, 1889-08-22
ROBBERY IN PARIS.
The Expert Methods EMPLOYED
BY Light-Fingered Citizens
of Paris.
How; They Secure Their Victims s
Confidence and Then.
His Money.
American Style of Robbery and
"Mystifioation" and Burial"
Lines of Theft.
Paris Correspondence 81, Louis Globe DEM
OCratl

The genuine American style. robbery
is not 40 easy to commit as the public
are inclined to believe. Involuntarily II
Is confounded with the ''mystiilcntton"
and "burial' lines of theft, which are
worked by means of bats, and in which
interest folds the first place. Nearly
all these thefts arc committed on emf
grants about to leave Paris. Three in
dividuals arc required for the execution
ofeach.
The first fills the role of "linder;" he
In the "mystiticr" His mission con-
sists in finding the sheep or pigeon
provided with money whom ho deems II
advisable to rob. The second enacts
foreign traveller; he is, according to cir
cumstances, American, Spanish or Ger.
man. He must have a prepossessing air
and winning manners. His travelling
outfit is completed by satchel and Il
lorgnetto hung mt his side. Tho third
does not speak, but acts. He is the
"utility" man.
The foreign traveller begins by follow
ing the "Mystifier" until the luttcr is in
possession of his pigeon When the
twain are getting along we'll together he
passes on ahead of them, then turns,
comes to meet them, and addressing the
"Mysitier,' after polite bow, inquiries
where a certain church-far distant, of
course, from the spot on which they are
lis located, cndeavoring to explain that
one of his friends has asked him to hand
"a letter and Il large sum of money to the
pastor of that church for Il work of
charity.
The '"Mystiiier" tells with volubility
the different streets through which he
must pass to get there. Tie mock for
eigner does not seem to understand, and,
taking from his vest pocket n foreign
gold coin, offers it TO the "Mystiffer" to
show him the way, The latter. after
somc hesitation, finally accepts. lie in
duces the 'pigion' TO accompany them
Nindfall since after the walk they will
share the money, and that, as they pass
along, Inc will show him the fiuc high
ways and the noteworthy public build
ings.
GETTING DOWN TO BUSINESS.
They set out, and on the way the
''mystifer's" accomplicc relates that he
has just arrived, and that in hi, sachcl
are several rolls of English gold, upon
which in the exchange hc wishes to lose
as little as possible. He is afraid of be-
ing swindled by the brokers, who are
not always conscientious in their deal
ings with foreigners.
"You don't need their aid" answers
the "mystiiier." "My friend is going to
profit by the exchange, especially as he
himself will be Obliged TO submit to IA
considerable loss on the value of
the bank notes with which he is pro-
yided?'
lie warmly urges tho pigeon" to CON
clude the transaction, which, he asserts,
will be highly advantageous to both,
while the mock foreigner wishing to
inspire confidence, takes five or six rolls
from his sachcl, and, uncoverng the
extremities, allows some gold pieces to
be seen.
The exchange is made in a cafe; then
under specious preteNt,. the thieves
abandon their victim ut the door OF y
house with double issue. When his
suspicious are finally aroused, and he
entirely uncovers the rolls, lie finds only
the two gold pieces placed at the ends.
The rest consists of bits of lead and
brass.
The exchange of gold for bank notes
forms the chief resource of the robbers
who use the 'mystiiicatiou" dodge.
The burial line y but IL variation.
Thus ''mystiiier" may invite his
accomplice and the pigeon" to visit
some gay resort situated not far from the
fortiiications. Before going in lie will
tell the victim that it is imprudent to
take his money along, and that the part
of wisdom is TO hide 1t in one of the
moats contiguous to the Octrol offices
The advice is followed. A hole is dug
and they proceed To bury the foreigners
satchcl and the pigeons wallet, not
forgetting the "mystitiers" portemon-
naie. At the moment of paying for what
has been served them, the mock for
eigner notices that he has no money. lie
shows vexation, and at last gives the
'pigeon" small key, begging him to
go to the moat and get ole OF the rolls
OF gold from his satchel.
THE "UrILIrY" MANS FUNCTION.
Delighted by this mark of confidence,
he sets out joyously for the hiding place,
finds the hole stoops down and finds
that it Is empty. The third member of
the band, the mute and invisible ''utill-
ty'' man, has fulfilled his office by carry
ing away the buried objects. The victim
runs to warn his companions, but they
have disappeared. IL then only remains
for him to make his complaint to the po-
lice, and rs last resource, he goes 10
the consulate to have himself sent home
70 his native land.
Patience is the main virtue of the
"Mystiters." They often walk about
for whole days without being able to
strike the premeditatcd blow, and some
times for week do not meet "pigeon'
disposed to allow himself to be pltlCked.
Ii is then that they attack bank messon-
gers or cashiers of commercial houses.
now come to the genuine American
style of robbery, which, | repeat, is not
as simple as people suppose. It's direc-
ton is confided to the aiistocracy of
theft, u group of malefactors in which
all nationalities are represented. The
association is vast and perfectly organ
lied, while the harvest is very i'm
portant.
The professional American style rob
bers keep on the watch in the vicinity
of the great railway dcpots where for
eigners arrive who are about to return to
their native countries with their savings.
The victims are in general ignorant peo-
pie, artisans or peasants, WHO have been
absent from home many years.
The cooperative organization of these
great criminals Is such that its principal
members only make voyages between
the two Americas and Europe. This
enables them 10 become acquainted with
the passengers and the personnel of tho
steamers, aud it is thus that they gather
exact information with regard To the
persons who may be robbed with facil-
ity.
For the most part they do not make
the entire voyage, but send u cipher dis.
patch TO their associates containing a
description of the future victim and all
the necessary details. This information
is so precise that tho robbery Is some
times effected by means of two satchels
exactly alike, one OF which Is substi.
tuted for the other with remarkable dcx.
tcrity, and the robbed party, on arriving
at his destination, discovers, instead oi
his money, stones and rolls of pewter.
When the person described in the dis.
patch discmbarks from the steamer or
gets out of the railway cnr, he sees adj
vance, according to his nationality, an
Italian, an Englishman, u Chinaman. or
"A Freuchman, who charges himself with