Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-09-26
A French SwindIer.

Eugene Altmayer, an audacious swindier,
robber and forger, who has long been batf
ling the police, was arrested at Havre on
Sunday. The career of this clever rogue,
with his escapes from the hands OF justice,
and the manner in which he has for several
years bafI1ed the police in thei. search after
him, would afford material for an INTEREST
ing narrative, He was never vulgar Grim
inal, but lived in luxury, and, under one
name or another, participated IN all The
gayetes of French life. When in Paris he
drove about in elegant carriages, was always
at the theatrical premierS and at the races,
and was admitted 10 several clubs. his
personal appearance was IN his iavor. He
was of medium height, with bright eyes, au-
burn hair and smiling, amiable countenance
which made him great tavorite with The
ladies. His father was an honorable trades
man. living in the Boulevard HaussmanD.
He gave to his son. Eugene Altmayer, all
the advantages of first class education, but
he only pro6ted by it to more easily make
dupes. He was naturally depraved, for,
when quite young, he robbed his parents on
several occasions. His father was in hopes
that the army would reform him, but hesto!e
some jewelry from the captains chimney
niece and was condemned to five years.
IMPRISONMENT He failed in an attempt to
escape by getting his fellow prisoners 10
conceal him in a sack of old papers, but he
obtained Communication of his sentence, and,
after serving the rest of his time in the ar
nv. returned TO Paris Here be led o gay
life, and kept carriage and mistTesses, but,
in 1886, he was detected in fraud effected
by initiating persons voice in the tele-
phone He was arrested after desperate
struggle, but, on the way to prison, trpped
up q policeman and took to flight.
He was again arrested and incarcerated
in MaZas prison, but whilo the magistrate
went into the ante room to wash his hands
Altmsyer, who had been scrutiniziDg the
pvpers on the table. snatched upa blank
form of release, forged the magistrates sig
nature, walked coolly into the next room,
showed the turnkey the order and asked
him to accompany him to the endorsing of.
fee to get it endorsed. This done, he
walked of, the magistrate meanwhile sup.
posing that the turnkey had been impatient
and had taken him back TO his cell. This
happened in November, 1856, and Altmayer
had the etfroutery to frequent Paris cafes
and theatres while the police were looking
for him in distant parts.
Last October he induced eight dupes TO
try and negotiate bills Of exchange with the
forged signature of q Moorish fnancier.
When these men were arrested be wrote TO
the authorities Offering to appear and clear
them on condition of a safe conduct. This
summer he has been visiting Norman wa.
tering place, clubbing himself Vicompte de
MaisIre, and leading luxurious life.
He induced lady to lend him ID 600 francs,
assuring her that sale of bit of his
estates in the South would insure her
speedy repayment. She had resigned her
self to the loss OF the money, and had re-
solved TO keep it secret, when all unknown
person presented her with an envelope con-
tsining the sum borrowed. Why he made
restitution in this one case does not appear.
At Bisrrtz he cashed n forged check for
1900 francs. a detective traced him to
Bordeaux, where he registered his luggage
for Cette, but he went instead to Coutras
(Gironde), and thence to Havre, where
with his mistress, ho arrived on Thursday.
On Sunday afternoon detective saw him
taking drive. he snatched the bride and
stopped the horse, while colleague seized
Altmayer. Taken before q magistrate he
voluntarily avowed the theft OF letter
containing 2O,0O0francs in Algeria, for which
aa innocent man ia in custody. Altmayer,
who ia twenty. nine years of age, was con-
demned by default last February to twenty
years. hard labor. he has now been brought
to Paris, and there will be q second trial.
His demeanor is astonishing everybody. He
is perfectly calm and self.possessed, and
when taken before the police commissary at
Havre he made fun of the detectives, tell
ing them he had seen them hundred timea
looking for him. He had recognized them,
but the detectives had failed to identify
him. Addressing one of them, he said:
''My poor fellow, I have kept you running
after me good long time, but now the
chase is over.n He will be tried for en- in
terminable list of ofenses, ranging from
breach OF trust to robbery and forgery Pail
Mill Gazette