[Illustration: _Geo. S. M^cWatters_ Photographed by Brady.] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ KNOTS UNTIED: OR, _WAYS AND BY-WAYS_ IN THE HIDDEN LIFE OF AMERICAN DETECTIVES. BY =OFFICER GEORGE S. McWATTERS,= LATE OF THE METROPOLITAN POLICE, NEW YORK. [Illustration] A NARRATIVE OF MARVELLOUS EXPERIENCES AMONG ALL CLASSES OF SOCIETY,--CRIMINALS IN HIGH LIFE, SWINDLERS, BANK ROBBERS, THIEVES, LOTTERY AGENTS, GAMBLERS, NECROMANCERS, COUNTERFEITERS, BURGLARS, ETC., ETC., ETC. [Illustration] =HARTFORD:= =J. B. BURR AND HYDE.= =1871.= ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by J. B. BURR AND HYDE, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. Electrotyped at the Boston Stereotype Foundry, No. 19 Spring Lane. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREFACE. -------------- I am aware that the preface of a book is usually the last portion of it which is read--if read it is--and, therefore, of little import; and I have, consequently, deliberated somewhat whether I would encumber the following tales with a prefix or not, but perhaps it is due to the reader to say (what, however, is apparent enough in some of the tales themselves) that the experiences and observations therein narrated, are not all personally mine; that some of them have, at different times, been detailed to me by old and tried personal friends, of deep knowledge of the world, and of extreme sagacity, and that I have presented them here, together with my own, in special instances, as being equally illustrative with mine of subtle human nature.