The Leavenworth Weekly Times

SPORTING CONDUCTORS

How the Detective Business is Managed.

It is one of the hardships of a railroad conductor's life, that he is always supposed to be "on the take." It is not called dishonesty, but it amounts to the same thing. A commercial traveler sends us a bit of his experience in one of his trips to the Far West, which will throw light upon this interesting subject:

"Tickets?"

The voice sounded quite familiar to the traveler, who sat snugly ensconced in a palace car attached to a train, the destination of which was St. Louis. In the person of the conductor—he recognized an acquaintance of many years' standing; and after he had collected his pasteboards, a conversation was commenced that ultimately turned upon a subject which of late has created considerable commotion in western railroad circles.

Spotters were the people under consideration, and their peculiarities were freely discussed. The gentlemen who preside over the destinies of those who travel by rail have, since time immemorial, been looked upon with suspicion by that portion of the community who are ever ready, and more than willing to believe any one guilty on the slightest pretence, in order that they may be brought to their own level. From their surroundings, railroad conductors are placed in such a position that they can easily be made the victims of unscrupulous men technically known as spotters, and during the past few weeks some of the oldest, most trustworthy and most popular conductors running out of St. Louis have resigned their positions and entered into other business.

This state of affairs was brought about through the directors of several of the roads terminating at St. Louis having employed special detectives to act as spies upon their movements. Directors of western roads do not seem as indifferent as the eastern railroad magnate who entered a jeweler's to purchase a watch, and was shown an elegant chronometer valued at $500. The proprietor, in recommending the time-piece, stated that all the conductors wore similar watches, when the customer related that his conductors might be able to afford the luxury, but that the president of the road could not.

In view of the many temptations that are supposed to beset railroad men, each company employs a detective for their own especial benefit, whose main duties are to trace up lost freight and keep an eye on the movements of suspicious employees. These men until the past year or two, were considered amply sufficient to guard the interest of the various road, but of late a class of men have taken the matter into their hands with a view of feathering their own nests, and their modus operandi is here briefly detailed. Suppose, for instance, that Solomon Slug and Silas Slotter have "gone broke playing bank," or in any other way equally effective, and are extremely anxious to raise a stake. They are fine talkers, and call upon the president of a prominent road, when the following conversation ensues:

"Good morning, Mr. President."

"Good day, gentlemen."

"We have called, sir, on a rather delicate mission, and one in which you are deeply interested. Are you aware that the conductors on your road are systematically swindling you?"

"No, sir."

"Well, we can prove it. If such was not the case, how does it happen that at any one of the numerous scalping offices tickets can be bought over your road for three or four dollars less than the regular fare?"

This question rather staggers the official, and his visitors are asked how the offender can be reached.

"Easily enough," answers the spokesman; "place the matter in our hands, give us carte-blanche to go to work, and we will prove to your satisfaction who the offender is. If we do not succeed in ferreting out the thief, we will not ask any compensation for our services."

The proposition seems fair, and in nine cases out of ten the bargain is consummated then and there. Taking it for granted that the spotters were honest men, and had entered into the arrangement in good faith, little harm could possibly be done to trustworthy employees; but, on the other hand, if the private detectives had a grudge against any of the employees, or were inclined to act as scoundrels, it is an easy matter for them to accomplish their purpose. It should be borne in mind that their pecuniary success depends entirely upon their capability in making cases, and this of itself is a strong inducement to do wrong.

One little scheme, showing how the reputation of innocent men could be forever blasted by these spotters was related to the reporter. The moment the detective secures employment he purchases a ticket, running the risk of being that much out of pocket in case he should fail to make a case. This ticket is taken to the superintendent, who places a private mark on it, in order that it may be recognized at any future time. The spotter then boards the train which is in charge of his intended victim, and, instead of handing over the marked ticket, pays his fare. On reaching the terminus of the road a confederate hastens away to a scalping office with the ticket and disposes of it. When the conductor hands in the proceeds of his trip, the marked ticket is missing; and it is suggested to the superintendent that the scalping offices be visited, which is done and proof of the conductor's dishonesty seems plain enough. The detective maintains that the ticket in question was handed by him to the conductor, and the latter, as a matter of course, where there are a large number of passengers, cannot remember that his accuser paid his fare in cash. As a natural consequence, the unfortunate man is ignominiously dismissed the service, with his prospects for life blasted, while the scoundrel, who worked an innocent man's ruin, comes off with flying colors.

It is not maintained that this is a practice carried out by all spotters, some of whom, no doubt, are good men; but the circumstance is only related to show that men who have borne unblemished reputations all their lives, are justified in resigning a position, rather than run the risk of being made the scapegoat of men who would not hesitate at any obstacle that might stand in the way of their professional reputation.