Methods and Procedure of the Profession.
_Shadowing._--Shadowing means to follow a person and note their
movements and actions; what they do; where they go; in fact each and
every movement. It is customary with the large detective agencies to
start the beginner on a shadow case and watch the movements of the
beginner by one of their experienced shadow men. This is done to keep
the beginner from making a false report. Shadowing is a very important
branch of detective work for the reason so many cases require this form
of work. Most all important cases demand that some person or persons
be shadowed, and in a large number of cases that never reach the
public press the principals have been shadowed for weeks, months, and
sometimes for years.
In shadowing a person, keep your mind on your subject all the time,
also keep such close watch of the person’s actions and movements that
he is never out of your sight for a moment. Never allow the subject
to see you looking at him. Never imagine what you think the subject
will do or where he is going; the work you undertake is to note where
he does go and his movements. Guessing on a proposition in this line
is likely to divulge your identity and allow the subject to know your
business. Do not allow your friends to stop or molest you while on this
kind of work. It only takes you off your subject and interferes with
your business. If the subject you are following becomes suspicious that
he is being shadowed, he will likely enter an office building which
has two entrances, entering one and departing by the other.
One of the most efficient methods of perfecting shadowing is to
commence when the shadowed party leaves his home early in the morning.
Where this is done, care should be taken that your actions are natural
and normal, so as not to arouse suspicion of his friends or others on
the street. Frequently, persons who suspect they are being shadowed
have look-outs, whom they depend upon to inform them if any shadowing
is being done.
When taking a shadowing job it is very important to find out as much
as possible from the client, or in some other way have the subject
designated to you. By this means the shadow does not have to come in
contact with his subject.
In doing shadow work in cities the man assigned to this work should
understand the different streets and buildings, be acquainted with the
street car lines, the location of all prominent buildings and entrances
to same, as it will often occur that a subject will go in one entrance
in the building and come out at another, so the shadow will want to
take the position, if he can possibly do so, where he can cover all
entrances. Of course, this is impossible in some cases, as some large
buildings cover an entire block. In a case like this you should follow
the subject into the building, and, if possible, take the elevator and
get off at the same floor with him.
Always note the time the person you are shadowing enters and leaves the
building. The one being shadowed, no doubt, has certain fixed habits,
and after shadowing him for a short while you will learn these--where
he usually visits, how long he remains, etc. Make a note of all these
things, so that in case of accident, and you lose track of your subject
your notes will help you to pick him up again. In shadow work it often
occurs the subject recognizes the detective and learns that he is
being shadowed. Should this happen notify the main office so that they
may send another man to take your place. Do not allow the subject to
see you with the new man. Sometimes the best of detectives will be
recognized by the man they are shadowing. Incidents of this kind grow
less, however, as the detective acquires more experience in shadow work.
_Investigation._--Investigation is another important matter in
detective work. In the investigation of civil and criminal cases the
detective is obliged to get the necessary evidence or information for
his clients from many different sources, often entailing considerable
time, patience, and expense. The investigation may cover a lot of
territory, and the detective will then find it necessary to communicate
with trusted agents or correspondents in different parts of the country
to secure what information or evidence is needed to win his case. Care
should be taken to see that all matters placed in other hands will
receive prompt attention. You should remember that you are the agent
of your client, and as such should always endeavor to give all matters
placed in your hands due consideration and prompt attention. The
detective should never divulge any information given him by his clients
to relatives or near friends. He should be truthful in his reports,
economical with expense money entrusted in his care and never discuss
any of his cases with outsiders.
_“Roping” and Open Investigation Work._--“To draw out” or
“rope in” with a person for the purpose of making an undercover
investigation, you must first make their acquaintance, and, if possible
to do so, do it in the way that your subject will never suspect that
you are a detective. You must first get acquainted with some friend
of his or hers, whoever the subject may be, then get his friend to
introduce you, is the best way to get acquainted. Sometimes in cases
you can pick up an acquaintance with a person in a way that would not
arouse his suspicion and after your acquaintance work out of them by
degrees the information you are trying to obtain. You will be called
upon constantly to perform this class of work and will become naturally
more and more expert with practice. In criminal cases, you have to be
particularly careful, as the criminal is always more or less suspicious
of strangers, and will not give out much information until you gain his
confidence and get better acquainted. It is best to “frame” some story
as to who you are and where you are from, etc. Do not state you are
from some city that you are not from and could not give any information
that would be asked you, as this is likely to “put you in bad”. It may
be, you have gotten fairly well in the confidence of your subject and
you have been leading him to believe right along that you were from
Cincinnati when in fact you were never in Cincinnati in your life. Then
you are introduced by the subject to a friend of his, who is really
from Cincinnati, probably being born and raised there, and the subject
would at once say to the newly met friend, “This man is from your old
town or city,” and this new friend would begin to question you and
talk to you about Cincinnati, and it would not take him two minutes to
find out that you had never been in Cincinnati. Then all you had done
would be undone, as the subject would become suspicious of you. Another
thing, while on work of this kind, you are liable to meet two or more
people whom you do not know or with whom you are unacquainted, but you
might all be good friends of the subject. They meet and get to talking
over having met you, and if you told them all different stories as to
what your name was, where you were from, etc., it will at once arouse
the subject’s suspicion, and your work with him will be worthless in
the future.
_Special Agents and Detectives Employed in Railroad Work and by
Express Companies._--The larger railroads, as well as most of the
smaller railroads, have a detective or special agency department.
Where there is an organized department, there is always a chief of
detectives, or chief special agent who is located in a city or town
where the general offices of the company are located. His assistants
are located at certain towns on the division over which he presides.
The railroads also employ a system of watchmen, under the chief special
agent, who are located in various cities and towns on this division.
All orders pertaining to this line of work come through the chief
special agent’s office. The smaller railroads, where they do not
have the organized department, but have a special agent, get their
instructions from the superintendents of the railroads for whom they
work. The special agent is commissioned under a “special railroad”
law by the Governor of the state in which the railroad is located.
To have authority in all counties in which this railroad enters, it
is necessary for the special agent to have his commission recorded
in each county, and this gives him no other police power other than
authority on the right of way of the railroad company for which he is
commissioned.
The railroad detective’s, or special agent’s, duties are to investigate
all crimes committed against the railroad, train robberies, depot
burglaries, car robberies, robbery of freight trains while in
transit, freight depots, investigating “overs” and “shorts” in
freight shipments, seeing to the safety of passengers while on the
trains or at the depots and protecting them against confidence games,
short-change men, pickpockets and so forth. It is also his duty to
trace lost baggage, or baggage that has been pilfered while in transit.
Investigating claims for personal injury of passengers or employees
of the company, investigating reports and complaints made against
employees. Special agents should become well acquainted with all
employees and officials on the division to which he is assigned and
make each and every one of them his friend, as in most all cases which
he has to investigate it will be necessary to get information to assist
him in this work from the officials and employees. He should not, under
any circumstances, compromise himself with the officials or employee.
But, if possible, he should always keep them under obligations to him,
as he cannot tell at what time he will be called upon to investigate an
official or employee. At any time he is making an investigation, and
there is any doubt about the complaint against the employee, he should
give the man under investigation the benefit of same. In this manner
you can establish a record with the officials and employees that will
gain their confidence and naturally their assistance and makes it much
easier for you to be successful. Be sure you have evidence to secure
a conviction before detaining or causing a person or persons to be
arrested.
It always is best to first consult the prosecuting attorney, or the
attorney who represents the railroad company, laying before them the
evidence you have in the case, and if, in their judgment the evidence
which you have already obtained is sufficient to convict, then secure
your warrant and make the arrest.
If it should be a case which does not require prompt attention, get
your evidence in proper form, together with a list of witnesses, and
present it before the next term of the grand jury in the county in
which the crime or offense is committed. If the above instructions
are carried out, and you fail on the conviction, there would be no
one responsible for false imprisonment or arrest. The detective, or
special agent, should be well versed in law governing his profession in
the state in which he operates, as in most states the prisoner could
recover damages for false arrest.
The express companies transact a very heavy volume of business in
commodities of great value. Jewelry and valuables are shipped, much
money is sent from place to place, and money orders and remittances
are passed through the hands of the clerk to the customer constantly.
In this class of business many irregularities occur. In the express
detective business your knowledge of railroad detective work will be
of great assistance, as the two are frequently called upon to work
together.