100 YEARS AGO Story from ‘detective’ has holes

“Every man should have his own racket even though some birds think that when a joddy horns into their graft they are spoiling the lay.” So began a story about a young man who appeared in Valatie claiming to be an agent of the Prohibition Enforcement Bureau, a private detective hired and assigned to the “cellar smellers’ squad.” He stopped into several cafes and stores, and finally visited the United States Hotel, where he discovered a game of pinochle being played. He “ordered” the hotel’s owner to shut the game down as gambling was illegal, but “allowed” it to continue once it was proven that no one was playing for money, aka “filthy lucre.” A state trooper happened by the hotel at the same time and, sensing something was amiss, questioned the mysterious stranger, who refused to give his name and had no identification or credentials on him, but produced a shiny tin badge that had the word “detective” inscribed on it. The trooper arrested him and brought him before the justice of the peace in Hudson. He was now addressed as W.G. Taylor based on clues discovered during a quick investigation: He had dropped the name Taylor while making his own inquiries about town. He told at least one person he had come to Valatie from Albany and he had a book of blank checks from the New York State National

Bank of Albany in his pocket. The justice sentenced the man to 30 days in the Hudson jail.

—Times Union, Nov. 22, 1920