38 Facts About James McParland

James McParland was an American private detective and Pinkerton agent.

James McParland worked as a laborer, policeman and then in Chicago as a liquor store owner until the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 destroyed his business.

James McParland then became a private detective and labor spy, noted for his success against coal mining labor organizations in Pennsylvania.

James McParland turned in reports daily, eventually collecting evidence of murder plots and intrigue, passing this information along to Benjamin Franklin, his Pinkerton manager.

James McParland began working secretly with Robert Linden, a Pinkerton agent assigned to the Coal and Iron Police for the purpose of coordinating the eventual arrest and prosecution of members of the Molly Maguires.

James McParland was outraged that the information he had been providing had found its way into the hands of killers.

James McParland protested in a letter to his Pinkerton overseer which declared, in part:.

James McParland was accused of joining in criminal activity with Jacob McLaughlin of the notorious Grand Central Hotel near the railroad yards.

In Columbus, Kansas, James McParland discovered a conspiracy to dynamite Cherokee County's records vault to hide fraudulent mortgages.

James McParland discovered extensive abuses against clients and against the agency, and reported on them.

James McParland was named superintendent of Pinkerton's Denver office, and of the Pinkerton's western division.

James McParland tricked Thomas Thatcher Graves, her accused murderer, into traveling from Providence, Rhode Island, to Denver where he was arrested and convicted of the crime.

James McParland hired gunman Tom Horn, who, while working for Pinkerton killed seventeen men, according to a count by Siringo.

One of James McParland's tasks was infiltrating and disrupting union activities.

James McParland successfully placed numerous spies within the Western Federation of Miners union, and more into the United Mine Workers.

Some of James McParland's agents took part in the WFM strike that came to be called the Colorado Labor Wars.

Idaho Governor Frank Gooding was persuaded to approve the request, and Pinkerton agent James McParland soon arrived to lead the investigation.

James McParland frequently used the expression inner circle to describe a secret cabal in the Western Federation of Miners when pitching Pinkerton's services to mine owners.

James McParland had Orchard transferred from the Caldwell, Idaho jail to death row in the Boise penitentiary.

James McParland was incarcerated next to two death row inmates who were awaiting execution themselves.

James McParland threatened Orchard with immediate hanging, and said that he could avoid that fate only if he testified against leaders of the WFM.

James McParland allayed Orchard's skepticism by telling him about "Kelly the Bum", a confessed murderer who became a prosecution witness in the Molly Maguires cases.

James McParland claimed "Kelly" not only had received freedom as part of the deal, but he had been given "one thousand dollars to subsidize a new life abroad".

James McParland dismissed the possibility that Orchard would face charges in Colorado if allowed to go free in Idaho.

James McParland had offered a stark choice: an immediate visit to the gallows, or better treatment for the prisoner with the possibility of freedom, a possible financial reward, and the gratitude of the state of Idaho.

James McParland was provided with special meals, new clothing, spending money, his favorite cigars, and a library of religious tracts.

James McParland had Western Federation of Miners leaders Bill Haywood, Charles Moyer, and George Pettibone arrested in Colorado.

James McParland sought to bolster Orchard's testimony by forcing another WFM miner, Steve Adams, to turn state's evidence.

James McParland used the same method for eliciting a confession from Adams as he had on Orchard: he told Adams he was merely a "tool," and told him he "would be forgiven his sins," if he confessed.

James McParland sought leverage over Adams to force him to re-affirm the confession.

James McParland had contracted to provide Pinkerton services for Bulkeley Wells, the president and manager of the Smuggler-Union Mining Company in Telluride, Colorado.

Together with Wells and others, McParland planned to have Adams charged with involvement after-the-fact in the murder of mine bricklayer William J Barney, who had disappeared one week after accepting the position as a guard at the Smuggler-Union mine.

James McParland tried to turn conspiracy defendant Moyer against co-defendants Haywood and Pettibone by having a sheriff claim Pettibone, Adams, and Orchard were plotting to kill Moyer, but that plan wasn't put into action.

James McParland admitted to abandoning wives in Canada and Cripple Creek.

James McParland had burned businesses for the insurance money in Cripple Creek and Canada.

Meanwhile, James McParland was interviewed for the investigation by the governor.

James McParland would stop at nothing to take down [unions such as the Western Federation of Miners] because he believed his authority came from "Divine Providence".

James McParland died on 18 May 1919 in Denver's Mercy Hospital.