Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-09-12
CHLOROFORMlSTS.
A Dangerous Glass of Criminals Who Ope-
rate on French Railways.


rate on French Railways.
A correspondent of the St. Louis
GlObe-Democrat gives the following
interesting description of the methods
adopted by band of criminals known
in France as chlorOformists: Tho
chloroformists administer with great
skill, either with the aid of sponge
or that of handkerchief, that poison
Gus, powerful, tenacious and always
dangerous substance which, given UNI
skillfully. may prove fatal They are
shrewd, adroit and we'll posted; they
are met with on the railway trains. on
the steamboats, and at the hotels. Es-
sentially cosmopolitan, they spend the
major part of their time in travelling.
They talk like guides and are thor
oughly acquainted with the watering
places and sea baths where the aris-
tocracy and wealth gather.
The chloroformist is generally an
old hand, having frequented schools of
medicine, where he learned the use and
efficacy of narcotics. A man of the
his conversation is captivating. He
speaks several languages and claims
to belong to the nobility. He has an
agreeable presence. An excellent
dancer and somewhat of a musician,
young ladies are delighted with him.
This is the way he operates on a
railway train: He stations himself in
the depot and watches the purchasers
of tickets. Having chosen as his vic
| 4 h Unit = f1,ah 1ol >of
book he buys ticket and gets into
the same compartment. In his travel
ing-bag he carries a reserve of pro-
visions. good wine. extra cigars. play
ing cards. and every thing such as an
experienced traveller would have.
He adroitly engages his victim in
conversation. speaks Of the inconven-
fence of railway station restaurants,
the crowd. the long wait to be served.
and the small time allowed to passen-
gers. In winning manner he then
offers to share his bill of fare with his
companion. A friend was going with
him to Switzerland. but at the last
moment wired him that he could not
60. and that is why he is SO amply
provided with provisions. If neces-
sary he shows the dispatch. Should
the victim refuse to partake he pro-
ceeds with his repast and afterward
offers him cigars prepared as was his
wine. They chat. time flies, and the
monOtonous noise of the train, added
to the cigar smoke. plunges the victim
into a torpor which he can not conquer
and by which he is finally overcome.
The chloroformist then opens his
vial and places it for several seconds
beneath the sleeper's nostrils. At the
same time he gently puts over the
mouth sheet of very fine parchment
to prevant the breathing of the exter-
nal air. This parchment is called the
''stifer;" it is shaped like the lower
part of a carnival mask. The man is
in a sound sleep. almost a corpse; the
chloroform vapor has done it's work.
Then the thief leisurely rifles the vic
TINS pocket-book, taking care to leave
one or two bank-notes in it. after
which he restores it to the owners
pocket. He does not appropriate any
of the sleeper's jewelry. The robbery
committed. the thief quits the train at
| the next station. Two reasons actuate
the chlorofOrmist in not absolutely de-
priving his victim of money. Having
enough left to pay his expenses the
latter is in less haste to make his com
plant. The second reason is that
should the man die under the influence
of the chloroform, being in possession
OF his jewelry and money, his death
will be attributed to natural causes
and the authorities will not suspect
that crime has been committed.