o. Up for auction is a wonderful and rare book entitled Knots Untied: or, Ways and By-Ways in the Hidden Life of American Detectives, being the memoirs and reminisces of Officer George S. McWatters, Late of the Metropolitan Police, New York. Published by J.B. Burr and Hyde Hartford, 1871, Act of Congress 1874. 665 pages + hard bound cover, illustrated throughout (30 total). A Narrative, through one police officer's eyes (including during the Civil War), of marvelous experiences among all classes of society,-criminals in high life, swindlers, bank robbers, thieves, lottery agents, gamblers, necromancers, counterfeiters, burglars, etc. etc. etc. See table of contents below. A great find.

Fair overall condition for age. Cover is cloth over boards with wear and fading, spine faded. Edges and corners rubbed with fraying at head and tail of spine, marker ofc. Good binding. Text foxing/soiling throughout, a bit musty smelling. Some creased text pages, some edge and corner wear. It measures 5 7/8"w x 8 3/8"h x 1 3/4". A nice find.

Table of Contents (Abbreviated):

Biographical Notes of Officer George S. McWatters

Where he was born and reared (Kilmarnock Scotland)

Removes to London

Migrates to US

Settles in Philadelphia and Studies Law

A Heart too Soft for a Lawyer

Departs for California

Back in NY

Mr McWatters as agent and Lecturer

Anecdote of Lola Montez and Laura Keene

Mr McWatters solving social problems

Our subject and the public press

McWatters enters the Metropolitan Police Force (distinguishes himself over 12 years)

Personal Incidents (includes rescues children from waterery graves, always at post of duty, receives praise from chief)

Officer McWatters during the late Civil War

First Seizure of guns at the North (McWatters intercepts guns enroute to Rebels)

Officer McWatters' Services through public press

Kindly and Wise Providence (appeals to public for lemons for famished soldiers

Riot Week (July 1863) Officer McWatters in the thick of the fight.

Officer McWatters and his Literary Associates

Officer McWatters as the Good Samaritan

Officer McWatters and the Soldiers

Ladies Union Relief Association

The Swindling Bounty Claim Agents

Honorable Testimonials to Officer McWatters

The Bellevue Hospital Iniquity

Conclusion

The Organ Grinders

Ten Dollars a Month, A Story of Grief and Joy

Mack and the Veteran

Lost in the Streets

Among the Sharks

A Smart Young Man

A Suspected California Murderer

Extensive Counterfeiting

The Gambler's Wax Finger

Lottery Ticket #1710 (efforts to catch a thief, a wonderful story)

Payne and the Counterfeiters

The Genealogical Swindlers

Hattie Newsberry, the Vermont Beauty

About Bogus Lotteries

The Borrowed Diamond Ring

The Mystery at 89-Street NY

A Sorceress' Trick; How she was caught

Dishonest Clerk and Fatal slip of Paper

The Thousand Dollar Lesson

The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

A Forced Marriage Scheme Defeated

The Marked Bills

The Cool-Blooded Gold Robber

$1,250,000 or the private Mark

William Roberts and his Forgeries

Old Mr, Alvord's Last Will

The Confidential Clerk

The Peculiar Advertisements

Col. Novena Prince of Confidence Men

Circumstantial Evidence

The Counterfeit Money Speculators

The Detective System