The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-11-17
CRIMINALS OF PARIS.
The Ways Of the Thousands who Make Msdeeds
Trade.

| are so very many persons naOltually
engaged in fraud OF sort which does
not bring them into the category OF
recognized criminals. A distinguishe ed
which enables him soon to be recog-
nized, is his tendency TO spend his gains
In riotous debauchery. One will repair
to an estaminet and drink brandy with
Moll Flanders, another will sup at the
demi monde. The first act OF man
named Flron, alter robbery and murder
OF the worst description, was to buy bon
bons for his mistress little girl.
Their extravaganza of expenditure
when in funds is the more extraordi-
nary, inasmuch as it frequently involves
them in "trouble." Being always under
surveillance, their possession Of money
Instantly eXcites suspicion, and often
leads to their robberies being detected.
Their very reckless outlay seems to be
the loose-handed principles commingled
| with excessive vanity. 1t is with them,
"Let us eat aud drink, for tomorrow we
may be in prison." Moreover, they can
not resist boast ting OF the cleverness and
skill by which they have gained the
means OF enjoying themselves, and II
doubts are cast upon the truth of their
stories they will produce the spoil in
proof. Their excessive love Of dress
also frequently affords clue to the po-
lice, A smart ''rig-ou" is the evidence
of a recent successful hall. A woman
named Dubois, an accessory to a brutal
murder in 1915, was asked what ill.,
duced her to lake part in the scheme.
40 get some pretty bonnets," was the
ready response. Among these degraded
persons an extraordinary fastidious-
ness is sometimes found.
1 II 4 ,TnA TNTIa,
wrote a remarkably good hand, Was en-
ployed as copylst, and often dlned IN
a little restaurant frequented by the
depizens of the Parisian Grub street.
One day two third-rate dramatic authors
agreed with him for the transcription Of
a drama. The next day Lacenaire re-
turned the MSS, telling them that he
really couldn't copy it. "Pve read it,"
said he, ''and find it too idiotic."
Some criminals seem to be given over
from quite a tender age to a sort of OBJ
iectless depraVity, which invites the as
sumption tnat they are not responsible
beings. Boutellier, aged twenty one,
struck his mother tifty-SiX blows with a
lknite, and then feeling tired, lay down
beside the corpse and passed an excel.
lent night!
Verdure went to see his own brother
mount the scatTold. Returning from the
scene he repaired to public house
where number OF his comrades were
awaiting him, and laughingly exhibited
four watches and purse taken from the
gaping crowd intent upon Jne eXecu
ton.
Such utter insensibility to all natura
feeling as sucu examples afford, argues
a mental condition which makes Grim
inal luuatic asylum the proper place fol
this class. Instances of depraVity oil
this kind are, however, rare among
youths, though frequently found among
mature outcasts. Very few pursue theil
career long without conviction. An eX
tremely clever fellow named Piednoir, 6
burglar, contrived, however, to live tt
Judy 2, 1S43. This man had eXcellen
manners, lived in refined manner, an(
was wont greatly to deplore that his
ears had been bored in his lufancy
since it gave him, he alleged, some
what plebeian air. He employed sub.
ordinates to arrange all preliminaries
and when all was prepared his master
hand gave the tinal coup. When rob
berry had been successfully accom-
plished, he divided the spoils, retaining
Ior himself the lions share. However
Justice, after she had halted unusually
l
noir at last, and he was condemned tt
twenty years. hard labor. 1t is added
that he is now living, very much at hi
ease, in Holland.
The eountenances of the majority O
this miserable class are. when in repose
vulgar and commonplace; some are
however, gentle ana some agreeable
while few even carry an air OF dis tine
tion about them which renders them thu
more dangerous. Mitifrau was an eX
ample OF mis-. He assumed the title 0
Count de Belair, gave himself out to b.
the son OF a deceased General under thu
First Empire, and was really man O
lirreproaehable manners. He went int
the most exclusive society, and lived b,
all sorts of clever roguery and luck a
cards, for that was the time when escart
was the rage. At last, however, he re
solved on bolder stroke, and was ar
lrested in the act of committing a rob
term of imprisonment expired he re
turned to Paris ana fell into state 0
abject misery.
Some clever scoundrels are such mar.
velous adopts in concealing their rea
character behind cunningly Wrough
screen of apparent respectability, tina
lit takes the utmost acuteness and eX
perience of the police to discover them
The arrest of a fellow of this sort nance
Tourtraint, at his splendid villa. occa
stoned great surprise some years ago
This enterprsing gentleman lived il
the Rue Verite, where be kept eigh
horses and various fashionable equi
pages. Like the accomplished Piednoir
ne laid plans tor the benefit of youn,
bandits, whose operations he directed
he himself only giving the finishing
stroke. In fact, he was sort of mag
niticent Fagin.
There are certain families in Paris il
which crime is hereditary, and whle
are the despair OF the police. Tn
house of Piednoir (that may be trans
lated black-leg), COur de Roy, and Ma
than enjoy this unenViable noG0rIety.
The total condemnations of fourteel
members of the last named family repre-
sent period OF two hundred and min,
years of prison life.
The majority OF criminals reach th
higher flights Of crime by graduate,
steps. Gases such as that of Firon
who made his debut by assassination
are rare.
A highly expressive language OF Grim,
is found among the French criminals
embracing many OF the words commonl,
employed by gypsies. "To balance tn
red rag" means to talk. The Corp
Legislatif is felicitously denominate,
sthe Tower of Babel" definition whic