198 The Pinkerton Labor Spy.
ON THE STRENGTH OF THEIR REPUTATION, AND ON THE FALSE CONFESSION OF A GALLOWS-BIRD, CHARLES McKINNEY, WHICH CONFESSION WAS COMPOSED FOR HIM BY THE TWO DETECTIVES.
The Florence & Cripple Creek derailing case proves to what a very limited extent the reputations of detectives in the hire of magnates may be trusted. This affair bears such a close resemblence to the MoyerHaywood-Pettibone case, in all its infamous details, that the latter case can be better followed by a clear understanding of the former trial.
The Florence & Cripple Creek case was a good case, or, rather, a good plot. The very simplicity of the proposed outrage made it seem plausible ; but the conspiracy was exposed because of the foolhardy actions of Detectives Scott and Sterling.
In our opinion the Idaho case is also a plot, weaker than the Colorado conspiracy, albeit the Pinkerton Agency has done its level best to complicate it and throw a veritable cloud of mystery about it; and like the Florence & Cripple Creek conspiracy, this plot is also bound to fail, because of the bungling and unprofessional work of the FAMOUS PINKERTON DETECTIVES who are playing as ridiculous part in this trial as did Detectives Scott and Sterling in the train derailing case.
As we have already seen, the real reason for the merciless war which the mine and smelter magnates waged against the Western Federation of Miners, was because this organization had in 1903 endorsed Socialism and decided to enter the field of politics. The mine owners hoped that they could check the growth of Socialism by crushing the Federation. But after the Colorado strikes were things of the past, it was evident to