Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-28


fore the very eyes Of her accusers. So
cleyerly did the little woman plead her
case that il was decided not to arrest
her then, and the policeman was dis
missed. When noontime came Louise
was missing.
THE MYSTERY SOLVED.
About 4 O'Clock in the afternoon
gentleman drove up 10 the house in 4
hanson and asked whether young
French woman had been recently em'
ployed there. lie was informed that
such person had been there, but that
she had disappeared. In the converse
ton that followed the mysterious rob-
berries were spoken Of.
"Ah," said the gentleman, with a
strong French accent, that Is she. !
beg to inform you, Madame, that you
have been hArboring one Of the boldest
and most successful thieves known to
the police Of Paris, and, possibly, now
to the police of America. Her real
name is Marie La Fargo. She is known
as the carrier-pigeon thief and has
been charged twice with attempted
murder"
The gentleman, who was French
police official, then gave to the startled
family detailed account of the young
wsman's remarkable career. She was
an Alsatian by birth, but had been
brought up ard educated in Paris. At
the age Of fifteen she had been betrayed
by Louis Pale, a noted thief, and
had thereafter cast her lot with some
Of the most desperate criminals in
France. When only seventeen she in
weighed an elderly Englishman into a
den at Havre, chlOroformed him, and
robbed him of 5000. She disguised
herself in boys clothes and escaped.
A year later she was arrested in the
Bank Universelle, Paris, in the very
act of stealing 10000 francs. On the
way to Jail she induced her captor to
enter a cafe that she nigh. quench her
thirst with q glass of wine. She was
very pretty and voluptuous, and the
man yielded. Marie asked permission
TO 20 to a retiring-room, and in some
manner which was never explained
escaped. She disappeared from Paris
and was next heard Of at Monaco,
where she drugged well-known Eng
lish gambler and robbed him Of a con-
siderable sum of money.
FIRST A VICTIM, THEN AN ACCOM-
PLICE.
She did not fee, but depending upon
her pleasing tongue and rare personal
charms, actually compromised with her
victim, who fell msdly in love with her,
and afterwards became her willing az
compllee in numerous robberies. She
was next heard Of in London, where
she became lady's maid in a
fashionable family on GrosyenOr street,
Grosyenor Square. 1t was there
that she first gained the name oil
the A" esrrier-pigeon thief" The most
valuable gems disappeared under
tho very noses Of the owners. It was
discovered that the girl, who brought
three pigeons with her, concealed the
articles under the pigeons wings a0d
liberated them, and they flew to loft
Of questionable resort in Pearhlll
street, in Seven Dials. From London
she returned to Paris again in such per-
feet disguise that she was not recog-
nized by the police.
Her forte then became the robbery of
old men. Edward Acker, an English
man, had her arrested in Paris in 1873
on the charge Of attempted robbery.
The evidence was insufficient to con-
yict, and she was acquitted. After the
trial Marie attacked her accuser with a
dirk, and when captured for this one
of her numerous lovers came forward
and took the crime on his own Shout
ders. As the intended victim did no.
see who struck the blow, he could
not secure the woman's conyic-
ton. She fed from Paris to ST.
Petersburg, and there attracted the at
tention Of young Russian, who layishsd
large sums Of money on her. She stole
his diamonds eventually and went TO
Berlin. From thence she want TO Lon
don and created a scandal by her init
macy with an American sea-captain,
who failed to keep his appointments
with his employers because OF his in-
fstuation. When she deserted him to
90 to Baden Baden he killed himself.
HER AMERICAN RECORD.
In the fall Of 1854 the woman OF
many adventures sailed for America.
Through some Freemssonry in roguery
she drifted into Duffy's Den, on the
Bowery, and there became acquainted
with Napoleon La Mountain, a fellow
countryman. La Mountain Is known
as a particularly clever crscksman. lie
served time in Joliet, and while
serving three years in the Chicago
county Jail made his escape.
The woman's coquetry caused a
serious rupture between La Mountain
and " French Louis" and fight was
the outcome, in which " French Louis -
WAS badly worsted. In the early part
of 1885 Marie made a narrow escape
from being captured by Inspector
Byrnes's men while disposing Of some
jevelry at Willi,ms's " fence" on Sixth
avenue near Twenty-fifth street, but
she shrewdly threw the blame on Char
lotte Dougberty, the mistress of " Lit
tie Horace" Hovaa, and escaped.
Vengeance was sworn against her for
this, and in May she was attacked in 4
dive on Hester street by Annie Davi;
alias jew Annie" and badly beaten
Then she went to Chicago and created
a sensation by actually garroting mar
on west Madison street. She was moi
captured, and, dropping her desperate
character, she became a " lsdy's maid
again, and went to St. Louis, where
she again narrowly missed capture
after robbing an old gentleman
Of his watch. From st. Louis
she journeyed to Hamilton, Ontario
and put up in great style at the Hote
Royal. Although only in Canada I
few days she nearly ruined prominent
lawyer. This is Msrie's first appearance,
in Philadelphia. 1t is not yet known
who her accOmplice is, but it is be