Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1885-10-08
FRENCH POLICE SKILL.

At the commencement of the French
revolution, nearly one hundred years
ago, the acknowledgement of the po-
lice at Paris had upon his register the
names of no fewer than two thousand
suspected and depravcd characters,
whose pursuits were known to be of
criminal nature; yet by making the dc
partmcnt of police the immediate OBJ
jcct of the close and uniform attention
of one branch of the executive govern
ment crimes were much less frequent
tn in England, and the security ex-
tic 81 TO tho public with regard to the
pre- ction of life and property against
law IS depreciation was infinitely
gre The following narratives
we, .thenticated by an English mag
lstrate at the time. and a record of
them, written at the commencement of
this century, is now in the possession
OF the present writer:
A merchant of high responsibility in
Bordeaux had occasion to visit Paris
upon commercial business, carrying
with him bills in money to very large
amount On his arrival at The gates
of the French metropolis, n gentecl-
looking man opened the door of the
carriage and addressed him to this
effect: ''Sir, | have been waiting for
you some time. According to my notes,
you were to arrive ut this hour; and
your person, your carriage. and your
portmanteau exactly answering the de-
scription hold in my hand. you will
permit me TO have the honor of con-
Quoting you to NJ dc Sartinc."
The gentleman, astonished and
alarmed at this interruption, and still
more at hearing the name of the
lieutenant OF police mentioned, de-
manded to know what NJ de Sartine
wanted with him, adding that he never
committed any oifense against the
laws, and that the police could have
no right to dctain him. The messen-
ger declared himself ignorant of the
cause of the detention, and said that
when he had conducted him to Nj. de
Sart;ne he should have executed his
orders. After some further explana-
tons the gentleman permitted the off
Ger to conduct him to the police Off
cial.
NJ. de Sartine reccil cd him with
great politeness, and, after requesting
him TO be seated, to his astonishmcnt
described his portmantcau. and told
him the exact amount in bills and cash
which he had brought with him to
Paris, whore he was to lodge, his
usual time OF going to bed. and num-
Der OF other circumsta which he
had conceived were known only to
himself Having thus excited his at
tcntion, M. de Sartine asked him:
''Sir, are you Il man of courage?"
The gentleman. still more astonished
at the singularity OF this interrogatory.
demanded the reason why such ques-
ton was put, adding that no man had
ever doubted his courage.
III. dc Sartine replied: ''Sir, YOU
are to be robbed aud murdered this
night. If you are 4 man OF courage.
you must go TO your hotel, and retire
to rest at the usual hour. But be care
full not 10 fall asleep; neither will it be
proper for you to look under your bed
or into the closet which is in your
chamber. You must place Your port
mantoau in its usual situation near
Your bed, and betray no suspicion.
Leave what remains to me. If you do
not feel your courage sufficient TO bear
you out Will procure someone who
shall personato you and go TO bed in
yonr stead.
The mctchant being convinced that
NJ. dc Sartinc's intelligence was accu-
rate III every particular refused to be
pcrsOnated, aud resolved to follow
literally the directions he had received.
He accordingly drove to the hotel, aud
went 10 bed ut his usual hour, IL
o'ciock. At haf-past 12-the time
mentioned by NJ. dc Sarlinc-the door
OF his bedchamber burst open. and
three men entered with a dark lantern.
daggcrs, and pistols. The merchant
perceived one Of them TO be his own
servant. Tney rllcd his portmanteau
unIIsturbed, aud settled the plan of
putting him TO death. Hearing all
this, and not knowing by what means
tao WAS TO DC rescued, it may be sup
posed he was under great perturbation
OF mind during such an interval of sus-
pcusc. At the moment the villains
were preparing to take tho merchants
life four police officers. who were con-
Ccalcd under the bed aud in the closet,
rushed ont and se.zrd the offenders
with the property in their possession.
Tho consequences WIS, that the pcrpe-
tration of the murder was prevented
ana -uliciruSrvidcncr obtained to con-
yicj the O.lrn,irrs. NJ. dc Sartine's in
tri,l4cace thus enabled him to prevent
mlny ,asr' of murder and robbery.
Tie second story is rs follows: The
emperor of Austria. Joseph H., having
in the year 1887 formed and promul-
gated new codc Of laws relative to
criminal and civil affairs, and having
also cs,ab lSIcd what he conceived to
b" the best system Of police in Europe,
could scarcely ever forgive the French
nation in consequences of the accuracy
IN intelligence ol Nj. dc Sartinc's po-
lice havin been fou at superior to his
own, notwithstanding the pains he had
bestowed on that department OF his
government. A notorious Austrian
offender. vino had committed many
atrociouS acts OF violence and loprcda-
ton in Vienna, WAS traced to Paris by
tho police established by his majesty,
who ordered his ambassador 1T The
court of France To demand th.t this
delinquent should be delivered up tc
public Justice. NJ. dc sartine aeknowl
cd .ri 10 the imperial ambassador that
tn person he inquired after had beer
in Paris; that. ii nc wished II. he woult
irtorm him where he lodged, and tn,
d icrrut gaming tables and other
p.iccS of resort whca he had frequent
al While there; but that he was nov
gone.
rAo ambassador insisted that thu
offender must 5, |, lie III Paris, other
wi,r he emperor would not have com
mAudrd hiul 10 SUCH an application.
Nj. dc Sartne smiled At the iueredul
ity OF the imperial minister. and re
p led To the following effect: do M
tho honor. sir. to inform the emperor
Your master, that the person he look
for left Paris about the 10th of las
month, and is now lodged in back
room, looking into garden. in tn
third story OF q house, No 90, -
street, in his own capital of ViennG
where his majesty will, by sending
the spot, be sure to liad him.
IL was literally rs the French minis
ter had stated. The emperor, to h
aston shment. found the delinquent
the house and apartment described
but he was greatly mortified ut tn
proof of the superiority of the FrenC
police. Chambers JoUfHal.
The annual income of Vanderbilt