The herald., 1913-04-10
EVOLUTION Of THE COM
MERC|AL DEPARTMENT
PinkertOn & Co., United
States Detective Agency


ration in the year 1888, some thirty
years ago. The organizer of this con-
Germ was Matthew W. Pinkerton of
Chicago, ILL.,, where is now and always
has been the headquarters of this con-
Germ, who had the idea in view of serv-
| ing the public with an agency which
was entirely different from the then
present Detective Agency, and in that
way open up field which was entirely
new for that kind of an institution.
From the beginning this company
met with success in listing among its
clients considerable number of banks
and business houses over the country
who were not entirely satisfied with
the service which they had heretofore
received from other agencies. SucS
clients as these carry on their books
accounts such as overdrafts, unprO-
tected notes, checks and other papers
which, in its present state, was of lit
tie or no value; even some of these
matters might have been handled un-
der the law should the owner thereof
desire to seek recourse through this
channel, but as a rule a business con-
Germ is more DESTROYS upon making
profits and securing business for itse q
than ferreting out unnatural papers.
What they most desire is a monetary
settlement. This being the case those
clients upon the books of this agency
interceded with it's principal and gen.
eral manager to take up these papers
and other collateral along a CONNER
cial line and endeavor to secure for
them a refund for these overdrafts,
ETC., as the case might be.
Under pressure Of this solicitation,
Mr.. Pinkerton devolved the idea of
adding a Commercial Department to
that of his Detective for the purpose
OF handling such matters as above out
lined. This department in a small
way began to handle the commercial
business of clients of his Detective De-
partment only. Meeting with consid-
cradle success along these lines and
being of very ambitious disposition,
he decided to sell contracts of a Com
mercial nature to those firms or cor.
porations who were not associated with
the Detective Department proper. This
contract was for the sole purpose of
handling their commercial business,
but carried with it as an inducement
to take advantage of the Detective De.
partment whenever necessary, a spe-
cial rate.
With the continuous growth of this
department want was felt for the
opening up OF various branches in con.
nection Herewith, such as special in.
vestigation of bankrupts, auditing of
accounts and through its Detective De-
partment the tracing of lost debtors.
When these branches were properly
installed the necessity was felt of hav-
ing in the South a full and complete
office for the handling of that class of
business.
Feeling the necessity of placing in
charge of the General Offices men of
large experience and executive ability,
having tn confidence of the general
public, Mr.. Pinkerton associated with
himself Messrs. Geo. ]. Loeffel and
Paul Israel, both men who, before their
connection with this concern, having
had considerable and varied expert
ence in the commercial and detective
lines respectively.
Since the above referred-to gentle.
men as associate general managers as
sumed charge, the business has grown
| from what might be termed a local
agency to one covering the entire Unit
ed States, Canada and Mexico. There
is not town of any size in the coun-
tries mentioned which has not sub
scribers to this agency. They have a
large number of special representa-
tives throughout the territory covered,
who are daily reporting the sales of
these contracts in large quantities.
Besides the representatives whose
duties are selling contracts, they have
their resident correspondents whose
duty is to locate and bring to light lost
debtors. The Legal Department has
attorneys who represent this Agency
in practically every county seat and
every city.
Being so we'll equipped they natur-
| ally render service even beyond the
expectation of their clients and natur-
ally have thousands of voluntary testi-
monials in their files endorsing and
recommending their service, and wits
few exceptions expired contracts are
Immediately renewed.
Among it's clientele are merchants,
bankers and professional men in all
walks OF life. Their fees for service
not being large, contracts are being
taken advantage of By both the large
and small creditors.
lNADrkIN MANcnn roANccEn