History of PPIAC
You, the members of PPIAC, are continuing a tradition of “making” real P.I. history. PPIAC members have brought back Private Investigator Licensing Law for themselves and for their clients. Colorado citizens can hire a licensed P.I. if they should prefer to.
It was over one hundred years ago that a booklet was published that described Colorado’s Private Investigator Licensing Law as it existed back in 1899. “Know the Law” The Detective Law Book and Practical Advisor (Review Publishing Company, Indianapolis, IN – Market & Delaware St’s.) A reliable Cyclopedia of General & State Laws as They Apply to Detectives, Constables and Police. Included – Practical Advice for Detectives, with Reference to the Best Methods of Increasing Their Patronage and Profits.
1899 Detective License Laws – Colorado (law as it appears on page 9)
This State has a license law, requiring the applicant to file his petition with the Governor of the State; that the Governor shall determine the extent of the bond to be given, which shall not be less than $3,000 nor more than $20,000; that upon approval of the petition and acceptance of the bond the license shall be issued on the payment of $100, extending for a period of two years, but subject to a revocation by the Governor for cause. Acting without the statutory license is made a misdemeanor, and punishable by a fine of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000, or imprisonment for a period of not less than three months nor more than one year in the county jail, or both by fine and imprisonment. This statute, however, provides that the licensed detective, or detective agency, may employ agents, servants, employees and assistants, who shall not be required to take out a license for themselves, bur for the acts of such agents the principal is responsible under his bond.
1899 Detective License Laws – California (law as it appears on page 9)
The laws of California do not require a detective to take out a license. One may advertise for business or solicit work by any means without conflict with any statute of the State.
1899 Detective License Laws – New York (law as it appears on page 18)
Until April, 1898, New York was a no-license State, but at that time a new law very similar to that of Colorado went into effect. It requires a license fee of $100 and the filing of a $3,000 bond before one may establish himself in the business of a detective. This license is good for five years. The law does not apply, however, to those in the employ of a licensed detective, and for this reason the majority of New York detectives associate themselves with some fellow operative who is regularly licensed.
Legendary Pinkerton Detective lames McParland, famous for his undercover work in the Mollie Maguire case, became Pinkerton’s Denver Office Assistant Superintendent in the summer of 1887. He was then appointed the Western Division Manager in 1903. You can drive by today and see the home that he lived in with his second wife Mary. The address is 1256 Columbine Street Denver, CO 80206 and it continues to provide warmth and shelter to those who are living there today. James McParland didn’t have to travel far to his offices because “Pinkerton” was then located in the Opera House Block at Sixteenth & Arapahoe Streets. Back then you could reach him at Main 534. James and Mary appear to have enjoyed a comfortable life at their Denver residence. The 20 years they lived there (1899 ’til he died in 1919) brought both joy and sadness. McParland’s daughter Katie (from his first marriage) died of diphtheria at 8 years old. His favorite nephew died in a horrific collision of two speeding trains in March 1906.
20th Century’s 1st decade saw important American History being made in Denver, CO. The full story is to be found in a book called BIG TROUBLE (A Murder In A Small Western Town Sets Off A Struggle For The Soul Of America) J. Anthony Lukas was also the author of an acclaimed book titled COMMON GROUND (won a Pulitzer Prize). The book begins with the assassination of an ex-Idaho Governor (1896 to 1899) when he returned to his Caldwell, Idaho residence, opened his front gate, and was blown up! The cold blooded killing of Frank Steunenberg was to be avenged by James McParland.
As P.I. Museum’s Founder and Curator you can easily imagine how often people ask me questions that often put me on the spot. True, I’ve obsessively lived and breathed P.I. History from the start (1978) of my professional life as a CA Licensed Private Eye. I’ve never professed to know everything about our profession only wanting to know it all. Finally, with BIG TROUBLE, I have a book that I can recommend that answers the most often asked question of all. When did the American Private Detective really first emerge?
Do yourself a favor, go on eBay and buy a copy of BIG TROUBLE and enjoy reading it. The answer as to -when” the American Private Detective come onto center stage in our own national history is presented in a clear and entertaining fashion in this amazing – book. Professional private investigators should know when/where and how it all really started
During the 1 Decade of the 20th Century (specifically 1899 to 1907) Denver Colorado was at the epicenter of a deadly dangerous battle between American Labor and Capital. The times brought forth from every segment of our society the potential for a class war. BIG TROUBLE is about the roots and consequences of that murder in Caldwell, Idaho. It’s both a murder case and a social tapestry that took place in a region then dominated and controlled (in every important way) by two groups of mine owners. In Idaho they were represented by the mine owners in the Couer d’ Alenes region and, in Colorado. it was the mine owners active in the areas of Cripple Creek and Telluride that held focus.
Through the intellectual prowess of Pinkerton’s James McParland in Denver. Colorado history now shows us that it was Colorado’s more powerful factions masterfully directed by McParland that came to prevail. McParland steadfastly saw to it that Idaho would pay for the prosecution of those put forth as the three main Western Federation of Miners officials who’d acted through the admitted murderer Harry Orchard on Dec. 30, 1905. The actual guilt or innocence of the three WFM officials, Charles H. Moyer, William D. Haywood, George A. Pettibone and of Thomas Hogan aka Harry Orchard is really moot. More importantly, the full story details the path of the emergence of Private Detectives. It was, clearly, James McParland that won control of the case and “took” control of it’s prosecution. Based on McParland’s reputation (Mollie Maguires, etc.), the power of the Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency, and (most importantly) McParland’s own ability to manipulate everyone else involved (businessmen, politicians, law enforcement, etc.) he gained control of this historic case from nemesis Wilson S. Swain who was N/W Mgr. of Thiel Detective Service (Spokane, WA): he’d wanted America’s 15′ big sensational case!