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Pinkerton #1
The Mollie Maguires and the Detectives
An important resource in American history, told by one of the participants, who was a key figure in the labor disputes and violence of the Pennsylvania coal mines.Allan Pinkerton (1819-1884) was the world's first private detective. Emigrating to Chicago from Glasgow, Scotland, he discovered a gang of counterfeiters and assisted in their capture. He became deputy sheriff of Kane County, then Cook County, resigning from the police to form the Pinkerton Detective Agency in 1852. The Pinkerton logo, the All-Seeing Eye, inspired the phrase "Private Eye."
636 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1973
21 people are currently reading
139 people want to read
About the author
Allan Pinkerton
169 books15 followersNotorious agency of Scottish-American detective Allan Pinkerton broke strikes and disrupted labor efforts to unionize.
People best know this spy for creating the national agency. In 1849, people in Chicago first appointed Pinkerton. In the 1850s, he partnered with Chicago attorney Edward Rucker in forming the northwestern police agency, later known nationally and still in existence today as Pinkerton consulting and investigations, a subsidiary of Securitas Aktiebolag.
Business insignia of Pinkerton included a wide open eye with the caption, "We never sleep."
People posthumously published exploits of his agents, perhaps some ghostwritten for promotion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_P...
People best know this spy for creating the national agency. In 1849, people in Chicago first appointed Pinkerton. In the 1850s, he partnered with Chicago attorney Edward Rucker in forming the northwestern police agency, later known nationally and still in existence today as Pinkerton consulting and investigations, a subsidiary of Securitas Aktiebolag.
Business insignia of Pinkerton included a wide open eye with the caption, "We never sleep."
People posthumously published exploits of his agents, perhaps some ghostwritten for promotion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allan_P...
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 8, 2015
This is a piece of 19th century propaganda by the Pinkerton company. Because of it's old-style writing, I only made it half-way through before it wasn't worth the effort.
The book is written as a memoir of James McPharlan, but it was written by Allan Pinkerton (or at least he took credit for it).
It is a company telling of the Molly Maguires.
It doesn't differentiate the Ancient Order of Hiberians (Irish mutual aid society that sought better conditions for miners) and the Molly Maguires.
It also doesn't even mention the labor conditions that the Mollies fought to change, instead making it all out to be petty, drunken violence.
The writing also pulls lots of all-around character assassination on the people who would become martyrs at the hands of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, like Jack Kehoe.
The book is written as a memoir of James McPharlan, but it was written by Allan Pinkerton (or at least he took credit for it).
It is a company telling of the Molly Maguires.
It doesn't differentiate the Ancient Order of Hiberians (Irish mutual aid society that sought better conditions for miners) and the Molly Maguires.
It also doesn't even mention the labor conditions that the Mollies fought to change, instead making it all out to be petty, drunken violence.
The writing also pulls lots of all-around character assassination on the people who would become martyrs at the hands of the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, like Jack Kehoe.
September 23, 2019
This is an interesting case and an interesting bit of history, but not one of the better books in the Pinkerton oeuvre. Instead, I recommend PINKERTON'S GREAT DETECTIVE: The Amazing Life and Times of James McParland by Beau Riffenburgh.
October 22, 2021
Very painful read
Though this is a narration of history, it was a painful read because of the presentation. Mr. Pinkerton was no Charles Dickens and thus needed the help of a professional writer for editing.
Though this is a narration of history, it was a painful read because of the presentation. Mr. Pinkerton was no Charles Dickens and thus needed the help of a professional writer for editing.
January 17, 2020
ACAB! Allan Pinkerton was a bigot and an enemy of the working class who murdered workers for striking. There is nothing admirable about that reactionary parasite. The only good cop is a dead one.
July 28, 2020
Way, way too much detail.
January 23, 2015
This was an interesting, though sometimes turgid book--lots of repetition, dull in some places,and violent in others. Jack McKenna--his undercover name--went anonymously to join this violent group of miners, and remained for many years, despite suffering from a recurring illness and other maladies. He did not have an easy time of it--trying to stay alive, but managed to sneak out a lot of information for the Pinkerton organization.
January 20, 2015
Filled with typos and errors
This book is probably the most difficult book I have ever attempted to read. It is filled with typos and errors. Many times you have to guess what is intended which is compounded by the 1880 style of writing and antiquated language.
It's a good thing that I spent only time reading it since it was free.
This book is probably the most difficult book I have ever attempted to read. It is filled with typos and errors. Many times you have to guess what is intended which is compounded by the 1880 style of writing and antiquated language.
It's a good thing that I spent only time reading it since it was free.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews