logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
39 m

The Pinkerton Detective Agency | The Pub...

Wondery
About this episode

By the late 1800s, the Pinkerton Detective Agency faced public criticism for their anti-labor practices. So the company pivoted, sending Pinkerton detectives out to do what they did best, traveling throughout the west in search of the nation’s most audacious and elusive bank-robbing desperados. 

In time, the Pinkertons also faced competition from a new Federal crime-fighting bureau, and one of their operatives would draw on his experience to write some of the most iconic detective novels in the English language.

Pre-order your copy of the new American History Tellers book, The Hidden History of the White House, for behind-the-scenes stories of some of the most dramatic events in American history—set right inside the house where it happened.

Listen to American History Tellers on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/american-history-tellers/ now. 

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Oct 8
Shootout at the O.K. Corral | The Road to Tombstone | 1
In the 1880s the booming silver mining town of Tombstone, Arizona was home to one of the most famous gunfights in American history. Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and Wyatt's brothers try to bring law and order to a small town, but they clash with a gang of outlaw cowboys, leading a l ... Show More
38m 13s
Oct 1
Daring Prison Escapes | Escape from Libby Prison | 5
In early 1864, a group of Union prisoners made a daring escape from Libby Prison in Richmond, Virginia - the capital of the Confederacy. Known for its sadistic guards and horrific conditions, Union Officers at Libby suffered from hunger, lice, and the freezing cold. In this episo ... Show More
40m 41s
Sep 24
Daring Prison Escapes | Nazis in the Arizona Desert | 4
During World War II, the United States housed hundreds of thousands of enemy soldiers who had been captured as prisoners of war. Camp Papago Park, located in Phoenix, was built to hold captured German U-boat crew members, some of the most well-trained and ardent members of the Ge ... Show More
37 m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2025
The Spy Who Betrayed Bin Laden (Encore) | Aimen Dean talks about his time as MI6's Top Spy Inside Al-Qaeda | 5
Aimen Dean talks Raza Jaffrey through the highs and lows of his eight years as an undercover agent and why he chose to spy for the British rather than the Americans. He also describes how he felt after his cover was blown when an American writer disclosed his identity with detail ... Show More
46m 21s
Apr 2025
The Pinkerton Detective Agency
The Pinkertons became the most famous detective company in the U.S. But were they noble or notorious? We get to the bottom of it all in today's episode.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
52m 22s
Jan 2025
The Luigi Mangione Story, Chapter One: A Murder in Manhattan
In the early hours of December 4, 2024, UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was fatally shot in New York City as he walked toward the annual investor's meeting of his parent company, UnitedHealth Group. US law enforcement embarked on a massive manhunt. Several days after the murd ... Show More
41m 28s
Mar 2025
JFK Revisited: FBI Finds 2,000 More Documents
In early 2025, the FBI announced that they had found more than 2,000 new records related to John F. Kennedy’s assassination. What do they include? Why did it take so long to find them? How many will be made public? The world waits to find out. In late 2023, we sat down with journ ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 27
Introducing: American Criminal
Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole are two of history’s most prolific serial killers. Or they’re liars who aren’t to be trusted. Either way, they’ve both got red in their ledger – all stemming from their twisted beginnings. American Criminal takes you inside the minds of some of our ... Show More
16m 23s
Aug 2024
Introducing: Law & Order: Criminal Justice System Season 1
From Wolf Entertainment, the minds behind the acclaimed TV series, and iHeart Podcasts comes "Law & Order: Criminal Justice System," a series that uncovers the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are ... Show More
2m 20s
Aug 25
Introducing: American Criminal
Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole are two of history’s most prolific serial killers. Or they’re liars who aren’t to be trusted. Either way, they’ve both got red in their ledger – all stemming from their twisted beginnings. American Criminal takes you inside the minds of some of our ... Show More
16m 23s
May 2024
Marilyn Monroe (Part 2): The Three Deaths of an Iconic American Actress
The conspiracy theories surrounding Marilyn Monroe’s death in 1962 continue to entertain the imaginations of those obsessed with celebrity and scandal. The stories, many of them fantastical and one of them true, feature cameos by the likes of President John F. Kennedy, his brothe ... Show More
37m 23s
Aug 2024
S1 E2: Shadows and Surveillance
The execution of three Bonanno captains marks a pivotal moment in New York’s criminal history, set against the backdrop of a covert battle waged by law enforcement to dismantle the Mafia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
40m 52s