icer, who courteously communicated it, was obtained,
and my identification with the case began.

It became necessary at the outset that the support of the State's
Attorney should be secured, as without that nothing could be
successfully accomplished, and an interview was had with Mr.
Olmstead, which resulted in his entire and cordial indorsement of our
employment.

The difficulties in the way of successful operation beset us at the
commencement, and were apparent to the minds of all. The murder had
taken place two months prior to our receiving any information
concerning it, and many of the traces of the crime that might have
existed at the time of its occurrence, and would have been of
incalculable assistance to us, were at this late day no doubt
obliterated.

Undismayed, however, by the adverse circumstances with which it would
be necessary to contend, and with a determination to persevere until
success had crowned their efforts, the office was assumed and the
work commenced.

Mr. Bangs and my son, Robert A. Pinkerton, who is in charge of my New
York agency, procured another interview with Mr. Olmstead, and
received from him all the information which he then possessed.

Mr. Olmstead continued firm in his belief that the crime had been
committed by Bucholz, and being a man of stern inflexibility of mind,
and of a determined disposition, he was resolved that justice should
be done and the guilty parties brought to punishment.

Declining to offer any opinion upon the subject until the matter had
been fully investigated in the thorough manner which always
characterizes my operations, it was decided to send a trusted and
experienced operative to the scene of the murder, to obtain from all
persons who possessed any knowledge of the affair every item of
information that it was possible at that late day to secure.

Accordingly, John Woodford, an intelligent and active man upon my
force, was detailed to the scene of operations with full authority to
glean from the already well-harvested field whatever material was
possible, and from his reports the particulars as detailed in the
preceding chapters were obtained. The inquiries were made in the most
thorough manner, and at the end of his labors every item of
information connected with the matter was in our possession and the
foundation was laid for a system of detection that promised success.

The particulars of the case were communicated to me at my
headquarters in Ch