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1856: Inspired by the real story of investigator Kate Warne of the Pinkerton Detective Agency
Girl in Disguise
What you need to know before your trail
1856 : Kate Warne finds herself with few choices. The streets of 1856 Chicago are not the place any woman should find herself least of all a widow. She has no husband and also no money so she has to find a job and fast. In a bold move that no other woman has tried, Kate convinces the legendary Allan Pinkerton to hire her as a detective.
Battling criminals and coworkers alike, Kate immerses herself in the dangerous life of an operative, winning the right to tackle some of the agency’s toughest investigations.
And the girl in disguise takes on quite a new appearance – but which one is the real one?
Travel Guide
Visit Chicago
Pinkerton, founded as the Pinkerton National Detective Agency, is a private detective agency established in the United States by Allan Pinkerton in 1850s Chicago
Pinkerton became famous when he claimed to have foiled a plot to assassinate president-elect Abraham Lincoln, who later hired Pinkerton agents for his personal security during the Civil War
The company’s iconic logo—a large, unblinking eye accompanied by the slogan “We Never Sleep”—gave rise to the term “private eye” as a nickname for detectives.
In 1856, 23-year-old widow Kate Warne walked into Pinkerton’s Chicago office and asked for a job as a detective. She was so good at her job and so admired by Pinkerton that, following her death in 1868, he even had her buried in his family plot.
The Pinkerton Code is created:
Accept no bribes
Never compromise with criminals
Partner with local law enforcement agencies
Refuse divorce cases or cases that initiate scandals
Turn down reward money
Never raise fees without the client’s pre-knowledge
Keep clients apprised on an on-going basis
“In my service you will serve your country better than on the field. I have several female operatives. If you agree to come aboard you will go in training with the head of my female detectives, Kate Warne. She has never let me down.” – ALLAN PINKERTON
Streetview Maps
A) The original the Pinkerton Detective Agency was here
D) La Salle Street Bridge
Booktrail Boarding Pass: Girl in Disguise
Author/Guide: Greer Macallister Destination: Chicago Departure Time: 1856
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