, 1888-10-25
THE TRIAL OF EUGENE ALLMAyER.


of Parisian swindlers, which was con-
cluded last Thursday at the Seine Court of
Assizes, not only brings to light q most
novel system of swindling. by telephone.
but presents the French mode of trying
criminal in striking light
Allmayer is described as handsome,
dashing, military lcoking man Of 80, who
dresses In the best taste, and is supplied
by the best tailors in Paris. of medium
height and graceful build. with deep, blue
eyes, fair, cueling accroche.c1ur mus.
taches, and a small. bald, round spot on
the top Of his head, which reveals the
ravages Of the rapid life and long vigils of
a Parisian viveur.
As he sat on the prisoners bench, with
all glasses leveled at him, he exhibited a
becoming petulance by rapping his we'll.
fitted patent leather shoe against the Aour,
as If to say: How absurd for such a
delightful fellow as am to be in 80 false
a position" while some of the fair crea.
lures in the court appeared to share his
surprise. as they bent their heads together
and whispered, "Oh, ma chere! how
handsome he is!'
The prisoner was charged with utilizing
the telephone to cash drafts at other peo.
pies bankers.
On one OCCASION by skillfully initiating
the voice OF merchant, he induced a
banker to send him $40 1000.
An exciting incident occurred during
the trial when witness named Plivard.
who had been Allmayer's accom- plice, was
called As he had been condemned to FIVE
years penal servitude he appeared in his
prison Clothes with his head shaved, and
did not take the oath.
The convict and the prisoner stood face
to face, heaping abuse upon each other for
more than an hour.
After this there followed succession of
expert witnesses--an electrician to give
evidence about the telephone wire which
was cut; bankers, engravers and account
ants to testify on other points.
Then the Judge took the prisoner in
hand.
AS Is the custom, in French courts, he
began by narratinz all the previous mis-
deeds Of the prisoner:
"You belong to good family" said
the judge. ''At the age of II you made
your debut by forging your fathers name
for $4,000"
"Oh, no, NJ. lie Juge," replied Allmayer.
THAT was merely a practical joke. Below
my signature wrote the words, lie diabe
boiteuz.'"
This cross.fire, between the Judge and
the prisoner, was kept up until
the whole past life of the prisoner was
gone over, the replies of the prisoner be-
ing made, we are informed, lin q low
voice and with refinement of manner
that was beautiful.
The prisoner was found guilty on all
the counts of the indictment and sentenced
to twelve years hard labor, with clause
appended forbidding him to set foot
within a certain prescribed territory for
period of ten years after the expiration of
his term. The severity of the sentence
was excused upon the ground that thrice
before Allmayer had been captured by the
detectives, and early in his career he had
served term of imprisonment.
OhCe, uiter DelnR naDOeu In the
Champs Elysees, he escaped by tripping
up policeman and boiling. Aud once he
beat Jack Sheppard himself by signing an
order for his own release and getting out
of the legal clutches in the very midst of
his examination by a juge d'instruction at
the Conciergerie.
Aside from the novel use to which All.
mayer put the telephone, which is of itself
sufficient to attract attention to his case,
we are reminded by his trial of the pecu.
liar way French courts have of trying a
criminal case. The trial is, from first to
last. a contest between the judge and the
prisoners. His whole life is laid bare, he
is called upon to explain its every transac-
tion, and especially to account for every
link in the chain of evidence, as it is pre-
sented against him. In word, he is not
only ''put on the stand" as witness in
the case on trial, but his whole career and
character are made a part of the accusa-
tion he is facing. There are some disad.
vantages in such proceeding, but it pos.
sesses one great Neutrality-suspicious. whose
lives have been upright have the direct
benefit OF their past rectitude.