The Expressman and the Detective | Page 7

in Montgomery he saw the General Superintendent and
presented his letter. He received from him the particulars of the forty
thousand dollar robbery, and immediately reported them to me.
The General Superintendent directed him to watch--"shadow" as we
call it--the movements of Maroney, find out who were his companions,
and what saloons he frequented.
Porter executed his duties faithfully, and reported to me that
Montgomery was decidedly a fast town; that the Exchange Hotel,
where Maroney boarded, was kept by Mr. Floyd, former proprietor of
the Briggs House, Chicago, and, although not the leading house of the
town, was very much liked, as it was well conducted.
From the meagre reports I had received I found I had to cope with no
ordinary man, but one who was very popular, while I was a poor
nameless individual, with a profession which most people were
inclined to look down upon with contempt. I however did not flinch
from the undertaking, but wrote to Porter to do all he could, and at the
same time wrote to the General Superintendent, suggesting the
propriety of sending another man, who should keep in the background
and "spot" Maroney and his wife, or their friends, so that if any one of
them should leave town he could follow him, leaving Porter in
Montgomery, to keep track of the parties there.
There were, of course, a number of suspicious characters in a town of

the size of Montgomery, and it was necessary to keep watch of many of
them.
Maroney frequented a saloon kept by a man whom I will call Patterson.
Patterson's saloon was the fashionable drinking resort of Montgomery,
and was frequented by all the fast men in town. Although outwardly a
very quiet, respectable place, inwardly, as Porter found, it was far from
reputable. Up stairs were private rooms, in which gentlemen met to
have a quiet game of poker; while down stairs could be found the
greenhorn, just "roped in," and being swindled, at three card monte.
There were, also, rooms where the "young bloods" of the town--as well
as the old--could meet ladies of easy virtue. It was frequented by fast
men from New Orleans, Mobile, and other places, who were
continually arriving and departing.
I advised the General Superintendent that it would be best to have
Porter get in with the "bloods" of the town, make himself acquainted
with any ladies Maroney or his wife might be familiar with, and adopt
generally the character of a fast man.
As soon as the General Superintendent received my letter he
telegraphed to me to send the second man, and also requested me to
meet him, at a certain date, in New York.
I now glanced over my force to see who was the best person to select
for a "shadow". Porter had been promoted by me to be a sort of "roper".
Most people may suppose that nearly any one can perform the duties of
a "shadow", and that it is the easiest thing in the world to follow up a
man; but such is not the case. A "shadow" has a most difficult position
to maintain. It will not do to follow a person on the opposite side of the
street, or close behind him, and when he stops to speak to a friend stop
also; or if a person goes into a saloon, or store, pop in after him, stand
staring till he goes out, and then follow him again. Of course such a
"shadow" would be detected in fifteen minutes. Such are not the actions
of the real "shadow", or, at least, of the "shadow" furnished by my
establishment.

I had just the man for the place, in Mr. Roch, who could follow a
person for any length of time, and never be discovered.
Having settled on Roch as the proper man for the position, I summoned
him to my private office. Roch was a German. He was about forty-five
years old, of spare appearance and rather sallow or tanned complexion.
His nose was long, thin and peaked, eyes clear but heavy looking, and
hair dark. He was slightly bald, and though he stooped a little, was five
feet ten inches in height. He had been in my employ for many years,
and I knew him thoroughly, and could trust him.
I informed him of the duties he was to perform, and gave him minute
instructions how he was to act. He was to keep out of sight as much as
possible in Montgomery. Porter would manage to see him on his arrival,
unknown to any one there, and would point out to him Maroney and his
wife, and the messenger, Chase, who boarded at the Exchange; also
Patterson, the saloon keeper, and all suspected parties. He was not to
make