Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1882-03-17
HOW FRENCH DETECTIVES WORK.

And 1t comes in allit freshness, when see my
trundlc bed.
FTT1E7H, Household.
HOW FRENCH DETECTIVES WORK.
Some five or six years ago, being on
visit to Paris, | went to see friend,
French gentleman | had known for
many years, who. with his wife and only
daughter, lived az second in small
house in the Fauborg st. German. 1
found the family one and all in the
greatest possible excitement. During
the night their domicile had been broken
into, and property to the value of about
thirty thousand francs, consisting of
plate, jewels, money and bonds had
been stolen. My friend was by no
means rich man, and the loss was TO
hima very serious one. The strange
part of the affair was that no one seemed
to have the slightest idea by whom, or
how, the lost things had been taken.
They were kept in large iron-clamped
chest, which was never moved out of
the sale a manger, and which was
found in its usual place next morning,
but with the lock forced open. The
servants of the family were only two in
number and consisted of an elderly
man and his wife, who had been in the
same service for more than ten years.
They did not sleep on the same floor rs
their master and mistress; but, us is
usual in Paris. occupied u room some
stories higher in the mdpSdrdc or attic.
They had key by which to let them
selves infrom the back stairs to the
kitchen in the morning; but Mt the time
of the robbery neither one nor the other
had been in the dining-room where the
chest was kept, until after my friend S
daughter had found out what had
happened. The lady of the family
had locked the chest-it was her usual
habit-before she had retired to rest
the previous night. The key was
found hanging on nail at the head OF
her bed, its usual place. The theft must
have been committed between eleven
p. m; when the chest was locked, and
eight n, m. when her daughter discov-
cred the loss. The concierge declared
that no one save those who lived in the
house had passed his lodge during those
hours. The door of the apartment open
ing on the main staircase was found
locked, and the key on the inside. AL
together it was n most mysterious busi-
ness of which no one could make any
thing save that the property had van
ished, therefore it must have been taken
by some one.
My friend resolved to go at once to
the Rue de Jerusalem-the Scotland
Yard of Paris-and ask the authorities
to inquire into the matter. l suggested
an agent de police or policeman from
the nearest station might be called, but
was told that that was not the way that
they did things in Paris. The police
mensthat keep order in the streets, and
those whose business it is to discover
what has become of stolen property, are
two departments perfectly distinct from
each other. Being anxious to see how
our neighbors managed affairs of this
kind, and whether they were better up
to their work than our London de-
tectives,, accompanied my friend to the
Prefecture de Police, where he sent in
his card, andwe We're at once ushered
into the presence of quiet-looking
elderly gentleman. one of the Sous-chef
OF the department, who looked more
like bank manager, or head clerk in
a large mercantile house, than a man
whose occupation was to indicate where
the thieves and others who were
wanted could be laid hands on.
AsFrenchman is nothing If he is not
politics The individual into whose sane
tum we We're shown welcomed us with
ciyility which nothing could exceed.
He heard my friend story from first to
last, made n few notes with pen in q
kind Of diary which he had on his desk,
and now and then asked question or
two respecting the house and apart
ment which, had been robbed, the SER
wants. visitors and other matters But
he did not detain us long. The inter-
view was oyer in twenty minutes. The
sous.eief them told my friend that he
would send one of his subordinatcs to
seelthe chest the next day. In the
meantime would my friend prepare a
list, and as minute description as pos
sible' OF the property that had been
stolenP, AS rule Frenchmen, no mat
ter ito what rank of life they belong,
haYefhe greatest possible respect for
allwho are in any way connected with
the police, and never dream of disput-
ing What they say; but my friend was
somewhat annoyed at what he deemed
useless delay, and asked whether the
police-agent could not be sent at once.
Thesso'ts-cheEi however, overruled his
objection, and said it was best for many
reasons the agent should not go to the
house till next day. sin the first
place The said, II DO not wish any one
utyourselves TO know that the gentle
man who will call on YOU tomorrow is
in any way connected with the police.
He will send up a card, and you will be
kind enough to receive him as friend
talk TO him of therobbery in the pres
ence OF your servants as you would to
any casual acquaintance. He then
turned to me and said, laughingly:
I'VE do not manage these affairs as you
do in London. We don't a6iche our
police; we don't send constables The
pronounced the word "conestabelnj to
make fuss and put every one on their
guard; Ne like to do things quietly;
the result is better" He then bowed
us out, and we took our departure, not
oyer-assured as to what the upshot OF
the affair Would be.
'U4monsieur qui desire yous voir,"
said>nsy friend s man-servant next day,
puttipga card into his masters hand,
just AWE We're finishing our midday
meal and 2 gentleman-like. middle-aged
man was Shown in.
He was close shaved as to the chin
andupper lip, but wore small whiskers,
moro Ike an English man of business Of
tensyears ago than native of la beile
Franees He was well but not fashiona.
bly.dressed. and carried small cane
with which he kept gently tapping his
boot when not speaking. While the
seryant,was in the room he confined his
conversation TO gsnerallties. and gave
his opinions freely on the political sub