The sun., 1907-08-18
ROBERT A. PINKERTON DEAD
STRICKEN ABOARD THE BREMEN
ON WAY TO GERMANY.
scr, "d In the secret service In the Ckn War
nder Ills Father-A Grcnt Criminal
catcher and strike Breaker How the
Famous Detectt Agency Was Built Ip

Robert A. Pinkerton who directed the
business Of the Pinkerton Detective Agency
with his brother, William A.. died suddenly
aboard the North German Lloyd steamer
Rrcmcn last Monday. He was walking on
ieck when he dropped dead With Big
lorrie sullivan and several other friends
hc sailed on August n. hoping that the
waters Of Nauhem would restore his health.
Mr. Pnkerton had been suffering from
tcart trouble for months. but none Of his
TRENDS thought his condition was alarming
lhc day after he sailed William Allan
pinkerton, who was attending the race
meeting at Saratoga, told the reporters
that Bob had gone to Europe to look after
Ilorrie Sullivan.
You know, boys said Bill PnIerton
that Florrie Sullivan is the swellest toe
lancer Of the Fast Side and is entered for
jue International toe dancers cup contest
u Paris. We got commission to see that
llorrie kept in training and since it was
unc Of the biggest jobs we had undertaken
N many years Bob went along to look
after Florrie personally. Bob's health is
now first rate, but he needs "A rest and
change Of scene"
The news of Bob Pinkerton's death cam,
lb tne fluhtTtOu OIuCe at O| bTOauWaV
yesterday morning in curious way. ii
sablegram came from Inspector Troest of
Scotland Yard, an old time frieni and
associate Of the Pinkerton brothers in many
= thief catching case, conveying the con-
rioences of the Scotland Yard chief That
was the first intimation they had that Bob
rinkerton was dead and it stopped all
business with a jerk. Supt. Thornhll
'olegraphed to William Allan Pinkerton at
Saratoga, who replied by wire that the
news was true as he had just received a
message from Plymouth, England, where
the Bremen landed yesterday morning.
The body was taken on to Bremen.
The story of Bob Pinkerton's life. a story
more fascinating to the workaday citizen
than the highly oolored but impossible
warns of the clever Frenchmen that have
tried their hands at the mystery Of de-
iective work. goes ba ok TO the civil war
when young Bob. then 10 years old. was
a mighty Valuable member Of the secret
service organization that the old man
Allan Pinkerton-organized at the request
of President Lincoln.
The first Of the Pinkertons was banging
away at barrels in a cooper shop in Elgin.
H. when the Sheriff Of the county asked
him TO help catch a counterfeiter. They
got the counterfeiter. and that started
Allan Pinkerton in the business of cor
railing crooks. He went to work as a
regular detective on the Chicago police
force, made good and withdrew to start
an agency of his own. The nucleus of the
present famous agency was formed in a
musty little Office in Lasalle street. His
younger son. Bob. was with him through
out the war as a spy, running the Con-
federate lines and getting valuable news
for Grant and his Generals. Some of the
feats reformed by the father and son
earned for them the thanks Of President
Lincoln.
After the war the Pinkerton Detective
Watch became famous. Pnkerton detec-
tlves were everywhere. hunting for MUIR
derers, embezzlers and forgers. but old
Allan Pinkerton and his two sons soon
found that there were more profitable
means of employing the men than as mere
detectives. Their employees became watch
men for banks, agents of corporations.
bodyguards Of rich men who feared assas-
sination and strike breakers. Agencies were
established in New York Chicago, Phila-
delphia, Boston, st. Paul. Kansas City
and Denver, and the system was such that
1000 or more men could be concentrated
swiftly at any point where their services
were required.
Old Allan Pinkerton laid down three
fundamental rules for the management Of
the business: first, that no case should be
accepted on the basis of payment in the case
Of success. but that in all cases the charge
should be at a per diem rate set and agreed
upon; second. that no divorce case or cases
having in any way TO do with marital rela-
tions should be accepted by the agency.
and, third. that every man employed by the
agency should have fixed salary and in
no event should accept any reward or
gratuity Since the old man retired in
1884. the two sons have lived up to the rules
and made the service an organization OF
greater scope than Allan PinkertoD had
ever dreamed Of
Robert A. Pinkerton took charge OF the
New York office and William A. Pinkerton
managed the Chicago headquarters. They
understood human nature the kind that Is
represented by the unorganized mob and
senseless rabble. Legislation never fright
ened them, because they knew the cor
porations which depended on their services
would fight their battles for them. One
of the first principles Of their business was
absolute secrecy. News might leak from
Police Headquarters. but seldom from the
Pinkerton Offices Their army OF men
scattered all over the country was under
military Discipline practically and respon-
-lhle 10 none but Robert A. and William A.
Pinkerton
one Of the biggest jobs that Bob Pinkerton
ever handled was smashing the Homestead
strike for Carnegie in 1892 The Pinkertons
srrned with Winchesters. fought battles
with tho strikers and men were killed on
both sides. The part played by the Pink
ertons WAS made the subject OF inquiry by a
committee of the United States Senate IN
1852, and Robert A.. Pinkerton defended his
men, asserting that up to that time they had
been opposed to i25 900 strikers In all parts
of the country in seventy strikes. had been
assaulted, abused and shot at. and yet had