Private investigators commonly work behind the scenes in an often mysterious and easily misunderstood profession. For most people a recollection of television shows such as 'Magnum P.I.', come to mind when considering the life of a private investigator. The entertainment industry has indeed, greatly helped the promotion of criminal justice, however it has also blurred the reality of investigators, with the latest culprit being the show 'Crime Scene Investigation.' Detective work appears glamorous, but it takes an individual high in persistence and aggressiveness to meet the demands of the real Magnum, P.I.
             First to the history of private investigation, its origins can be traced to Chicago, Illinois. Allan Pinkerton is referred to as the father of private investigation. He opened his detective agency in 1850 in Chicago. Pinkerton played a prominent role in nineteenth-century America, it is alleged that he thwarted an attempted assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Pinkerton was also hired by the railroad industry to track down the infamous Jesse James and his gangs of robbers. James and his henchmen were quite elusive, and Pinkerton struggled for many years to bring every last one of them to justice. There is much controversy concerning the abounding number of convictions, some say innocent men were sentenced to jail. Interestingly, this is the origination of the term 'railroaded' for innocent persons sent to jail.
             Allan Pinkerton also created the all-seeing eye as the symbol for his company, Pinkerton Detective Agency. It is this symbol that now appears on the back of every dollar bill, above the unfinished pyramid, in the Great Seal of the United States. Many people also claim that the term 'private eye' comes from Pinkerton's all-seeing eye. The Pinkerton agency has since merged with Burns Security and is still alive today.
             Private investigators spend ...