The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-05-18

geries. The police, after long consulta-
| ton and comparison Of data, found no
room to doubt that all these operations
we're the work of one man, and that the
s'style'' was that Of the once eminent, but
now reformed, confidence man, M. Raoul
Surian.
A couple of the most trusty agents
we're detailed to 'swork up the case, and
at the end of three weeks Surian was ar
rested and confronted with the parties in
tho bsyoral 0itiss whe had bssn victim
lied by the f0rgeT. 1t was known that
Surian had been absent from Paris, and
it was hoped to identify him beyond mis-
take. Just here, however, most unex-
pected hitch occurred. The swindler was
said to be s'something like Surian, but
he had gray eyes, dark hair, and light
blonde beard. The Witnesses were unan-
imous as to the color and appearance of
the eyes, which were described as being
az different as possible from the suspect
ed mans eyes; and Surian was accord
ingly discharged.
Not satisfied with this, Surian went to
police headquarters and complained of
the injury done to his character and bus
mess by this arrest upon so light fabric
of suspicion. He laid before the head Of
the department what pretended to be
full exhibit of his business affairs. and
which showed that after all his debts were
paid he would still have surplus of
100000 francs. Zone does not steal
under such circumstances" said Surian.
The delinquent agents were reprlmanded
and Surian went home apparently well
| contented.
1t is probable, however, that he suspec'
ted what was actually the case; that he
was being carefully and assiduopsly
| watched. lie contracted his speculative
operations very materially, and a million
Of gold which he had on deposit in the
Bank of France was drawn out and ship
ped to America, to parties unknown to
the authorities. The outbreak of the
anco-Prussian war, however, took
Surian to the Bourse again, and he was
long of "Rentes'' when the calamity of
e,ssenbourg overlook France. Surian
went down with the funds, and compro-
missed with his creditors with deficit of
a million and half. Two weeks later
he was again arrested for passing some
100000 francs of fraudulent quarter
masters drafts. This time the police
felt sure they had Surian, but the BAT.
fling matter of identity again sprang up.
The actual criminal had general resem-
blance to Surlan, except that his hair and
mustache were dark, and his eyes ss black
as jet. The authorities were dumbfound-
ed. The testimony, however, was direct
and uncontrovertible, and. after a search
ing raid upon Surian's house, in which,
however, nothing was discovered which
| tended TO crimiuate him, the ex-conyict
was again released.
The Germans now rapidly threw their
tremendous cordons around Paris, and
the memorable seigc of the great city be.
gan. Surian joined regiment of volun-
teers and went on duty. The position
assigned his company was the charge of a
picket post outside the fort of Vanvras,
! where the Prussian preaching batteries
were finally established. One day he and
four of his companions were surprised by
some Uhlans riding in the grey of the
morning. The other men were spared,
and Surian was reported missing, 'skilled
or captured" Twenty-four hours later
Surian appeared at his post again and re-
ported for duty. He had fed, he said,
under the cellar of house, and could not
get away any sooner. Three days later
he was arrested with show of great sol.
emnity, and carried before General Vii.
lot, commander of the division to which
he was attached. The Colonel of the
regiment and many other officers we're
present. SIS this the man, asked Gen
eral Villot, pointing to Surian, and accost-
! ing person in Prussian uniform.
''lhat is the man I saw at Versailles
four days ago." said the spy. 81 am
willing to swear to him. He came up
the street escorted by Uhlans, and went
directly into M. de Blsmarck's headquar-
tiers. saw him myself"
"You are charged with an offense the
penalty Of which is death, Suriau," said
General Villot. "What have you to say
for yourself! Did you give information
to the enemy?''
~ GU say you saw nae,' cried Surian,
turning his full face upon the spy; fare
you very sure you saw me %
The spy staggered back, aghast. mon
Dieu! no will not swear. The man l
saw was like you-but it was not you !!
The man I saw going into Count Bis
marck's quarters certainly had brown
eyes, and yours are blue.''
Surian thus escaped again. He went
into Paris for the first time since the
siege began. Apparently the state of his
domestic menage did not suit him. At
any rate his coming caused great dis
turbance in the neighborhood; the fair
Cytheria left the house in tears and VOW
ing vengeance, and the impassive Jules
Gochen was arrested as a Prussian spv.
upon specific charges laid by Raoul Su-