St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1888-02-11
A SHREWD TRICK.
How Detective Was Duped by .
Clever Spaniard.

The astu!e Lieutenant of Police, how
ever. did not always come off with fiy-
ing colors. as the following anecdote
will show. He had been intimately
acquainted in his younger days with a
wealthy Spanish nobleman, the Count
de Moncade. but had lost sight of him
for many years, his fl lend having. for
family reasons. given up his establish
ment in Paris. and retired to his state
in the ncighborhood Of Seville. Lenoir
was. therefore. surprised in receiving
a letter from the Count. requesting
him. as special favor. to cndcavor by
every means in his power to ascertain
if the son Of his correspondent. who
had secretly left Spain. accompanied
by an actress Of the Toledo Theater.
was sojournins in France. Il have
reasons to believe" wrote the Count.
''ihat the silly youth has gone so far
rs to give the girl q written promise
of marriage, and as it would
be only right to make some
provision for her il she con-
scnls to abandon her preposterous
claim. 1 leave you to conclude what
pecuniary arrangements you may
think proper with her. and also to fur
nish my son with the necessary funds
to return home" The letter ended
with an exact description of the two
fugitives.
Among tho Lieutenant's subordi-
mates was certain Pitrot in whose
skill for unraveling q mystery he had
the greatest confidence. and who had
often proved an invaluable auxiliary
where more than ordinary tact and
acuteness was required To him
Lenoir c0nfided the task of inspecting
the registers of new arrivals kept BY
the various innkeepers and owners of
lodging-hou as tho best means Of
tracing the fug,tives in the possible
event Of their having taken refuge in
the Capital. communicating at the
same time for his guidance the dcscrip-
tion of their persons forwarded by the
Count Two days passed without any
favorable report from the agent, but
on the third evening he appeared with
the tidings that he had succeeded in
his quest.
Il followed them unobscrved to
their lodging in a wrctched inn called
fHotel de Toulouse. which l had
omitted to visit and there. sir. you
will find them whenever it pleases you
to judge for yourself as to their iden-
ti,v"
Immediately on the receipt of this
intelligence Lenoir, accompanied only
BY Pitrot repaired to the hotel in
question. and, summoning the pro-
prietor of the establishment, desired
to be shown the room occupied by q
young couple recently arrived in Paris.
The landlord at first demurred, saving
that his guests received no visitors,
anu had expressly forbidden him to
disturb them on any pretcxt whatever.
On learning. however. in whose pres
ence he stood. he at once changed his
tone, and preceding them up . mar
row stagcase to the top floor of the
house. pointed 10 . garret opposite,
and submissively retired At a
sign from his chief Pitrot Knocked
repeatedly 1t the door. which,
after some delay. was opened,
and Lcnoir. leaving the agent
outside. entered = miserab y-furn ished
room. and found himself face to face
with the individuals of whom hdDwas
in search There was no mistakin9
their identity. both corresponding
exactly with tho description given; the
Lieutenant therefore did not hesitate
TO address the son Of his old friend by
his family name. and at the same
time briefly explaining the motive of
his coming.
To his astonishmcnt however. the
young man. who evidently resented
this intrusion on his privacy. curtly
replied that no was not Noncade. but
Jan Gutierrez. . merchant of Cadix.
,r;vcling with his wife for their
pleasure. and that he had done moth
ing TO justify any interference on the
part of the police. You forget"
said Lcnoir. '1hat your assumption Of
a false name is sufficient cause for
suspicion. and as ! have certain
proofs tha. you are not the person
you pretend to be. any further At
tempt at disguise is perfectly