The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1908-07-24

The success Of detective work in
New York is more dependent upon
clever DISCUSSES to-day than ever be-
fore. The detective of the dime nov
ell is certainly rivaled, II he is not out
done, by the everyday work Of scores
OF central Office men. The work Of
the special. detail which has been as
signed to the Black Hand work, the
active campaign against policy shops,
and gambling in general and the un-
usual number Of homicidal cases de-
mand more of this character work
probably than ever before in the his
tory of the force. The incentive to
make arrests in these cases Is espe-
cially great, and under this pressure
many Of the detectives have developed
a skill in makeup and in assuming
variety Of DISCUSSES which the charac-
ter actor might we'll envy. Fiction,
especially Of the dime novel order, has
Its counterpart in the every day work
OF the department.
The most elaborate make-ups and
the most picturesque detective work
In the history of the central office are
probably now going on in connection
with the Black Hand work. The spe-
cial squad, composed for the most part
OF italian detectives, which is at work
on these cases often resorts to the
most desperate means to procure evil
dence. The difficulty of meeting GRIM
tnals on equal terms is obviously
great. The DISCUSSES which will de-
ceive them must be exceedingly we'll
assumed. In this work the detectives
aften play the roles of familiar street
types. The detective becomes a ped
der, push cart vender, hand organ
man or tramp living for days in the
poorest sections. To be successful re-
qutres Of course an attention to de-
tail quite equal to that of character
actor on the stage and an infallible
skill In makeup.
An important Bowery case, either
homicide or robbery, is often cleared
up very quickly by an experienced de-
tective In disguise, provided the dis
guise be we'll assumed. To a good
convincing Bowery type every resort
from end to end of the street is open.
but the detectives makeup must alb.
solutely be above suspicion.
There is no other street in the citv
where any one type of man can enter
every type of resort with so little
question and be allowed to idle about
with so little suspicion. A convincing
Bowery type may walk unchallenged
into all the hotels and lodging houses,
the theaters and cheap catchpenny
shows, the saloons and the shops of
every kind and be allowed to make
himself very much at home without
question. On Broadway, on Fifth, or
even Sixth avenue, the thing would
be out Of the question.
A good Bowery makeup is compare
lively simple. The necessary clothes
can be bought at secondhand deal
er's. A three or four days beard is
readily cultivated. A slightly REDEEM
ed nose may be artificially assumed.
with black finger nails, short-cropped
hair and general appearance of care.
lessness In attire, and toilet. Such a
makeup seems simple enough, but it
must be considered that If it is iudg-
60 ny exceedingly critical eyes it must
be perfect to the last detail. The sue
cess Of a number of central office men
In this work is, of course, very high
compliment to their art in makeup if
1t were nothing more. A stage make
up, however skillful, would be absurd
In real life. False boards or whiskers.
for instance. are unknown in actual
detective work. BY daylight the clev-
crest imitation would run a serious
cnance Of detection and the slightest
suspicion would, Of course, be fatal.
In pool room work the conventional
disguise for such work has always
been that of countryman, or at least
an out-of-town man Of unsophisticated
appearance. This disguise has, of
course. had great success, but it has