Chapter V: 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.