Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-07-13
vIDOCQ AND THE sANsONs.
An Interview With the chief Exc
cutiOner OF France.

An Interview With the chief Exc
cutioner OF France.
The following curious and apparently authen-
tic details of an interview with the Chief EIecu
toner Of France. and one OF the greatest thief
catchers, appears in an English magazine, the
Cornhill:
Among my Partisan acquaintances N
Appert. de was the almoner TO the Queen of
the French. la the discharge of his duties be
was brought into contact with al the yagabond
lam and profigacy Of Paris; be was familiar with
the haunts Of rasealdom when out OF the hands
Of justice and with the most distinguished of the
representatives Of rascaldOm when Justice had
seized them for its prey. Ia his company / visi-
ted and associated with some of the hercest ruff
fans and most daring burglars OF the French
Capital Through him | brought into
personal contact with Samson. the executoner,
and Vidocq, the spy | will record a few remi-
piscences connected with his name and history
I dined with him on one occasion Cit was about
the third OF century ago. when among the
invited guests were Vidocq and the two SansoDs
Gather and son-the headsman's Office being an
inheritance Several gentlemen known 10 the
literary world were present. In no other place
than Paris could there have been such serrice
de table. And the meeting more remarkable.
il the first time that Sinson had ever seen
the man who had furnished him with so much
food for the guillotine and it gave Vidocq the
opportunity of making many inquiries as 20 the
department Of IllustTious victims IN the moment
supreme of violent death
Samson, the father, was man of huge size
in stature more than SIX ieei--Oi placid and
serious expression of countenance He might
have passed for a country gentlsm man, at ease in
his possessions. could have pointed out
turtle loving Alderman or two to whom he bore
resemblance he answered every question
with the greatest serenity ana gravity He
called the instrument of death Ia mscaniQue,
aud in nv intercourse with him | never heard
the word guillotine, or knife fall from his
lips he disposed 20 be tacitnrn, but less
than bis son, who appeared TO look upon his
father with a considerable degree of reverence,
and took no part in the conversation except
when especially addressed Tie son was man
OF ordinary appearance, of the common height,
aai of sallowy look No one would have no
Iced him In a crowd. Vidocq was a short man,
v.vacious, vain and laxative he seemed to
consider the interest he excited as the recognition
OF claim which everybody must allow. He
liked 10 be the narrator OF his own great deeds,
Of which he was ostentatiously proud; aud on
the stage where be played hrs part-whether
tragic or comic-he would always be the ptnci-
pal actor.
Many OF the tales which Vidoeq related may
be found in the memoirs which he afterwards
published but no printed narrative could convey
an idea OF the hilarity enthusiasm-I might
OF his successful feats Do you remember the
great burglary at the Batgnoes That mas a
scheme OF murder and robbery on grand scale
Ii vas soon after joined the pnblic service
long before It was known that had ANYTHING to
do with the authorities. But was party con-
suited TO all the preparations for breaking into
the house, for securing the property. and for dis
posing any person who should resist IL was de
termned. coufe qui quote. that the work should
be done The spoil was considerable; and |
was named the leader of the expedition We
were all well armed; the arrangements were d.
rected by me. and they we're perfect But had
settled with the police that a certain number OF
them should be planted IN neghborng house.
and that they were to rush forward aud capture
Us all when fred pistol from a window that
vas pointed out. L'e6TactiOn fat faiie. and va.
as busy as the rest in gathering up the spOs
made my way to the room from whence il had
been agreed the pista, should be fred The po-
lice rushed 10 the doors at the signal, and the
whole gang was captured | among the number
Not one of them had the slightest idea that had
been party 10 their betrayal; but murder had
been committed before the arrest took place aud
two Of the robbers were ordered for execution.
saw them on their way TO the Place de Greve
ss the ca-t was conveying them TO execution
They recognized me IN the crowd. fanced
saw their faces the knowledge that | had
fall IeHr aGdTe My dispositions were not ne
cessAry 10 their conviction. Tell me, Monsieur
SAMSON, do you recolleet the circumstance ?
How did they die : Ssnson-1hey died cursing
their betrayers
ssVidocq gave Us an account of the manner in
xrich while in Jail, he carried on the conrtship
siih his wife She felon like himself, and
inhabited a separate aud remote prison Much
correspondence passed between them by the col
fusion and CO operation Of keepers and convcis.
~ho fancied they owed a sort OF fealty 10 50 dis
iinguished a member Of the profession. Each
had been well acquainted with the other while
carrying on their schemes of fraud, and each
came 10 the conclusion thatis would be wiser and
better TO be the helpers and the instruments
rather than the foes aud the victims of the law
When both we're released and the nuptias eele
brated. IL was their amusement 70 recount TO each
other their hairbresdth escapes aad strange ad
ventures. and 20 morare on the sweetness Of
adversely NiGocq talked OF the heroic character
OF his hsncee. and OF the risks she had run and
the dangers she had encountered dams Finter,t
de nos amouYs But he pronounced her most
faithful and most useful wife; and when NidocQ
established himself ia Paris a. discoverer aud
restorer OF lost and stolen property profes-ion
be exercised on hs own account after bic connec
ton With The police bad ietpinated-hia wife be
came TO bin a valuable auxiliary. They were
both well acquainted With The MYSTERIOUS bier
arcby OF crime
There no criminal under sentence of
death. 'ouly, Samson said as you. gentlemen
are interested in such proceedings you shalt
IL you Ike. have an opportunity Of seeing ell the
details will have an k0Hsns Dc paills got rsa IL.
and Il you do me the honor Of Visiting me at m
domicile, where the raecaatqHe is kept | will
have my assistants ready, aud everything shall
be done that would be done at The Place De
0reve, 40 that you NAV have the means Of seeing
hos efficiently the work 10 effected Such an
invitation was not 10 Toe relected-to witness q
6loodless execution performed by 30 disling
fupetionsry. Our party consisted Of the late
Earl Of Durham. Mr Edward Elllee Mr. Dsv