Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-08-25
swindling Extraordinary in Paris.

Our Paris papers received by late mails con-
tain an account of a stupendous swindle.
managed at Paris, which little outdoes the
frauds of Schuyler and Tuckerman. They had
some capital and credit to start upon, but a
single unknown Frenchmau, in single room In
one of the by streets of Paris, lately organized
and carried out successfully, most ingenious
and stupendous swindle, and escaped with his
booty. Perhaps he is some where in our neigh
borhood while we write.
They brought him to trial in his absence
"by default" and on the trial these facts were
disclosed, which show cool and astute roguery
on one side, and q marvellous credulity on the
other. In 1853 and 1854 numerous advertise
ments appeared in the provincial newspapers,
announcing that company called "the Fran
case," possessed of a capital of 1000, OOOfr.
had been formed to effect assurances against
damage to crops by hail, against the malady in
potatoes and vines, and against murrain in
cattle; it was also stated that it had been duly
constituted by deed, signed before a named
notary, and sanctioned by Imperial decree Of
the 14th June, 1858; and that it was presided
over by board composed Of seven Of the
principal shareholders, among whom were
enumerated marquises, barons, capitalists,
bankers, and attaches of the Emperor's Minis
try 1t was added that the company required
agents in all parts of France, ut liberal salaries,
and that the managing director, NJ Guerin, Is
Rue de Tournon, was charged to appoint them.
Innumerable applications were made, and NJ.
Guerin in reply stated that the agents would be
required, as security for their honesty, to sub
scribe for certain number of shares in the
company, and to pay part of the value of them
down, the rest in a few months. A number of
people eagerly consented to these conditions,
and RENTED different sums to NJ. Guerin.
Things went on very pleasantly to June, 1854,
when the agents not being paid their salaries,
begun to grumble; but Guerin pacifed them by
writing to say that the company was about to
extend its operations, by etfecting assurances
against fire, and that Senator and a near
relative of a Minister was about to bring 2,OOO,-
OOOfr. into it. The sufferers waited patiently
for some time. but still receiving no salaries,
they became rather clamorous. Guerin there
upon informed them coolly that it had been
determined to bring the operations of the COM
pany to a close, as they were not successful,
and that consequently it would not be worth
while to trouble him with any further cores
pondence. Some of his dupes came to Paris,
and they found to their astonishment that the
company had never been formed by deed or
sanctioned by imperial decree, that no such
persons as its directors existed, that it had nc
office and no clerks, and that Guern had carried
on its business entirely himself in small room
They learned also that he had disappeared, and
that no one could tell what had become of him.
The police having commenced inquiries, ascer-
tanned to their establishment that the man had
embezzled the enormous sum of 1920, OOOfr,
and what seemed to them even more wonderful,
that he had done this without any accomplice.
They have since made most active exertions to
discover his retreat, but in vain.
They could not find him. but they tried him
and convicted him, and sentenced him to FIVE
years Imprisonment 3,0OOfr fine. and ten years
Introduction of civil rights. But where is he
with his $25O,OO0? Have we Guerin among
us IN o. Picayune.