The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-05-01
The French Police System.
From Chambers Journal.


Paris had upon his register the names of
no fewer than two thousand suspected and
deprayed characters, whose pursuits were
known to be of criminal nature; yet by
making the department of police the imme-
diate object of the close and uniform at
tention of one branch of the executive
government, crimes were much less fire.
quent than in England, and the security
extended to the public with regard to the
protection of life and property against law
less depreciation was infinitely greater.
The following narratives are authenticated
by an English magistrate at the time, and
a record of them, written at the commence
ment of this century, is now in the posses
sion of the present writer.
A merchant of high responsibility in
Bordeaux had occasion TO visit Paris upon
commercial business, carrying with him
bills and money to very large amount.
On his arrival at the gates of the French
metropolis, genteellooking man opened
the door of the carriage and addressed him
to this effect aSir, | have been waiting
for you some time. According to my notes,
you were to arrive at this hour and your
person, your carriage and your portmanteau
exactly answering the description l hold in
my hand, you will permit me to have the
honor of conducting you to Monsieur de
Sartine"
The gentleman, astonished and alarmed
at this interruption, and still more at hear
ing the name of the lieutenant of the po-
lice mentioned, demanded to know what NJ.
de Sartine wanted with him, adding that
he had never committed any offence
against the laws, and that the police could
have no right to detain him. The mes
senger declared himself ignorant of the
cause of the detention, and said that when
he had conducted him to NJ. de Sartine,
he should have executed his orders. After
some further explanations, the gentleman
permitted the officer to conduct him to the
police official
NJ de Sartine received him with great
politeness, and after requesting him to be
seated, to his astonishment described his
portmanteau, and told him the exact
amount in bills and cash which he had
brought with him to Paris, where he was
to lodge, his usual time of going to bed,
and number of other circumstances which
he had conceived were known only to HIM
self Having thus excited his attention,
NJ de Sartine asked him: "Sir, are you a
man of courage 2"
The gentleman, still more astonished at
the siugularity of this interrogatory, de-
manded the reason why such question
was put, adding that no man had ever
doubted his courage.
NJ. de Sartine replied "Sir, you are to
be robbed and murdered this night. 1t
you are a man of courage, you must go to
your hotel and retire to rest at the usual
hour. But be careful not to 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 you1
portmanteau in its usual situation neal
your bed and betray no suspicion. Leave
what remains to me. If you do not fee
your courage sufficient to bear you out,
will procure some one who shall personatt
you and go to bed in your stead.
The merchant being convinced that M
de Sartines intelligence was accurate in
every particular, refused to be personated
and resolved to follow literally the direc
tions he had received. He accordingly
drove to the hotel, and went to bed at tn.
usual hour, eleven o'clock. At half past
twelve-the time mentioned by NJ. de Sar-
tine-the door of his bedchamber burst
open, and three men entered with dark
lantern, daggers and pistols. The merchant
perceived one of them to be his own ser
want They rifed his portmanteau undis-
turbed and settled the plan of putting him
to DEATH Hearing all this and not know
ing by what means he was to be rescued, 1t
may be supposed he was under great per
turbation of mind during such an interval
of suspense. When at the moment the
Williams were preparing to take the mer-
chants life, four police officers, who were
concealed under the bed and in the closet,
rushed out and seized the offenders with
the property in their possession. The con-
sequence was that the preparation of the
murder was prevented and sufficient evl.
dence obtained to convict the offenders
NJ. de Sartine's intelligence thus enabled
him to prevent many cases of murder and
robbery.
The second story is as follows: The
Emperor of Austria, Joseph IL, having in
the year 1877 formed and promulgated a
new code of laws relative to criminal and
civil affairs, and having also established
what he conceived to be the best system Of
police in Europe, could scarcely ever for
give the French nation, in consequence OF
the accuracy and intelligence of Nj. de Sar
tines police having been found superior tC
his own, notwithstanding the pains he had
bestowed on that department of his gov,
ernment. A notorious Austrian offender
who had committed many. atrocious acts Of
violence and depreciation in Vienna, was
traced to Paris by the police established by
His Majesty, who ordered his ambassador
at the court of France to demand that this
delinquent should be delivered up to public
Justice. NJ. de Sartine acknowledged te
the imperial ambassador that the person he
inquired after had been in Paris: that, il
he wished it, he would inform him where
he lodged, and the different gaming tables
and other places of resort which he had
frequented while there; but that he was
now gone.
The ambassador insisted that this often
der must still be in Paris, otherwise the
emperor would not have commanded him
to make such an application.
NJ. de Sartine smiled at the increIulity
of the imperial minister, and replied to the
following effect. sDo me the honor, sir,
to inform the emperor, your master, that
the person he looks for left Paris about
the 10th of last month, and is now lodged
in back-room, looking into garden, in
the third story of house, No SO in -
street, in his own capital of Vienna; where
His Majesty will, by sending to the spot
be sure to find him.
1t was literally as the French minister
had stated. The emperor, to his astonish-
ment, found the delinquent in the house
and apartment described; but he was great
ly mortified at this proof of the superiority
Of the French police.
Enslaye a man and you destroy his am