1931 Old Waldorf Bar Days by Albert Stevens Crockett

Old Waldorf Bar Days And Joe had a big reputation. Just how much of it was due to his own exploits is a matter open to speculation, despite a book published shortly after the close of the old hotel, which was supposed to relate some of the mysteries and adventures in which Joe had starred as hero. There was, for instance, the tale of his chase of the "human fly"-a story Joe never tired of telling. He had a passion for beingwritten up. And during the last four years of the old Waldorf's existence, if this writer were asked to name how many times Joe suggested that his biography be written, he would lose count, trying to check up. There were times when crooks of many stripes would look upon the Waldorf as a happy hunting-ground. Ev– erybody who stopped in the place was supposed to be bulging with money. Some were. Wire-tappers, green goods men, adventuresses, promoters of all sorts ofworth– less mines, sellers of "blue-sky" literature, pickpockets, touters for "fancy houses," criminals of every class, just longed to get into that place and operate. Sometimes they did effect entrance. But Joe was al– ways on the watch and he kept himself familiar with the Rogues' Gallery pictures at Police Headquarters, and sometimes he could scare them out. If they came in numbers, Joe had an effective recourse. It was rather a different method Of sleuthing from that open to most detectives-even hotel detectives. THE WAY OF A SLEUTH A word from a manager tcl'someone connected with the hotel who knew "Ed" Hill, or some other friendly news– paper reporter with a sense of humor, and then: "Say, Ed, can't you give Joe Smith a story? We need it." [ 86]