Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-28
A PIGEON THIEF.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES woMAs's
PARTNERS IN CRIME.
An Unsurpassed Record by an Innocent
Looking French Companion"
Who Il Wanted.

woman Sttppeu lnto fAoy hnplV1the
Agency on Thursday Of last week and
asked whether there were any openings
for lady's maid. She was an attractive
little body, with well-rounded form,
pretty white hands and cherry lips, and
the clerk took more pains than
usual to look through the, appli-
cation book. No lady's maid was
needed by any of the patrons Of
the establishment, he said, but there
was a place open for lady's CON-
panion, and il the young woman
thought herself qualified for that posi-
ton she could have the name and loca-
ton in payment Of dollar. Mademoi-
selle replied that such position would
suit her far better than the more mental
place that she had been the friend
and companion Of Nine. Boinat in
Paris, and had travelled with that lady
until she died in Switzerland. The
dollar was paid and the clerk told his
pretty customer to apply in person to .
well.known society lady on west Spruce
street.
FEATHERED LOVE TOKENS.
On the same afternoon the French
weman rang the bell of the fashionable
residence. She was admitted by the
servant, to whom she gave card betr-
irg the name Louise Bourluin,
Paris" In few moments the mlsNsss
Of the house entered the parlor and
asked the usual preliminary questions
about the applicants references, her
former employers, and her capacity.
The answers were straightforward
and given with such an engaging
righteousness that the west-Spruce-
street matrOn was charmed, and en-
gagged the little French woman On the
spot. There was only one favor that
Louise would ask, and that was that
she would be permitted to bring with
her two pigeons which had been given
her in France by her loyer-an acknow-
Judgement made with dovncast eyes
and blushing cheeks. The man had
not been true to her, Louise said, but
she loved him still, and these pets were
all she had to remind her Of the happy
days she spent in her native city.
There were tears in the little woman's
eyes as she spoke Of her past, and her
employer felt throb of womanly SYM
pathy as she gladly granted the request.
Within twenty-four hours Louise had
captured the hearts of the household.
She was demurcly respectful to thu two
men in the house, father and son, and
wonderfully attentive to the wishes Of
her employer and her employers spin
ster sister. She displayed knowledge
Of French and English authors, and
was particularly clever in helping peO-
pie out OF literary solecisms without
their knowing it, Louise brought her
two pigeons and had them put in the
loft over her room.
\ RUDE AWAKENING.
On the Sunday morning following
some little excitement was caused 10
the household by the discovery that a
diamond necklace and a cluster-dia-
mond ring were missing. They were
family heirlooms, and almost priceless.
The only person who had access to the
boudoir where the jewels lay was
Louise. No enc could suspect her,
and the childlike manner in which
she opened her beautiful eyes when
told of the theft completely dis
armed suspicion. The robbery was
not reported TO the police. Next morn
ing two unset diamonds worth $500
each, an pld-fashioned diamond brooch,
and a diamond hair-pin, all valued at
$1,000, were gone. Louise betrayed
the greatest concern over the thefts, and
actually cried to think that any one
could be so wicked. 1t was determined
by the family to employ private de-
tective agency, and on Monday after
noon a female Vidocq was installed in
the house ostensibly as seamstress.
To the intense Amusement OF every
body, another robbery took place on
Tuesday. This time it was the pocket
book of the master Of the house which
bad been laid in the bureau for few
moments. 1t contained between 5000
ard 800 in large bills. The detective
expressed the opinion that the thief
was Louise Bourquin, but had no proof
to offer.
THE DETECTIVES DISCOVERY.
The supposed seamstress and Louise
had been assigned to the same bed, and
that night the French woman arose
softly from her place and crept softly
down stairs. The seamStress, who had
purposely lain awake, watched her
leave the room, and in ten minutes saw
her return, carrying something in her
hand. She advanced to the dim light,
turned it up, and began examining the
article in her hasd. 1t was gold
bracelet set with precious stones.
Louise tied a piece Of blue ribbon
about the gold circlet, and, to the sur.
prise OF the other woman, ran nimbly
up the steps Leading to the loft. She
was gone but an instant, and when she
came back she carried in her arms one
Of the pigeons. The seamstress sprsog
out of bed.
"You are caught" she said 81
knew you were the thief all along
Where have you hidden all those jew
els?"
The French woman was not in the
least startled. lyon mistake" she
said with a smile; | go to talk to my
dear little pet. Is he not beautiful :
See. he loves me so. | let him have Il
fresh air." and, coolly walking to the
window. she lifted the sash, and the
pigeon futtered out into the darkne6E
AN INGENIOUS DEFENCE.
The house was instantly aroused, and
in few moments the French woman
still in dishabille, was confronted with
her employer. She protested her limo.
cence with the greatest sloquence and
called upon them to search her person
her trunk, the loft-in fact, every nook
and corner where it would be possible
to conceal the missing articles. Thi.
was done. Nothing was discovered
Louise had not been ont Of the house
since the day she first entered it, and
despite the strong story told by the de.