Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 91, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 April 1915 — Page 2

HOW DETECTIVE PEYSER SCORED

Stopped Printing Forged Pool Room Tickets on the Horse Races. USED A MINIATURE CAMERA Early Acquaintance With Crooks and Hla Knowledge of Human Nature Have Helped Him to Success and to the Establishment of a Big Business. By OSBORN MARSHALL. <Oaprrtcbt, McClure Newspaper Syndicate.) It was in the good old days of the early nineties when horse racing flourished under a kindlier law in New York than it does today that Tom Bagan had the distinction of being official stationer and printer to the bookmakers and poolrooms of the city. Hfe supplied them with pencils and pads. blank hooka, ink and record books and did whatever printing their business called for. He it was who printed the colored tickets issued to those who bet on the races in the poolrooms or on the track. These tickets, which wore filled in at the time of the betting, served as a record of the transaction. and in case the bettor was lucky he received his winnings on presentation of the ticket Tom’s business with the poolrooms and bookmakers had thriven and it seemed that the neat little profit from printing the tickets would continue so long as Tom Eagan continued to run his printing presses. One day, however, Mr. Eagan got word that there were counterfeiters at work. Fake tickets were being printed and filled out to duplicate Eagan’s tickets, and every ouce in a while winnings went to a holder of the fake ticket instead of to the real winner. So between Mr. Eagan and the poolroom operators a neyr system had to be devised. Thereafter tickets were printed in several colors, according to , the number of the tickeL That is, all tickets numbering between one and a hundred should be pink, all between

one and two hundred should be green, go on throughout the list. Each day a different color was used for a different set of numbers, and as this code was communicated secretly to the poolroom mqo It was hoped that in thin way they could detect the fraudulent tickets. Still the trouble continued. Apparently the dishonest printer printed his slips on every. color of cardboard every day. Then when the races were over the man who manipulated the fraudulent tickets would manage to see over the shoulder of the holder of the winning ticket, note the number and the color, select a ticket of the Tight denomination and color from his own collection, fill it in and, on presenting it to the bookmaker of poolroom operator before the lawful winner arrived, he would get the winnings. | Called In Frank Peyser. ~ Something had 'to be done and it was clearly up to Eng*" to think what ft should be. "I know who the crook printer is,” he told the poolroom men, “but 1 haven’t evidence enough to convict him. However, I think I can stop the issue of the fake tickets.” Then Eagan sent for Frank Peyser, known to be one of the sharpest young race“l have spotted the man who does HiW Till li ' l/i fl ifVtl lliliTTiVMfri Yi n

Rested His Camera on the Wheel.

the fake printing," ne told Peyser, •*bu‘ I can’t prove iL ud I don't know as it would do much food if I could. What we want to do is to get a photograph of him and have it aent to every poolroom and every bookmaker in this part of the country. Then they will know him and can steer clear of him. Now, what I want you to do is to get the photograph, lie runs a printing shop down on Broadway and Twentyseventh street” Eagan told Peyser the name of the suspected printer and Peyser said he would get the photograph if anyone oouid. First he went to see the printer on the pretext of wanting to do some business with him, taking care not to arouse his suspicions. Then, when be had secured his confidence, he went to a nearby photographer. "There Is a fellow around here,” he told the photographer, "whose picture I’ve got to have. He isn't anxious to be photographed, either. What I want you to do is to hang out on Twentyseventh street and Broadway and wait till you see me. I’ll come out about noon with my friend and when you see us you can level the camera and take the picture.”

This agreed upon, Peyser went to see the printer, with whom he had already arranged to have luncheon. At noon they rounded the corner of Twen-ty-seventh street and Broadway, Peyser talking eagerly to the printer as they walked along. The photographer was seated on a bootblack stand, having his shoes polished, camera in hand, on the opposite corner. He leveled the camera at the dishonest printer and Peyser continued to talk vigorously. Unable to get the right focus from the bootblack stand, the photographer swung down and started oat in the street Then he rested his camera on the wheel of an express wagon that happened to be standing at a convenient distance and started to focus again. "Say,” said the printer to Peyser, "who is that fellow over there and why is he ‘mugging’ me? What have I done that would make anyone want a picture of me?” “You!” exclaimed Peyser, with a laugh. "Nobody's ‘mugging’ you. Why, there does seem to be a camera man, but how do you know he isn’t aiming at me? Guess I’d make as good-looking a picture aa you would.” "I don’t like IL anyway,” said the printer, and the keen eyes of the detective did not miss the nervous com-

pression of his lips. The printer pulled his wide-brimmed hat over his face and shrunk his chin down on his breast. “They can get a picture of my hat if they want it That can’t be much good,” he growled. Took the Photograph Himself. After lunch, during which Peyser tried to get the printer’s mind off the camera episode, he left and hurried to the photographer. "Sorry, Mr. Peyser,” he said, "but I couldn’t get any results. Your friend pulled down his hat and that’s all I could get” He held up the dripping negative that he had been developing and showed ’only a blur of a hat that would be of no use as an identification. Peyser hurried on with his discouraging news to Eagan. “What are you going to do about it?” asked Eagan. “My poolroom and bookmaking business means a good deal to me and I’ll lose it if we don’t put a stop to these fake tickets. What are you going to do?” “I am going to take the picture myself,” said Peyser, “and I am going to have it ready in forty-eight hours.” The next day when Peyser went to finish his alleged business with the dishonest printer he was armed with i camera of his own, only no one could lee it. The camera was a diminutive Instrument hidden under the lapel of

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

hla coat aaJ the eye at u»e lens was arranged Just under the buttonhole. A rubber tube that worked the shatter ended in a bulb placed In Peyser’s pocket Again Peyser called at noon and started ont with the printer when he went to lunch. He led the printer Into the sunshine on the pretext of wanting to see something on the sunny side of the streeL They walked leisurely along, Peyser with his hand on the bulb in his pocket "Funny thing about that photographer yesterday,” the printer began. "I would like to know what anyone wants to get my picture for. I thought for a while that maybe you had something to do with it.” "Say, you talk like a pickpocket" laughed Peyser, his hand still on the bulb. “Only pickpockets and thieves get nervous when they have their pictures taken. If I didfi’t know you I’d almost think you had something heavy weighing on your conscience. But as for me having anything to do with — say. haven't I treated you fair?” “Sure yob have,” said the printer. He faced Peyser eagerly as he spoke. Peyser’s hand in his pocket closed over the bulb. There was a sound of a click, drowned by the dishonest man’s voice. “Sure you have never pulled anything off on me. You’re all right.” Within twenty-four hours the picture had been developed and printed, enlarged and copied and was 1U the hands of every poolroom operator and bookmaker anywhere within a radius of a hundred miles of New York, and was on Its way all over the country. The next time the fraudulent printer tried to play the races he found a cold welcome, and before many weeks had passed he bad made up his mind that there was more money in printing menus for local restaurants and programs for cheap shows on Broadway than there was in making green and pink and blue and yeUow tickets for the race track. j, •

Early Acquaintance With Crooks. This was Just one of the many detective games in which the clever young detective, Frank Peyser, showed his ability to protect the public on the race track. He began life on the East side in New York, and very early in life made the acquaintance of some of the most notorious thieves and crooks of the city. After school hours as a boy he used to meet them and listen to their conversation. They were cleverer than the other people he knew on the East side and they interested him, but contact with them fostered no desire within him to emulate their ways.

One day about the time he left school one of these rough acquaintances of his asked him to take a walk up Broadway with him. Peyser accepted the invitation. They walked up through the Bowery and then, as the evening shades began to gather, they turned into Broadway, crowded with men and women pressing homeward after work. Suddenly, as they pressed near to a man in the crowd, Peyser saw his companion’B hand rise and stealthily close over a meerschaum pipe that showed its rich hues over the top of a pedestrian’s pocket Though still a lad, Peyser knew that If he were caught In company with a pickpocket the fact that he himself waß innocent wouldn’t be of much avail at the police station. As his companion pocketed the valuable pipe a cold terror seized Peyser and he did just what any other normal boy would have done under similar circumstances. He ran, and he went right on running till he didn’t have breath enough to run buy farther. When he came to a stop his mind was made up. He had decided that whatever his future calling might be, he would never be a crook of a thief.

When, a little later, Frank Peyser applied at the Pinkerton detective agency in New York city’ for a position, his previous experience on the East side qualified him for immediate employment in the race-track department of the agency. Success in Department Stores. In this position he was on duty at all the big race tracks, at Belmont park, at Jamaica, at Sheepßhead Bay, Brighton Beach, Gravesend and Morris park, on the lookout for pickpockets and dishonest bookmakers. So successful was he in handling pickpockets that after six years with the Pinker tons he was called by the New York Wanamaker store. This work required greater skill even than the race-track work, for it is better, according to the department store creed, to let ten shoplifters go than to make one false arrest. However, Mr. Peyser was no blunderer and in the thirteen years he worked in that department store his employers didn’t have to pay a cent for damages and false arrests made by him. One of the first things that Mr. Peyser always asked the amateur shoplifter when be had taken her to his office in the department store and had forced a confession was concerning her health. “Are you in the hands of a doctor?” he" would say, and then, “Are you taking medicine for your ailment?” Usually the answer to these questions would come In the affirmative. Then Mr. Peyser would ask to examine the medicine before going further with the arrest Usually a whiff of it would be enough. It . would tell him that the offender was tin wittingly under the influence of opium or ether, and in nine cases out of ten the poisonous drug was taken as a medicine. In these cases Mr. Peyser would usually let his offender go. Mr. Peyser is now at the head of a detective bureau of his own and from bis offices, overlooking the busiest section of Broadway, directs work all over the city.

BEATTY CALLED NAVAL HERO OF GREAT BRITAIN

Victories Raise Him to Pitch'of Popularity Not Excelled by Drake or Nelson. HOW ‘DAVY' HAS ‘MADE GOOD’ An Irishman, Born in England, Who Married an American, Has Risen to High Command at an Unusually Early Age. By HERBERT TEMPLE. (International News Service.) London. —“The Defender of Britain" —that is the title sentimental and enthusiastic Englishmen are bestowing on Vice-Admiral Sir David Beatty, professional infant prodigy. Long one of the most popular—as he is the wealthiest —man in the British navy, his two victories of Helgoland bight and the east coast raid engagement in which the Bluecher was sunk have raised him to a pitch in the civilian’s estimation which certainly was not excelled by Sir Francis Drake or Lord Nelson. Stilled forever are the murmurs that the Marshall Field millions which his wife brought him had a little too much to do with his astonishing rise in rank. It is not going too far to predict, too, that the place now taken at court by Lady Beatty will affect favorably the social position of all Americans in London. Now that “Davy” has “made good,” many are recalling the prophetic words penned by Filson Young in March, 1913. He wrote: “David Beatty is too young to be even a name to the man in the street, but those who do know him look to him for more than a name—for the highest fame, if time and the hour are favorable. No one who knows Beatty has any doubts or fears for him. He will ‘make good.’ Perhaps there will be nothing for Borne years but brief sentences In small type devoted to naval intelligence. But to such as can discern his movements in that I say, ‘Keep your eyes on Beatty.’ ”

Wins Two Victories. Great Britain so far has scored three great naval successes; of these two were won by ships under Beatty’s hand. If Sir John Jellico were injured or otherwise incapacitated for his high office, British popular opinion would clamor loudly that Beatty be put in his place. Sir David comes from a famous sporting family of Wexford, Ireland, and his air and movement show his breeding. His step is lithe, and almost birdlike. He gives the impression of restrained, wonderful energy which a trained prize fighter exhibits on entering the ring. On edge all the time is Beatty. He has a bulldog face, a fighting face, which would attract attention anywhere. His head bears a great resemblance to Napoleon's. He resembles Bonaparte, too, in his great staying power. After seven months of work in which he has spent two hours In all with his family and many times has worked 24 hours a day, his grip on his job is as strong as ever. Like the great French conqueror, he seems impervious to fatigue. In still another respect, his marvelous rise to high command at an early age, he brings to our mind Napoleon, Alexander, Hannibal and other great military geniuses. Beatty has been successively the youngest commander, the youngest captain, the youngest rear admiral and the youngest vice-ad-miral in the British naval service. Indeed, when he was promoted to the rank of rear admiral on January 1, 1910, at the age of thirty-eight, he was not only the youngest British rear admiral of his time, but the youngest on record. Nelson himself was not promoted to rear admiral until he was thirty-nine. Todhy Beatty is forty-four years of age. Beatty’s Unique Record. Here is a tabular record of his career:

Bom .Jan. 17, 1871 Entered nary .....1884 (age 13) Lienten&nt 1892 (age 21) Commander ...........1898 (age 27) Captain 1900 (age 29) Rear admiral .»1910 (age 38) Vice-admiral 1914 (age 43) Beatty was born in England by an accident. His father, Capt. D. L. Beatty of Berodale, was an ardent fox hunter and in the season of 1870-71, he brought his family over from Ireland to Hirobeck lodge, at Natwich, Cheshire, because he desired to hunt with the Cheshire hounds. Thus it came about that a fine boy was bom to Mrs. Beatty on English soil. It la said that young David entered the naval profession by a chance tooHe was thirteen years old. in 1884 when his father got an unexpected chance to make him a naval cadet. Six years later, the boy became a sublieutenant and with his majority he was a full blown lieutenant. It was not long before a chance of taking part in real fighting came his way. In 1898 Lord Kitchener’s expedition to Khartum brought out those qualities which have served Beatty in such good stead in the North sea. As second in command of the Nile flotilla. Us first job was to get the gunboats

GERMANS WRITING HOME

Many men of the German landsturm companies are unable to write, su the few men in the company who are able to do so are kept busy writing let* • ters to the families of their companions.

over the cataracts. Later on, the initiative he displayed when his senior officer was wounded secured .for him the Distinguished Service Order and promotion to commander. This senior officer was Hon. Stanley Colville. As soon as Colville was struck by an Arab bullet, the whole charge of the gunboat flotilla devolved on young Beatty. Many a man of his age would have been daunted at the responsibility suddenly thrust upon his shoulders. But not so “Davy.” At the forcing of the Dervish batteries he fearlessly led the attack and he succeeded in silencing the batteries and dismantling every one of the enemy’s guns. r<s!

Is Real Fighter. Subsequently he was present at the important battles of Atbara and Khartum; and was twice mentioned in dispatches. He was also decorated by the sultan of Turkey (fourth class medjidie), just as Jellico was once decorated by the German emperor. After Egypt came the Boxer troubles of 1900. Off went David Beatty to the China seas, in command of the battleship Barfleur. The bombardment of the Taku forts took place June 18, 1900. They opened fire on the ships of the allies, but in a comparatively short time they were stormed. A couple of days later two Chinese field guns were placed near the railway embankment, with their muzzles facing the British concession, and fired. Commander Beatty with three companies of seamen crossed the river and maneuvered to within 200 yards in the hope of capturing them with a rush. At the same time some Russians moved out to co-operate. While the British were waiting for the Russians to come up, however, a large force of Chinese appeared to the right behind a mud wall and poured in a heavy fire. Beatty was wounded — not only once, but twice —and things looked very black indeed. The main force retired, but Beatty was never of a retiring disposition. Leading a forlorn hope of 200 bluejackets, he made a desperate attack on the enemy and won a captaincy. This promotion at the age of twentynine years lifted him over 200 officers, just as his previous promotion to com-

DARING CHASSEURS

The Chasseurs Alpine recently captured Hill 937 in Alsace by a brilliant exploit. During a violent snowstorm, using the flakes as a curtain, they climbed the hill until they were near enough to burst upon the Germans, whom, charging upon their skis, they bayoneted, making themselves masters of the position. 'The picture shows a fine type of the chasseurs.

mander had raised him above 395 officers. Wins Marshall Field’s Daughter. In the following year Beatty took a rest and married. His bride was Mrs. Ethel Tree, daughter of the late Marshall Field, the Chicago merchant. They have lived very happily together and have two young sons, one of whom is designed to enter the navy. From 1901 to 1914 Beatty did not see fighting. In 1904 he was stationed in command of the Diana in the Mediterranean, and in 1905 he commenced a spell of work on land. For two years he acted as naval adviser to the army council. Then he became aide-de-camp to King Edward, with whom he was extremely popular. Finally he became naval secretary to the first lord of the admiralty, after which he got to sea again, taking over the command of the Aboukir. When the war came Beatty, who hadl just been knighted, was sent out to do or die as commander of the first battle cruiser squadron, his flagship being the Lion. A few weeks later he won the battle of Helgoland bight, sinking five German vessels and about nine hundred men, at a total British loss of 69 killed and wounded. Later he led the pursuing squadron which scourged the German fleet that attempted to repeat the bombardment of the east coast; sank the Bluecher and inflicted serious losses on other German ships. In the navy now they speak of having the "Beatty touch." It is high praise to say a man has the “Beatty touch.”

COLLIE AIDS IN MILKING

Cuts Out Milch Cows From Herd and Holds Off Calves While Milking Goes On. Gaffney, S. C.-—J. F. Jamison, who lives near Gaffney, has a collie dog which is a most remarkable animal. His master sends him to the pasture with instructions to bring up only the cows which are giving milk, and Nip will confine himself strictly to those instructions. Then Mr. Jamison will tell him to bring all the cows, and he will come driving them all to the barn. In addition to thiß, when milking is in progress Nip will seize the calf around the neck with his paws and hold it off while the cow is being milked. The above information was obtained not directly from Mr. Jamison, but from Sheriff Thomas, who is a truthful man, and anyone who doubts the statement will be liable to arrest as soon as he may put foot In Cherokee county.

TAKES FATHER’S GIVEN NAME

He Has No Bon and Wants Heir With Name of a Man, at Any Rate. Terre Haute, Ind.—Having arrived at the legal age of eighteen, Miss Edith Isabel Teel filed a petition in the circuit court that she may change her name to William Ross Teel, Jr. She is the only child of William Ross Teel, a man of wealth, son of a founder of Terre- Haute and the I&st of his name. The daughter has talked about changing her name for several years, and has said that if her father cannot have a son for an heir at least he can have a child with a mam’s name. The petition must be advertised once a week for four weeks before the court can pass on it.

Health Warning for Soldiers.

Basel, S witxerland. —German army surgeons are distributing pamphlets warning soldiers against loose habits. It is stated in these pamphlets that 40,000 soldiers are in hospitals on account of excesses of various kinds and are occupying beds which should ha reserved for the wounded. - -