought there were no tiger lairs in
Washington" questioned correspond
ent. one of the party.
There are none" responded the de-
tective THAT chap probably halls from
New York or Philadelphia; here on
visit most likely. I will keep lookout
for him.
but how can you tell his calling?" per-
sisted the other. HE seemed to me to be
merely a well-dressed stranger. perhaps
a bank clerk in another CITY,"
TT is not difficult for a detective--a
man whose whole life Is largely spent In
sizing up other men-to tell some men--
moi all. but some men-by their general
appearance or some outstanding specific
detail or feature in their general make
up" answered the headquarters plain
clothes man.
Faro dealers and roulette-wheel spin
ners, and others Of the regular employees
of a gambling establishment, all In time
take on a peculiar pailor OF compIexiot
which is as clear as day to men used TO
meeting these persons. 1t Is distinct from
the paleness of a store clerk, and l have
vet to see one of these gentry with
ness. for business 1t is. These men work
regularly at their callings like the men
in other occupations. and when there Is
a lull, or nothing doing at the house
just lie around and walt until the house
opens again. or they go to another place
which has not been molested.
They work all night in warm. poorly
ventilated rooms albeit in most instances
handsomely furnished ones. They seldom
see daylight except late in the afternoon,
after sleeping all day, so they are In
doors practically night and day. rms
absence from contact with outside atmos-
phere gives them that peculiar pallid
Skin to which I first called your atten-
ton This with their general get-up, In
most cases very neat and gentlemanly,
as they receive good wages. makes them
easy marks for us when we have only
meager details as to their identity"
'Spotting" Detective.
and it is not likewise difficult for an
experienced newspaper man to spot
detective on sight, despite their disparity
in age, size and general appearance" re-
marked the correspondent.
clothes man, incredulously. Detectives
have none of the hallmarks Of identiffca-
ton, as have the gambling fraternity.
You won't find two detectives In an en-
tire squad who look the least DIT alike
in any particular"
ITS ring on you mean" answered
the correspondent. though I'll admit that
the distinctions are not open to the
association with detectives, policemen
and other individual bodies Of men, in
time, II they are observing, pick out
their distinguishing features.
Thus, with detectives. we can spot
you block away, in the first place by
what I will call the detective look or
glance You don't see anything alb
the sidewalk or in public places but
mems faces, and on these your glance
travels from one to another; other pedes-
TRANS are looking at something else. or
into vacancy, with their thoughts plainly
far ahead Of their steps. to the observing
student of human nature. But the de-
tectiye's glanees are from face to face. a
quick, penetrating. fleeting glance, which
in time becomes part of their individu-
aiity.
"Then. as a great rule. you travel in
pairs or in threes. You are as plain as
beacon lights on a dark coast line when
we see you at the general post office
watching for some one at the general de-
livery windows, though the average per-
son wouldn't see you at all. And at rail-
road stations and in other public places
it is the Same-to us.
That's right" acquiesced the house de-
tective of one of our large Pennsylvania
avenue hotels, who was one of the party.
while the plain clothes man shook his head
obviously. as it was apparent to the others
that the drinks or cigars were up to him.
IT can pick out a visiting detective. though
total stranger, in nine cases out of ten
Just as soon as he comes Into the hotel
lobby; the clerk doesn't have to call me
over for the usual introduction.
in his remarks the other men agreed in gem
eral terms. .'ehe popular superstition that
detectives and other men can size up men
by their clothes and the general cut OF