Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-05-13
THE STORY OF RAOUL SURIAN.
from the Paris Police Archives. ]
lie style, c'est i'h0naRae.


Monsieur Button invented the phrase
il is something more than mot-and the
notice furnish practical application of
t. The identity of all the leading Grim
mails is measurably arrived at by the po-
lice knowing the style in which they op-
crate. This style is the key to what
would otherwise be an impenetrable CT
pber. The instructed experts of the
Paris police are able to determine, with
precision and certainty which seem
marvellous to the uninitated, whose
hand it was committed a certain rob-
berry or violated the law in any crucial
way.
Raoul Surian, a criminal of distin-
guished eminence, had a style OF his own
that, while very successful in its pecun-
iary results, was very troublesome in
Its consequence to him, since it was so
plainly marked as to be Immediately
recognized by the police. Hence each
time he Operated" he was sure to be
arrested and not always safe to escape
conviction. AS his operations were nu-
merous and extensive he was often con-
victed, and at the age of forty had passed
fifteen of the last twenty years OF his life
in prison.
Raoul Surian, called Freluquet, was
the son of an optican and instrument
maker of Marseiles and followed the
trade of his father until his nineteenth
year. when he came up to Paris to seek
his fortune He first became known to
the police through rapid succession Of
swndling operations, very successfully
contrived, for the delivery of goods which
he did not possess and the anpropria
ton of money which was not his own. FL
nally convicted, he was sentenced to close
confinement for three years and gradu
ated from PRISON & very accomplished
cheoalier d inoustrte His operations now
assumed a holder character and he
worked in larger field. He was again
convicted of deselving a wealthy bour-
geois and obtaining "loan" from him
of 100 900 francs. This time he served
five years. A third conviction insured
him a close confinement of five years
more
At the expiration of this last sentence
Raoul Surian returned to Paris and an
nounced his inteAtion to "reform." He
had saved little money by extra labor
in prison, his father was dead, and he
set up small shop at Belleville for the
sale of spectacles, eye glasses and math-
ematical instruments. He was closely
observed by the police, but seemed to
conduct himself in the most exemplary
manner His passport at this time de-
scribed man of ordinary height and
figure, modest but manly carriage, face
rather pale, blonde hair, no beard, and
large, liquid, noticeable blue eyes. The
face, so the siqnaIcnae1h declared, was in
genious, frank, open, with rather en-
gazing smile, but none of the features
were striking. unless it were the eyes.
He was a great favorite of the police,
who had necessarily a great solicitude
on his behalf, for, instead of avoiding
them, he assiduously cultivated their ac-
suaintance, made them little presents
and gave few francs now and then to
the funds for the support of INDECENT
criminals and for the burial of deceased
SsrgeHtS de ellie. He admitted, with many
Shrugs of the shoulders, that he had
been bad subject, but claimed that he
was shrewd enough to understand that in
any contest betwixt him and the law he
was certain to fall underneath. He had
tned 1t several times, and was quite well
satisfied with the punishment he had re-
ceVed. In short, his reformation was
dehnitive and complete.
After few months shop-keeping at
heileville Surian sold out his establish
ment. He had made good deal OF
money, he said, speculating in shares at
me Bourse, and did not need any longer
TO continue the drudgery of shop-keep.
ING, He now rented modest apartment
on the third floor of handsome house
IN street not far from the Boulevard
des ltaliens, a drawing room, dressing.
room, hreakfaSt-parlor, two bedrooms,
room for servant and a small room which
he called the laboratory. Here he in.
stalled Madame" Surian, very hand
some and vivaciOus brunette understood
U have been certain Mile. Cytheree
NOT unknown to frequenters of the cou
asses OF the opera. Ia his laboratory
ourian had a stock Of furnaces, crucibles
wheels and various other instruments
ana cast and ground glasses for optica
ana other instruments, for which he re
Ceiyed many orders, being accounted ,
Shliliul and ingenious workman. II,
mad an assistant, stolid-looking Alsa
uan, named Jules Gochen. His princi
pal work, however, seemed to be at tn,
bourSe, where he speedily became known
a. daring operator, who would carr
.Ae heaviest load of shares in the face o.
Ihe most arduous difficulties, who Away
accepted his successes with modesty, anC
pald his losses promptly at maturity
as the police kept the secret of his pas
NE faithfully, and he himself, of course
pa not disclose it, il came generally 4
ne admitted that Raoul Surian was
Wealthy person, who had made his none