I learned about an interesting occupation while searching the newspapers for my great-grandfather, Charles Decker. This is from the Newburgh Register, Newburgh, NY, July 7, 1897:
Transcription:
Horse Thief at Walden.
J. V. Decker, president of the Walden Horse Thief Detecting association, this morning spent the following message to the chief of police: Look for light bay horse, weight 1,030 pounds, white hind ankles, white around front hoofs, red gear sidebar top wagon, one bow broken, tied with string. Man 5 feet 10 inches, weight 200 pounds, dark complexion, small moustache, scar on forehead, wore dark suit of clothes. He was a railroad man.