Talk:Thiel Detective Service Company

Investigations
After the Homestead Strike, the Thiel Detective Agency, along with the Illinois Detective Agency, U.S. Detective Agency, and Mooney and Boland's Detective Agency were investigated by both chambers of the United States Congress.

Can anyone verify this specifically? Homestead involved Pinkertons... Richard Myers 21:33, 30 March 2007 (UTC)

I can find no evidence to support the above statement - the investigation was primarily aimed at the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. The Mooney & Boland Detective Agency was founded in New York in 1870 by James Mooney (1848-1892) and John Boland (1846/7?-1926), died age 79. They opened an office in Chicago in 1882, also had offices in Philadelphia and Kansas City. Rupertlt (talk) 23:03, 31 August 2009 (UTC)

John F. Farley
This biography of John F. Farley is nonsense - the writer is confusing him with the real "King of the Strikebreakers" - James "Jim" Farley, aka "Potato Face", b. Malone N.Y., 1874?; d. Plattsburgh N.Y. Sept 11, 1913. [For "Potato Face" see: Wobblies, pile butts, and other heroes: laborlore explorations. By Archie Green, 1993. Page 149.]

For James Farley see also: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_busting - I doubt that this James Farley has middle initial 'A'. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Rupertlt (talk • contribs) 14:25, 9 September 2008 (UTC) The information about James Farley appears to have moved here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_union_busting_in_the_United_States#James_Farley_inherits_the_strike_breaker_title Rupertlt (talk) 20:05, 31 August 2009 (UTC) For an obituary of James Farley see New York Times, Sep 11, 1913. Rupertlt (talk) 00:09, 8 September 2009 (UTC)

John F. Farley was appointed Chief of Police in Denver in 1889. He later rejoined the Thiel Detective Service Company and was still employed by them in 1914. He served as Chief of Police in Denver for two spells 1889-1893, 1897-1901. See: http://www.coloradohistoricnewspapers.org Rupertlt (talk) 14:12, 12 September 2008 (UTC) By 1914 John F. Farley was assistant general manager of the Thiel Detective Service Company. From his office in San Francisco he had jurisdiction over the offices in Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and Vancouver. See: Salt Lake Telegram, Utah, February 19, 1914. Rupertlt (talk) 20:29, 31 August 2009 (UTC)

Colorado Springs Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colorado) Dec 27, 1889: The diamond badge which was presented to Chief Farley of the Denver police force by a number of the leading men of that city on Tuesday night was a handsome compliment to a deserving official. Chief Farley has not been in office very long, but he has been there long enough to show the people of the city it is his duty to protect, what kind of stuff he is made of, and the diamond badge is ample evidence of the satisfactory nature of the showing made. Under the Brady-Connor regime Denver had the opportunity of experiencing all the evils of a police force managed solely for the personal gain of those at its head. Under Chief Farley the people have seen the force changed from a corrupt political machine into one of the most efficient police departments in the country. It has not been easy sailing for Farley since he entered upon his duties. He has had to face much powerful opposition and his honest endeavors have made him many enemies among those who were accustomed to use the police force for other things than protection to the city. But Farley has won the day and Denver is to be congratulated on the results. Rupertlt (talk) 12:21, 12 September 2008 (UTC)


 * See http://cdnc.ucr.edu/cgi-bin/cdnc?a=d&d=SFC19080722.2.92, an article from the San Francisco Call, July 22, 1908. The last sentence states that John F. Farley "is not related to James Farley, the strike breaker."   Jeff in CA (talk) 00:59, 12 September 2015 (UTC)

Comment
The Thiel agency did not compete directly with Pinkertons for much of its life - Thiel was focused in the west while Pinkertons concentrated in the eastern U.S. The comparison between Thiel and Burns is spurious as they mainly operated in different historic periods. Rupertlt (talk) 19:31, 12 September 2008 (UTC)