IHMN: The Pinkerton Detective Agency (Episode 5.8)

In the 1850s, Allan Pinkerton, Scottish detective and spy, met Chicago attorney Edward Rucker in a local Masonic Hall and formed the North-Western Police Agency, later known as the Pinkerton Agency. By the mid-1850s a few businessmen saw the need for greater control over their employees; their solution was to sponsor a private detective system. In February 1855, Allan Pinkerton, after consulting with six midwestern railroads, created such an agency in Chicago. Needless to say, they were not very popular at the time. In addition, the Pinkerton Detective Agency was hired by many firms and local law enforcement to hunt down criminals and their activities.

In 1871, Congress appropriated $50,000 to the new Department of Justice (DOJ) to form a sub-organization devoted to "the detection and prosecution of those guilty of violating federal law." The amount was insufficient for the new DOJ to fashion an internal investigating unit, so they contracted out the services to the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. However, since passage of the Anti-Pinkerton Act in 1893, federal law has stated that an "individual employed by the Pinkerton Detective Agency, or similar organization, may not be employed by the Government of the United States or the government of the District of Columbia." However, it does not stop private organizations from using their services such as being hired for transporting money and other high-quality merchandise between cities and towns, which makes them vulnerable to outlaws. Pinkerton agents are well paid and well armed.

 "We Never Sleep"

"Beware of the Old Man in a Young Man's profession." 

Special Officer James McParland was an Irish immigrant who joined the Pinkertons when a "fire" destroyed his business. McParland would stop at nothing to take down his client's enemies because he believed his authority came from "Divine Providence." To carry out God's Will meant he was free to break laws and lie until every man he judged evil was hanging on the gallows. He has trained many a Special Officer in his methods of undercover work, detection, and tracking.
 
Name: Special Officer James McParland

Pluck: +3

Leadership: +1

Speed: 0

Fighting Value: +2

Shooting Value: +4

Talents: Fearless, Lightning Draw, Intuitive, Marksman (Military Rifle), Tough

Basic Equipment: Military rifle, pistol, fighting knife

Armor: The Patented Brigandine Faraday Coat* (Armor is 9 but 11 against Arc Weapons)

Cost: 72

*The Patented Brigandine Faraday Coat cost 9 points and is probably the most distinctive aspect of the Pinkerton Detective Agency

Ben Thompson is a gambler, gunfighter, and sometime lawman who rubbed shoulders with some of the most famous figures of the Old West. He started his criminal career at the age of 17, when he stabbed and killed a fellow gambler whom he had accused of cheating him at cards. Thompson was known for being lightning fast on the draw, and gained a reputation as a gunfighter after killing two men in a shootout on Christmas Eve of 1886. Wanting to escape this reputation, he took a job as a Special Officer with the Pinkerton Detective Agency.

Name: Special Officer Ben Thompson

Pluck: +3

Leadership: +1

Speed: 0

Fighting Value: +1

Shooting Value: +4

Talents: Fearless, Lightning Draw, Gunslinger, Duelist (Pistol), Marksman (Pistol), Tough

Basic Equipment: Two pistol, fighting knife

Armor: The Patented Brigandine Faraday Coat (Armor is 9 but 11 against Arc Weapons)

Cost: 64

Although not as well known as someone like Wild Bill Hickok or Wyatt Earp, Dallas Stoudenmire was a feared lawman in his day, and is known for participating in more gunfights than most of his contemporaries. After being wounded several times while fighting in the Civil War, Stoudenmire moved to the lawless city of El Paso, Texas to serve as sheriff. Only three days into his tenure, he became involved in one of the West’s most legendary battles, what is common known as the “Four Dead in Five Seconds Gunfight,” in which he shot three men. A few days after the fight, friends of the men Stoudenmire had shot hired the town drunk to assassinate him. But Dallas was able to get the drop on him and supposedly shot the man eight times, killing him. Unfortunately, the drunk got off one shot that lodged in Stoudemire's skull blinding him - but also for some reason unleashing an untapped mechanical genius. Forced to retire as sheriff, he joined the Pinkerton Agency with his new "mechanical eyes."

Name: Special Officer Dallas Stoudenmire

Pluck: +3

Leadership: +0

Speed: 0

Fighting Value: +1

Shooting Value: +4

Talents: Lightning Draw, Marksman (Military Rifle), Tough, Engineer, Impervious (bullet in the skull!)

Basic Equipment: Military rifle, pistol, fighting knife, monocular targeting array

Armor: The Patented Brigandine Faraday Coat (Armor is 9 but 11 against Arc Weapons)

Cost: 70

Special Officer Tom Horn

Name: Pinkerton Detective Agency Special Officer

Pluck: +5

Leadership: +0

Speed: 0

Fighting Value: +2

Shooting Value: +2

Talents: A Special Officer may have up to 3 talents. Available talents are Lightening draw, Marksman, Tough, Intuitive, Duelist, Fearless, Intuitive, Stealthy, Trick Riding (of course you need to be mounted), Cavalryman, Part of the Crowd, Fortitude, Mechanic, Skirmisher and Medic

Basic Equipment: May chose pistol, shotgun, shotgun (short), carbine, military rifle, throwing knife, fighting knife, monocular targeting array and rocket pack.

Armor: The Patented Brigandine Faraday Coat (Armor is 9 but 11 against Arc Weapons)

Cost: ?

Special Officer Charlie Siringo

Special Officer Harvey "Kid Curry" Logan

Left to Right: Special Officers James McParland, Dallas Stoudenmir, and Ben Thompson