Was published in an award for won the best book on wild west history. Book, heking on the began to research pinker 10s National Detective agency ons National Detective agency. This led to the discovery of Timothy Webster. Timothy webster is the subject of the new book a spy for the union the life and execution of Timothy Webster. Without further ado, i will welcome corey recko. [applause] enqueue everyone. I would like to thank everyone here at the museum for setting this up. And allowing me to speak here. A spy for the union the life and execution of. Mothy webster i would like to read the introduction to you which gives you an overview of his life. Man,new York City Police 1853, he was assigned to work the Crystal Palace exhibition. It became known as the first worlds fair. ,e was introduced to pinkerton a scottish immigrant who had started his own Detective Agency. In the 1850s, the Detective Agency laid the foundation for what would become the most important Detective Agency ever. It focused on criminal matters and was often employed by government agencies. Im putting together what in putting together what proved to be a team of detectives, he employed policeman. Timothy webster was one of these men. Although he did not join immediately, he decided to accept the job offer after continued harassment. Timothy webster moved to illinois and became one of the agencys best detectives. Though quiet and reserved personally, when on a case, he used an outgoing personality to get information and gain friends. He tracked a jew will forge her, ewel forger. Then everything changed. Abraham lincoln was elected the president of the united states. There were threats to assassinate the president elect before he took office. Luckily for the u. S. , timothy pinkertond other operatives foiled the plot. His service to the country did not start stop there. The Southern States seceded. Did not hesitate to defend his country, but he was not an enemy on a bloody battlefield. Skill his skill use set to use as a spy. He gathered important hisrmation leading to work behind enemy lines included trips to confederate camps in richmond. He even acted as a courier for the Confederate Army and took a correspondence form from a general to a kernel colonel. The secessionists saw him as one of them. His family immigrated to the was young. E he was raised in new jersey. The couple had four children. Families family was important to webster. ,rofessionally, Timothy Webster who a Police Officer called the bravest, coolest man that ever lived, worked as a private detective insert is adapted and served his adopted country. It is because of his brave and Humble Service that he is remembered. Timothy webster began his career as a new York City Policeman. Serve as ant on to private detective and a spy. He lived a dramatic life to reduce no telling what he would have accomplished if his life had not been cut short. 22, 1822 inmarch england. He was the fourth of seven children. Two died in infancy. The family immigrated when webster was a boy. They settled in princeton, new jersey. He that they typical life. At 19 years old, he married his wife. Their first child was born a year later. For some other reasons, he left life in princeton and went to new york city and took a job for the police department. The trouble in new york at the time was the Old Department was not large enough or effective enough to police the large, growing metropolis. The department reorganized and modeled themselves after londons department. He was assigned to work the Crystal Palace exhibition. What became known as americas first worlds fair. To s here he was introduced pinkerton. If the job was offered, webster turned it down. Webster served at a time when xenophobia ran high. The rise of the know nothing party. A general for being feeling against foreigners against this time. This, anf investigation was begun into foreigners in the new york city department. Officers,0 1400 there were 477 foreignborn officers. Somebody claimed for jury and perjury and said there were 600. It was a big difference to briggs, who began a yearlong investigation. This is the New York City Hall where most of the hearings took place. Of the officers called to testify, one was Timothy Webster. He was repeatedly called. He refused to cooperate. I would like to read an example of his testimony. Mr. Timothy webster, lieutenant of police, made his appearance and was sworn in. Comparing to administer you doh, asked webster, solemnly swear you will answer all questions . Swear theid, i evidence i will get will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. You do swear the evidence will be the truth . Webster said, i decline to answer any questions. Briggs began the inquiry by asking, what is your name . Webster sat silent. The court spoke up. You can give us your name, cant you . Webster gave no answer. Mickey webster, is that your Timothy Webster, is that your name . Does the name i received the subpoena. What country are you native of . I positively declined to answer any question the Committee Puts to me. I wish that to be understood. Times andled to more gave similar answers. The investigation led nowhere. The chief retained his position. It may have soured timothy of being a Police Officer in new york. Shortly after the investigation, he became a detective in the pinkerton Detective Agency. What effect the investigation had is unknown. Toster moved his family illinois. The northwest police agency, founded by pinkerton, we change its name to pinkerton Detective Agency. At the time, it was still a growing regional agency. Unfortunately, many of the records most of them from websters time were destroyed during the chicago fire of 1871. Little is known of what he did as an operative. What is known as he displayed cunning and leadership skills. A moving trainf in michigan to keep up with a man. He investigated grave robberies in a chicago cemetery. Behinded to find those an attempt to burn down the Rock Island Railroad bridge. I would like to speak to you about the latter of these two cases. Robbingory of grave dates back to the 19th century. Medical schools needed cadavers to study, antiquated laws left them unable to obtain the body they need. Turned tohools often resurrection rests resurrection rests resurrectionists who were grave robbers. He bypassed the city sexton, the man in charge of the cemetery. In this role he had some legal powers, which gave him the power to arrest people. This might explain why and said of going to the police, the city alderme went to pinkertonns agency. Pinkertonerton assigned Timothy Webster to leave the surveillance. They staked it out and found nothing. On november 5, he only had four operatives available. They arrived at 10 00 on an unusually dark knight. Night. Between 11 30 and midnight, a body was seen traveling away. Two of the operatives one of whom was most likely webster, but we dont really know to two operatives follow the buggy at a distance they would not be seen. As the buggy turned a corner, one of the operatives ran out and grabbed to harness in the back. To stop. Was forced the operative ran back to the set of the road as one of the man exited the buggy. They could smell the corpses inside the buggy, so they moved in and arrested what turned out to be the city sexton. As one operative held him, the other to his gun on the men inside the buggy. At this time, the horse backed off. As he went to remove his leg, the other took off running. Wereire a few shots, but unable to catch them. Setnext day, and operative in the buggy and let the horse take him where he made. It took two took him to a livery stable. Studentnd a medical named york. York was arrested. In the end, all charges against york were dropped. But resurrectionists continue to operate in chicago and elsewhere as antiquated laws can failed to keep up with the needs of medical schools. South issueh and had to do with the Railroad Industry versus the steamboat industry. As the rock Island Bridge was being built between iwatch and iowa and between allowis, which would trains, instead of crossing the river by ferry, the bridge would eliminate that need. But those that depend on the steamboat industry fought the bridge. Steve those in st. Louis in particular fought the. Bridge. Shortly after the bridges completion, the steamboat a steamboat crashed into the pier of the bridge. Andhe ship was sinking cattle were swimming and drowning, a part of the bridge collapsed. The suit be rock Island Bridge company, saying the bridge was thebstruction they sued rock Island Bridge company, saying the bridge was an obstruction. Ded withl and it en 93. G jury, 93 read there may have been an attempt to bring down the bridge in 1858. Whether this was real or there were just threats, this brought the pig attended detectives in. The pinkerton detectives in. Timothy webster was at the head of the investigation. He was named superintendent of the bridge. Under him was a group of uniformed guards. Survived,s have not so we dont know if webster took a supervisory role or more active role in trying to find the culprits. Whilesuperintendent, superintendent, he moved to davenport. He had a family back in illinois. It is likely he took many train trips to visit his family. Even so, he made a big impact on the davenport community, even being asked to run for office. The investigation ended up focusing on two men. They had been hired by the st. Louis chamber of commerce, which mostly consisted of taking affidavits. In chicago, two years after timothyof arrived webster, still posing as a superintendent, invited chadwick to the real dimple rail dept. They went on the train. Chadwick arrived, the paper was a warrant for his arrest. The first trial these two men had ended in acquittal. More charges were brought. By that time, they were dropped. The bridge was allowed to stand. Railroads were allowed to reshape the nation. Fromis a detective book, his work as a laborers i labor spy. He would pay with marked bills. Among some, it is what they are known sofor. Unfolding events changed the future. Shortly after Abraham Lincolns he received a60, request to investigate secessionist threats to destroy the bridges between washington dc and new york city. He took a group of operatives to maryland. Posing as as stockbroker and took an office next to a secessionist. Group had a plan to assassinate lincoln as he passed through baltimore. Was setime, the way it up was lincoln would arrive on one train in baltimore and have to cross the city openly in a carriage to get to the train him too d. C. Take d. C. Which now seems like a horrible idea. Split onore, which was the issue of secession, this was a horrible idea. Webster went to maryland with an operative posing as his wife. Injoined a local militia learned that they had similar plans to assassinate lincoln. His itinerarys, changed. He was snaked through baltimore. He received much criticism for this. Sneaked through baltimore. He received much criticism for this, but as we saw how easy it was for somebody to assassinate lincoln, it was clear why it was necessary. Years after the incident, the new york chief of police asked one of the men to relate his experiences as a spy. Samson he said he had been asked searching questions about davis. Letter. Had sent him a it had a new york postmark, which aroused suspicion. Samson recalled he was once asked many questions with regard to the letter. He explained it as well as he could. He explained the danger they faced. This brought as a become anywhere in the majority the desperados of the company or any majority. Were in a the men left for washington quickly. Remember a heavy cloth cap with a band of fur. They went to their hotel room to discuss the situation. Left theirle, they rooms to look over the main hall in the hotel. In the lobby were several of the national volunteers. Samson recalled, i cursed my stupidity. He watched as one of the man turned and whispered to his associates. Then they all walked out. The objectives did not know what detectives did not know what to do. Samson try to figure out a way out of the city. At that moment, a man in a large overcoat suddenly, in a low tone, the man spoke. Come out ofs, this. He realized he should not move. Both men stood still. With his back to the stranger, he replied, i do not recognize you. Samson remembered, the mans hand moved behind him as though bidding me to follow. He didnt know if he was trying to help him or get him alone so he could murder him. I followed him very closely. My steps almost blocking in. His. I carried a pistol and knew how to use it. On pennsylvania avenue, in a quiet voice, the man said my god, where is washington going . Why tom . Frightened by the mention of the new york city chief of police, samson gave no reply. View ofnable to get a the strangers face. He described the man. My companion had on a great coat with the collar turned over his nose. His hand on his pistol. Tell me whos sake, is with you. This made me he knew i exchange my cap for a hat. He must have followed me from baltimore. I caught him by the arm, spun him around. That flung open his cap. lee atd only at me. Me. He looked calmly at me. Is that you, tim . Samson was overjoyed to see his old friend, Timothy Webster. He had been on the force less than four years and knew him to be a man of exceptional honesty and courage. Samson told webster how close he had been to shooting him. For the last five minutes, my figure has been on the trigger of my pistol. Webster was in no mood for smalltalk. Cent. Ife is not worth a there are 20 million tournament after you. There are 20 men after you. He helped the two men out of the city. Later, he made a verbal report to pinkerton. They were both very much frightened after receiving news and left their hotel without paying their bill or paint getting their baggage. Also called on judd at his room. This this is tom samson, the detective in his later years when he relayed this story, and this is the hotel where much of it took place shortly after this incident, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated. The country fell into civil war. Was pleased in charge of the secret service. Defense tasks were the of cincinnati. Webster, went into the field in kentucky and tennessee. They wanted to find out the troop numbers and the intentions of the enemy. Supply information. The general feeling of the south for the war. Websters first trip was to memphis. He returned with detailed reports. Mcclellan became Major General of the army. Now he was starting to plan an offensive on richmond. Nexthy webster made his residence in baltimore. While here, he contacted people he had met earlier and acted as a courier. This provided a perfect cover for webster to move behind enemy lines without being suspected of anything serious. He did such a good job, he was also being watched by the baltimore marshall. They thought he was a southerner working for the southern cause. This led to a raid on millers hotel. The hotel where webster was staying. He was arrested and his quote wife was arrested. Letters he washe gathering where confiscated. Once it became clear who he was, they set up a fake escape. It would not be known that he was the newspaper reported, escape of the prisoner. It was rumored yesterday that the man webster, who was arrested yesterday, under the charge of transporting letters, had succeeded in making his escape. He was removed from the Police Station and placed in the carriage under charge of the special detective officer and driven towards fort mchenry. When the vehicle arrived within a short distance of the main officer couldhe seize him, was beyond his grasp. He will scarcely be able to escape the city. He is a citizen from kentucky but has resided in baltimore. This raised the opinion of webster among his secessionist contacts. An impressive amount of information. He carried official correspondence for confederate general. Personal messages grid and messages personal acrosseived passages enemy lines. As far as the confederates were concerned, he was one of them. Information on rebel troop numbers, defense fortifications, and their plans. North, something unexpected happened. He was asked to carry important documents. He undertook the mission across the dangerous water at night. As far as they were concerned, he was one of them berated this is one of websters reports he was one of them. This is one of websters reports. It is fair to ask, how accurate were these reports . We restartarron the fall did not lie with webster that the numbers were exaggerated. Reports, though not perfect, were fairly accurate and by far the most accurate that pinkerton was receiving. Pretty clear that the operatives themselves were not the reason that mcclellan got inflated troop numbers. It appears that mcclellan not only knew the numbers were inflated but requested it. The logic behind this was twofold. Numbershought that the would never be complete. The numbers were increased to account for the unaccounted troops. The problem was the numbers already toothing, high. Increasing the number only made the problem worse. The other reason was that mcclellan never wanted to get caught facing more troops than he expected. The third rationale was to rationalize more troops in his requests. It was during a mission that came websters health became an issue. Rheumatism, which is a generic term for any ailment that affects the joints. Bedridden for days at a time. His next mission south, because of rheumatism, he went with patty lewis posing as his wife. This was supposed to be a short mission. Pinkerton panicked, not knowing where they were. The problem that pinkerton had in selecting these operatives as he had been using them in other capacities in washington dc. There was a senator, jack