The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1829-05-06
FRENCH POLICE.


The perfection to which the organization Of
the police Of Paris is brought, has long been a
subject of remark to foreigners. A book of
memoirs has lately been published by person
named Vidocq, long secret agent of the po-
lice, which reveals some of the means by which
crimes are detected in that city. Of himself,
he says
&" In a few days made myself acquainted
with all the haunts where malefactors were to
be met with. The Barriers de Ia Courtille, du
Combat, and Matrimonial were the places
where they most loved to congregate These
were their head quarters, where they were al
ways in great numbers 4 and wo to the agent
who should venture amongst them there, no
matter under what pretext, they would infalli-
bly, have annihilated him !; even the gendarmes
dreaded to show themselves there, so imposing
was the force of these rufhans Less timid.
hesitated not to risk myself amidst this crowd
of wretches frequented, and fraternized with
them, and was fortunate enough to be looked
upon as one of themselves. 1t was while drink
ing with them that | learned the crimes that
they had already committed and those they
had in contemplation ! circumventeG them so
skifully, that they never hesitated to give me
their address, or that of the women with whom
they lived.
By this means became so fully acquainted
with all their proceedings, that when gave
! the signal for arresting them, they were almost
generally taken in the fact, or at least with the
stolen objects in their possession. NV exer-
! tons, intrG murOS, were not less effective.
| necessarily haunted all the infamous houses of
| resort, and all the dens in the city. No day
passed without making some important discov-
cry There was no crime committed, or about
! TO be committed, of which all the circumstance
! es were not made known to me. was every
where, and knew every thing and when
| called upon the authorities to interfere, they
never had to complain of the nsuficiency Of
! my information"
brated receiver of stolen goods, who had baffled
Ill the efforts of the police for years, is as fol-
! lows ::
"The police, we'll knowing the profession of
this man, had frequently and infinitely searched
his house, but without ever being able to find
any article that could serve as proof against
| him. ! made the attempt, and succeeded in
the following manner l posted myself near
his house 20 see him go out, and when he had
| got some distance from il, | suddenly went up
| and accosted him by a name different from his
real one. He said was mistaken. insisted
that was not, and that | knew him to be a
( pOl sun 1i'Sl Whoh PpliNO VA oiIS oAAo INV
departments had long been searching. "But
you are completely in error" said he, I" my
name is so, and live in such street. I" l
do not believe word of that, said |. "Oh,
that is too much" said he. " Do you wish
that should prove it to you" Certainly"
replied, " but upon one condition, that you
will accompany me to the next guard house. -
To this he consented. On entering the guard
house, asked him 10 show me his papers ; he
SAID he had none about him. told the soldiers
then to search his person, upon which were
found three watches, and twenty-five double
Napoleons, which told their scrjeant of the
guard to keep, until he conducted the prisoner
to The Commssary of Police.
A handkerchief, in which these articles were
enveloped, took myself, and having put on the
dress Of porter, l fastened to the house of the
receiver, and asked to see his wife. When !
was alone with her, | took the handkerchief
from my pocket, at the sight of which, and be-
fore | had said word, she changed counter
ance and looked alarmed. In giving her the
handkerchief, said, do not bring you good
news, your husband is arrested, and all that he
had on his person has been seized, and from
words that escaped the Mouchards, he has rea
son to think that the pass has been sold upon
him. He therefore desires you to remove with
out delay what you know if you wish,'1 will
lend you hand, but l warn you that there is
not a moment to be lost" The handkerchief
and the description of the objects which il con-