The Somnambulist and the Detective; The Murderer and the Fortune Teller

The collection presents a series of true-case narratives chronicling investigations into murders, thefts, forgeries, conspiracies, and espionage, each focusing on investigative methods, disguises, and undercover operations. The author recounts detective planning, the use of surveillance and informants, courtroom outcomes, and profiles of criminals and secret societies, while illustrating practical tradecraft through detailed episodes such as employing female operatives and coordinating agents by telegraph. Themes include perseverance, judgment, and the application of intuition and observation. Cases vary from railroad and bank crime to labor-related violence, spiritualist fraud, and wartime spying, organized into discrete accounts that blend procedural description with reminiscence.