The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-04-13

tlat suspicious were AWAKENED, anu M.
Cartouche was kicked into the street and de-
barred forever from that branch of indus
try. Tradition afirms that his next debut
was in the character of police spy. This,
however, is apocryphal, and probably arose
from the fact that when he appeared, as he
soon did, as the organizer Of q band of
thieves, he exhibited ideas of discipline and
and subordination that, with his known
character, must have been acquired from
without.
Become at last an Ishmaelite, his hand
against every one, and every ones hand
against him, it became his constant care to
impart to the skilled and desperate band
which rallied around him an organization
and discipline approximating as closely as
possible to the military; he appointed lieu
tenants, sergeants, sentries, rallying and
pass words, and spared detail to insure the
perfection Of the instrument under his con-
troll. This completed, the campaign opened
with night skirm!shing. Thus some three
or four ofthe band would pounce upon an
unwary citizen, whom blow on the head
| from u loaded bludgeon reduced to temper
airy silence. When the victim regained suf-
ticlent consciousness to give an alarm, the
troop was at q safe distance. arranging the
next affair. Paris was regularly apporilon-
| ed into districts, one Of which was allotted
| each night to some particular detachment OF
| the band.
Become aware Of the existence Of an organ
lied system Of crime, the city, IN alarm, APP
pealed to its natural protector, NJ D. Argen-
son, head Of the police, but found little
consolation. Police there were in album
dance, but no controlling power, order, or
system. Each worked for himself
They p,undered the roDber and the robbed
alike Selected without reference TO their
antecedents, many had served in the galleys
and many more bore the convlcts brand on
their shoulders. .MiserabIy paid, they were
perpetually exposed to the temptation OF a
bride, and it was not long before the sheep
dog became almost as dangerous to the
| flock as the wolf himself.
1t was in 1920 that the terror inspired by
Cartouche's band reached its climax. They
, held virtual possession of the capital, espec
tally by night. Their depredations were
conducted with the military order and pre-
cision SO much incucated by their great
leader A party would assemble before
some rich mansion. Then some huge fell
low-very frequently one Simon Once, .
brawny ex-porter-would offer his gigantic
shoulders as the base of living pyramid,
which, formed by the lighter and more agile
members of the gang, speedily reached the
lower windows. Some panes were abroitly
removed, the apartments entered, and the
most attractive objects began to glide down
chain of ready hands till the pillage was
complete.
The gang hunted noble game. In Sep
TENDER, 1920, they invaded the residence OF
let~. ~.
chamber of the ambassadress, se.zing a
magnificent pearl necklace, breach with
twenty seven large diamonds, rich table
service of gold, and the lady's entire ward
rode In the Palais Royal, then occupied
by the Regent, they stole two of his silver
tiambeaux. At the Louvre Cartouche's
brother possessed himsilf of the sword and
mantle of the Prince de Soubse, while the
Reren, himself was robbed one night on
leaving the opera. Here, however, the
laugh was on the other side, as purposely to
deceive the robbers, he had caused his
sword hilt to be richly chased-in steel
Now that the inconvenience Of such state
Of things began to be felt in the very high
est society, government set itself SER
Iiously to the task of reform. A lit
tie incident helped 20 spur it on
!
laborers came upon the body of a
murdered man. 1t proved to be that of an
obscure poet named Vergier What could
possess any one to kill = poet, and so poor a
one at that, was puzzle, till some suggest
ed it was the Regents work. Philippe d
Orleans was black enough, in all conscience,
but rumor painted him in still deeper COL
ors In ss.ries Of rhymed philippcs he
had been branded with every conceivable
crime. Wha, more natural, said the pub
a., lie than that he should employ Cartouche'
band to wreak his vengeance on the poet
who had held him up to rldicue and shame
To be sure, Vergter was not the one who
had written the verses In question, but the
cartouchians could hardly be assumed TO be
familiar with such gentry as starving poets
aud in their zeal to execute their master !:
: ORDER had mistaken the man Stories such
as this circulating through Paris caused tbs
Regent to bestir himself. and the authori-
: ties loudly demanded Carsouche: but. q
course, it was much easier Ito ask for hin
than TO get him.
q Another murder now occurred to add q
u the public agitation. Car'ouche and hi
= band were carousiug at cabaret, when theJ
Q got into an alteration with some workmer
e =. an adjoining table. row ensued: sword
> aud pistols were freely used. The poles
rushed in. and one Of them, MoEdelot, fel
i dead from a shot fired, it was declared. b,
5 q female Cartouchian named Manon-le-R Roy
0 It is at least certain. that this distinguished
9 lady always carried arms. and equally $
!. | that when. some time afterwards. she va
i arrested. she intrenched herself behind be
: bed and for half an hour heps the Who'll
!. posse Of police at bay. The murders Ct Yer
: risr and Mondelos brought the name o
Y cratouche prominently before the public
II Hencetorward every auiaeious crime wa
:, laid 70 his charge. Desperate attempt
u were made to capture the formidable shiei
II but his dexterisy and skilstusness IN chang
/, ing mis- costume stood him goods friends
The loose, halff,ting cloak, hsa.on one 80
% red on the other, and capable Of being re
, versei in a momen, of time, owns him for
" godfather. The police would be IN no
'e pursuit of man in red who aed ike dee
r around = corner When the pursuers fol
,, lowed on his track ae had disappeared, bu