Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1859-08-05

Persons rob one another every day, but
he must be clever one who robbed the
Prefecture dc Police (the head police officer
in Paris,) and this man did whose name
has become storical--Beaumon He was
the Jack Sheppard among thieves.
When Beaumont accomplished the i'm
mortalizing feat (among his brothren) he
had just. returned from the Bagne, (the gal
leys) at Brest. Il took place in the days
of the celebrated Vidocq, He actually rob
bed the strong box at the head police office,
and this box contained not only bank notes,
but all the jewelry which is found, or in any
way comes into the hands of the police
After bis return from the galleys, he fire.
quenlly called upon Monsieur Henry, prin-
cipal officer of the second division Of police,
aud these visits were made under pretence
Of making certain revelations, or giving use
ful information, in hopes Of becoming attach
ed to the police himself.
Monsieur Henry's Office was next TO the
cashiers Office. In going and coming,
Beaumont had taken impressions in wax Of
all tho locks, and had keys to 6t them
This was doubtless great point gained, but
it was not all; it was necessary to watch a
moment when the cashier would be out,
not come, or having left his Office, and
when Monsieur Henry who never scarcely
was absent, should be away. Everything
turns we'll for those who choose TO wait pa
tieutly. Beaumont found the long watch
ed opportunity, and as he never did any
thing hastily, he did it all at his ease this
time, and as cleverly as quietly. He put
on black coat belonging to Monsieur Hen
ry, dress then little worn, except by those
high in Office he walked down stairs and
went to the nearest guard house, asked for
the officer, who took him for some high Of
fetal, and two soldiers were sent with him
without the least difficulty.
Beaumont gravely placed them one at
each end of the corridor, with strict orders
to let no one pass until further directions
1t was very daring, but equally sure. When
he had made his selection among heaps ot
precious things, and filed his pockets with
gold aud jewels, he passed one of the SEN
tinels and said:
"That's right, my friend I am going tc
the head directors. Everything must re
main rs have left it until my returni
shall soon be back let no one pass"
But the office hours arrived and all tn,
clerks too, high and low,
! "You can't pass they were told.
! So they all went out and walked up an,
down the yard. Some, however, wen
: round at last, tired of waiting, to the othe
8 entrance.
"You cant pass" saluted their ear
) again.
, Then came the heads of the office, an,
5 lastly Monsieur Henry HIMSELF who did nc
, take matters quite so quietly. He ran t
/, the guard house. The officer knew nothin
: of the name or rank of the functionary VIII
had asked for guard. To release the sol
diers from their duty, the minister of polio
had to be sent for, and they got into Sc
whatl If a thunderbolt had fallen anon,
them all, they could not have been NOR
dumfounded. The strong box was rihed
and the ground strewn with rejected valua
y bles. Who could have done it! To whor
9 attribute the audacious acti All the pc,
sons employed were under examination an
: suspicion, when Beaumont was betrayed b
: comrade. and condemned second time
3: He had stolen several hundred thousan
n francs the greater part of which was foun
G upon him.
u "There was wherewithal to have becom
# an honest man; should have turned one,
l. he said. at is easily done when you al
rich; yet how many of the wealthy al
+. request"
This is all he uttered. He was sent
Brest, where he died leaving an immort
II name among thieves.