Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-05-13

America, and returned to Paris to spend
it like gentleman.
In 1869 there was tremendous effort
made ut the Bourse to "corner" the
shares of the Serbo .Moldavian Railway.
The ~ corner" was broken prematurely
sud great slaughter ensued among the
"bulls." Among those punished most
severely was M. Raoul Surian, whose not
losses, it was. whispered, exceeded $780,
600 francs. He came up CALAMITY, how
ever, paid every centime, and, as if to
show he was not hurt, set up q coupe of
his own. Madame" had already long
been in the habit of driving to the Bots
in very handsome turnout, but that. it
was understood, was hired only.
simultaneously an operation of another
kind agitated financial centers and at
tracted the undivided attention Of the
police. Bills on American account ag-
gregating over 100000 francs were
sold in London, Paris, Amsterdam and
Hamburg, which were found to be forg-
cries. The police, after long consulta-
ton and comparison of data, found no
room to doubt that all these operations
were the work of one man, and that the
"style" was that of the once eminent
Raoul Surian.
A couple of the most trusty agents
were detailed to "work up" the case,
and at the end of three weeks Surian
was arrested and confronted with the
parties in the several cities who had been
vicumized by the forger. 1t was known
that Surlan had been absent from Paris
and 1t was hoped to identify him beyond
mistake. Just here, however, most un-
expected hitch occurred. The swindler
was said to be something like" Surian,
but he had gray eyes, dark hair and light
blonde beard. The witnesses were
unanimous as to the color and appear
ance of the eyes which were described
as being as different as possible from the
suspected mans eyes, and Surian was &C
cordingly discharged.
Not satisfied with this, Surian went to
police headquarters and complained of
the injury done to his character and
business by his arrest upon so slight a
fabric of suspicion. He laid before the
head of the department what pretended
to be full exhibit of his business af-
fairs, and which showed that after all
his debts were paid he would still have a
surplus of 5000, 900 francs. cone does
not steal under such circumstances"
said Surian. The delinquent agents
were reprimanded, and Surian went
home apparently well contented.
1t is probable, however, that he sus-
pected what was actually the case: that
he was being carefully and assiduously
watched. He contracted his speculative
operations very materially, and a million
in gold which he had on deposit in the
Bank of France was drawn out and
shipped to America to parties unknown
to the authorities. The outbreak Of the
Franco-Prussian war, however, took
Surian to the Bourse again, and he was
lonGof Rentes" when the calamity of
WeNsenbourg 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
81, 000, 900 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 a general resem-
blance TO Surian, except that his hair and
mustache were dark and his eyes as
black as JET The authorities were
dumbfounded. The testimony, however,
was direct and incsntrovertible, and
after a searching raid upon SCrian's
house, where, however, nothing was dis
covered which tended to criminate him,
the eX-convict was again released.
The Germans now rapidly threw their
tremendous cordons around Paris, and
the memorable siege of the great city be-
gan. Surian joined regiment of volun
oA IntU Tho nnCifinn
assigned his company was the charge of
a picket post outside the fort of Vanvres,
where the Prussan preaching batteries
were finally established. One day he
and four of his companions were sur
prised by some Uhlans riding in the gray
of the morning. The other men were
speared, and Surian was reported miss
ing, KILLED or captured" Twentyfour
hours later Surian appeared at his post
again and reported for duty. He had
fled, he said under the cellar of house
and could not get away sooner. Three
days later he was arrested with show
of grea. solemnity, and carried before
Gen. Villot, commander of the division
to which he was attached. The Colonel
of the regiment and many other officers
were present. 4" Is this the man?' asked
Gen. Villot, pointing TO Surian, and ac-
costing a person in Prussian uniform.
THAT is the man | saw at Versailles
four days ago" said the spy; Il am will
ing to swear to him. He came up the
street, escorted by Uhlans, and went di-
rectly into NJ. de Bismarcks head
quarters saw him myself"
4" You are charged with an offense the
penalty Of which is death, Surian," said
Gen Nillot. What have you to say for
yourself? Did you give information to
the enemy"
"You say you saw me-" cried Surian,
turning his full face upon the spy; "are
you very sure you saw meT'
The spy staggered back, aghast. Mon