Recently neither man could have known the importance of the meeting at the time. In the 1850s, Pinkertons National Detective Agency would lay the foundation for what would become the most famous Detective Agency. Pinkertops agency focused on criminal matters and was often employed by government agencies. In putting together what would be a talented team of detectives, Timothy Webster who was recommend to pinkerton by a member of the new York City Police force was one of these men. Though he did not join the pinkerton Detective Agency, he may have decided to accept the offer after continuing harassment webster moved his family to illinois and went on to become one of the agencys best detectives. Though quiets and reserved personally, when on a case, webster used an outgoing personally to get information he needed. The skilled detective worked on such interesting cases as tracking the forger uncovering a plot to destroy the rock Island Bridge and investigating grave robberies in chicago. He also did the more mundane work as railroad detective. Then Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. There were even threats to assassinate the president elect before he took office. Timothy webster, Allan Pinkerton foiled the assassination notes. Websters service to his country did not stop there. The Southern States soon suceded and the United States fell into the civil war. Men from both sides joined the military and prepared for battle. Tim webster did not hesitate when the time came to serve his country. But he would not not as a soldier, but as a spy. Allan pinkerton was put in charge of espionage and tim webster who gathered much Important Information became pinker on thes top spy. Websters work behind the lines included multiple trips to the capitol of rich monday. Once took official correspondent from a confederate general to a colonel. On top of that, he received passes from behinden my lines from the confederate secretary of war. The succession websters family immigrated to the United States when tim was young. Webster was raised primarily in new jersey and married a local woman. The couple had four children, family was important to webster, he always looked to his siblings. Professionally Timothy Webster, who braved worked as a new york state policeman, a private detective and served mias ma have saved Abraham Lincolns life in 1861. Timothy webster began his career as a new York City Policeman, and went on to serve as a detective and a spy. He did a dramatic life and theres no telling what he would have accomplished if his life had not been cut short. He was born march 22, 1822 in new heavy on, sussex county, evening land. He was the fourth child and they would have seven children in all, but two died in infancy and one at the age of two. The family immigrated to the United States when webster was just a boy and settled in prince on t princeton, new jersey where he would grow into a man. We dont know why, but soon he grew bored or some other reasons left life in princeton and decided to move to new york city and decided to take a job for a newly formed new york Police Department. The trouble in new york was the Police Department was. Large or effective enough to patrol the agreeing city. Timothy webster was a member of the force during its formative years. In 1853, he was assigned to work the Crystal Palace exhibition, which became known as the first world war, he was introduced to Allan Pinkerton who probably offered him a job in his newly formed Detective Agency at this time. If a job was offered, webster turned it down. The english born webster served at a time a when xeno phobia ran high in america. There was general feelings against foreigners at this time. Because of this an investigation was begun into a number of foreigners. Chief matsell also of england send a report to tell how many foreign born officers were in the department. Of the 1,000 roughly 400 officers, they reported that, i believe there were 477 foreign born officers in the departments. Oliver briggs charged perjury, claiming there were at least 600 foreigners in the department. While this may not seem like a big difference, it was to brigs who because of this initiated a yearlong investigation into charges of perjury into lieutenant matsel trying to get him removed as chief of police. This was New York City Hall where most of the hearings took place. Of the few officers called to testify, one was Timothy Webster who was repeatedly called and each time shows disdain and refused to cooperate. I would like to read some of the testimony. Mr. Timothy webster, lieutenant of police made his appearance at the conclusion of the foregoing testimony and was formed by oliver brigs. Brigs preparing to administer the oath asked webster, you do some let mely swear that you will answer all the questions . Responded webster, i solemnly swear that the evidence i shall give, will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help me god. Put your hands on the good book . You solemnly swear that the evidence you give will be under oath . Webster said now i decline answering any of the questions brigs began by asking, what is your name . Webster sat silent, the clerk spoke up and said you can give us your name, cant you . Timothy didnt answer. That is the name on the brigs asked, have you answered any questions in the station house with regard to i refuse to answer. What country are you native of . I positively decline to answer any question this Committee Puts to me, webster stated, i wish that to be distinctly understood. The yearlong investigation led nowhere, chief matsel retachbed his position, but what it may have done is soured webster on being a Police Officer of new york. Because less than an hour after the hearing, he newly formed Detective Agency in chicago. What effect the investigation by alderman has on timothys decision to leave is unknown. To be close to pingingertons agency, webster moved his family to illinois. The northwest Police Agency founded by Allan Pinkerton in the 1850s, went on to become the most famous private Detective Agency ever. But at the time, webster joined, it was still a growing regional agency. Unfortunately, many of the agencies records, most of them from websters time were destroyed in the great chicago of 1871 so little is known of what webster did as an operative. He he took on a variety of interest case, such as tracking a forger, evening jumping off a moving train in michigan to keep one the man. Investigating grave robberies in a chicago cemetery and working to find those behind the attempt to burn down the Rock Island Railroad bridge. I would like to speak to you about the latter of these two cases. The history of grave robbing dates back to the 19th century. As medicine was advancing and schools needed cadavers for research and study, antiquated laws left them unable to obtain the number of bodies they needed. Because of this, medical schools often turned to rest recollectionists, who were grave one example of this happened in october 1857, when it was discovered that four bodies in the field section of the chicago cemetery had been removed. When the undertaker discovered the grave digger discovered this, he went to the undertaker, who in turn went to a lotter man. In this role he had some legal powers which gave him the power to arrest people violencing cemetery regulations. This may have gave which might explain why instead of going to the police, that the city alderman went to Allan Pinkertons Detective Agency, because immediately they suspectsuspect ed quinlan was somehow involved in the disappearance of the bodies. For six nights, webster led five operatives to their cemetery, they staked it out and found nothing. And then on november 5, he only had four available. They arrived at 10 00 on what is described as an unusually dark night. Its probable that the graverobbers were already there. A buggy was seen driving away from the cemetery. Two of the operatives, one of them were most likely webster, so what ill do is ex two operatives, the other was most likely webster, followed the buggy at a distance so they wouldnt be seen. They followed through chicago a streets similar to one and crawled at times even to remain unseen. As the buggy turned the corner, started to increase its speed. One of the operatives ran out achkd grabbed the what are necessaries in the back. This disarranged the what are necessaries and the buggy was forced to stop. The operatives wen to the side of the road as well as exited the buggy to fix the harness. They could smell the krpss inside the buggy, so they moved in, arrested and turned out martin quinlan. As one operative held him, the other drew his gun on the two men inside the buggy. Unfortunately, at this time the horse backed up and the operative got his wheel caught in the buggy, as he went to remove his leg, they jumped out of the buggy and took off running, the operative chased the other two, fire a few shots but was unable to catch them. Quinlan was held at the Police Department until to the morning. The horse took him to couriers lirry stable where they were able to find out the identity of the man who represented the buggy, turned out to be a medical student at york medical college. York was also arrested. In the end, all charges against york were dropped, quinn lyn was found guilty of two charges and fined 500 and that closed the book on the case. Around that particular case, but resurrectations continued to happen as laws failed to keep up with the needs of medical schools. At this time, the country was being obviously there was a slave issue that was dividing north and south. But another north and south issue was as the rock Island Bridge was being built between davenport, iowa and rock island illinois which would be a benefit for a lot of reasons, it would allow trains, as they had to at the time, stop in rock island, unload all their passengers and goods, and then cross them all by ferry and reload them in davenport. Much of this opposition came from the city of st. Louis which had become the shipping center of the United States in the 1850s and remained so during this time, but threatened to lose that if this bridge were built. Despite the opposition, the bridge was completed. Shortly after completion in may of 1856, the steamboat crashed in one of the piers on the bridge, as the ship was sinking to the ground and cattle were swimming to the shore and drowning and the screams filled the air, a section of the bridge collapsed and which shows how some people felt about this bridge. The cone over of the fef, sued the rock Island Bridge company, claiming the bridge was the destruction of the river. Norman b. Judge and both those men would later be connected to other operations in websters life. The trial ended with a hung jury, 91 in fair of the kbrijs company. Some saw a quicker method to get rid of the bridge. It was written that there was an a attempt to burn down the braj in 1858, whether there actually was an attempt or just threats of an attempt, they were undoubtedly there by 1869. Pinkertons northwest bridges agency was hired to guard the bridge. Timothy webster was named superintendent of the bridge. Under him was a group of uniformed guards, the records of the investigation havent survived, we dont know if webster took a vfrzry role or a more active role in trying to find the culprits. While sculpt of the bridge, tim webster moved at least parttime to davenport, iowa. Actually hoe lived on the poor of the bridge. It was known that he had a family back in illinois, so its likely that he took many train trips back to visit his family. Even so, he did make a big impact on the davenport community, even being asked to run for local office while he was there. The investigation eventually focused on two men. Businessal had been fired by the chamber of commerce to take evidence on the in chicago, just over two years after webster arrived in davenport, pinnerton arrested paul in chicago. Chadwick Timothy Webster, still posing as the bridges superintendent, invited chadwick to the Railroad Depot and told him he had some papers he wished that he would see. The when chadwick arrived, webster told him he mistakenly forgot the papers on the train. They went on the train tove them and the papers he wait a minuted to show him was a warrant for his arrest the train was already on its way to chicago where the warrant was issued. The location of the bridge was improperly described in the indictment. More charges were brought, but by that time, following bissel ekes what the bridge was allowed to stand and it allowed railroads to reshape the nation. This is one of two of websters detective books, this is from his work as a labor spy, in this case a railroad detective. The work was very simple. He would ride the rails and pay with marked bills and marked others paid for as they watched for thieving conductors, over the years this brought much crisis to the pinkertons agency. Had webster continued on the past he was on, he most likely would have headed up one of the branches of the Pinkerton Agency that would open in the nec several years. Allan pinkerton received a request to investigate suscessions threats to destroy the railroad bridges between washington, d. C. And new york city. Pinkerton took a small group of operatives to investigate the threat. John h. Huntington took an office next to james h. Lock ket in baltimore. He led a small group that claimed to have a plan to assassinate lincoln as he passedthrough baltimore on his way to d. C. For his inauguration, at the time the way it was set up, lincoln would arrive on one train in baltimore and have to cross the city openly in a carriage to get to the other train to take him to d. C. , which of course now seems like a horrible idea lets the president of the United States even in a nonhostile place cross open like that, but in baltimore, it was very split on the issue of suscession, this was a really bad idea. Another operative, also in on the plans to assassinatefa lincn independent of pinker torn. Webster went to maryland where hattie lewis posing as his wife. Webster joined a local militia and learned that they had similar plans to assassinate lincoln as he passed through baltimore. Because of this, lincolns it tin rare changed and he was sneaked through baltimore night train. He received much criticism for this, but as we saw four years later, how easy it could be for one determined man to assassinate the president , it seems these precautions were very, very necessary. It was of two detectives who had also joined the militia, posing as spies to try to find out what was going on. Years after the incident, the new york chief of police at the time, when he wrote his memoirs, asked one of these men to replay his experience as a spy. Requested certain questions about davis. His wife had sent him a letter. Though it was addressed to his alias,of it arose suspicion. Sampson recalled he was asked many questions in regards to the letter. Where it came from and what it was about. R he, plained as well as he could but knew hisnu time with the national volunteers. He explained the danger theyfa faced. The company was in the majorityi all carried revolvers. E0atre was even a detail whose duty it was to do away with suspected perso co the men left for washington fa o quickly, leaving everything behind and taking on new wardrobes fori] e1disguise. Sampson wrote one detail about his change in clothes. I remembert i wore a heavy clo band with fur around it. Gave it away. Registered underq the alias as thompson and davis. Then they went to the hotel room andt discussed it. In the lobby were several of the nationalnr volunteers. They were examining theco hotel. Sampson recalled i cursed mycon to change my alias. Wk sampson watched as one of the men turned and whispered to hisu associates. Then they all walked out. The new york detectives didnt know what tonr do. Sampson looked toward the room and becamew3 separated. Sampson tried to think a way out. It was at that moment when a man in a longlpe1 overcoat got us b towards sampson. Suddenly n a very low tone soq sampson can just make out the words,i] the man spoke. For god sakes, tom, come out of this, he said. Sampson kept his composure and did not move. Okni both men stood okstill. Sampson replied,t i do not recognizenico you. He was trying to help him or just getco him alone so he coul murder him, when the stranger walked out of the hotel, sampson followed. He remembered, i followed him very closely. My steps almost locking his. I carried a selfcocking pistol and i knew how to use it. I made n my mindcoxd that at first Suspicious Movement i would shoot. Out on pennsylvania avenue, still in a quiet voice, the unidentified man said,my god, where is washington walling . What, washington walling sampsoo asked . Why okxdtom. Fa he described the man. My companion had on a great coat with thenioec collar turned upn his nose. A heavy cap was drawn over his 9n sampson fearedxd the worst. I]xdk as to save you from death that i followed you. Your life is now with decent. I swear there are 20 men after you this instant. Even though i suspect were being watched, i may not be suspected if im with them. They will not kill my friend if i shall help it. Webster helped the two men out of the city. Later he made a verbal report to pinkerton who reported at 10 30 a. M. , he returned from washington, d. C. An