g these stories, the reader will probably come to the
conclusion that the detection of criminals is a very simple matter, and
that any one with a moderate amount of intelligence could have done just
as well. To a certain extent this is true, but not wholly. The plan once
adopted, it is not difficult to put it in execution; but experience,
judgment and tact are required to form a plan which will bring out the
real facts connected with the crime. This done, the capture of the
criminal is only a question of time.

Legitimate, honest detective business is yet in its infancy, but the
trade, as at present generally conducted, approaches the dignity of an
art--a black art, unfortunately, the object being accurately to
distinguish the percentage of plunder which will satisfy the criminals
and the real owners, the remainder being divided among the so-called
detectives.

In point of fact, these fellows are worse than the acknowledged
criminals, since they rob under the guise of honest men, and run little
or no risk, while the actual thieves take their lives in their hands. It
may safely be said that the average detective would rather be in league
with the criminals of this city than opposed to them, and the great
majority _are_ so leagued; and until such a state of affairs is broken
up, the criminals who have money will surely escape punishment.

ALLAN PINKERTON.

THE DETECTIVE AND THE SOMNAMBULIST.

_CHAPTER I._

About nineteen years ago, I was enjoying a short relaxation from the
usual press of business in Chicago. I had only one or two really
important cases on hand, and I was therefore preparing to take a much
needed rest. At this time, my business was not nearly so extensive as it
has since become, nor was my Agency so well known as it now is; hence, I
was somewhat surprised and gratified to receive a letter from Atkinson,
Mississippi, asking me to go to that town at once, to investigate a
great crime recently perpetrated there. I had intended to visit my
former home in Dundee, for a week or ten days, but, on receiving this
letter, I postponed my vacation indefinitely.

The letter was written by Mr. Thomas McGregor, cashier of the City Bank,
of Atkinson, and my services were called for by all the officers of the
bank. The circumstances of the case were, in brief, that the
paying-teller had been brutally murdered in the bank about three or four
months before, and over one hundred and thirty thousand doll