The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-05

well posted; they are met with on the rail-
way trains. on the steamboats, and at the
hotels. Essentially cosmopolitan, they
spend the major part Of their existence in
travelling. They talk like guides and are
thoroughly acquainted with the watering
places aud sea baths where the arlsJOcracy
and wealth gather
AN ACCOMPLISHED ROGUE.
The chloroformist is generally an old
hand, having frequented the schools of
medicine, where he learned the use and
efficacy of narcotics. 4 man of the world, in
telligent and good company his conversation
Is captivating. Hespeaks several languages
and claims to belong 70 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 railway
train: Hestations himself in the depot and
watches the purchasers of tickets. Having
chosen as his victim the man with the best
filled pocketbOok, he buys ticket and gets
into the same compartment. Ia his travel
ing bag he carries reserve Of provisions,
good wine, extra cigars, playing cards aud
everything such as an experienced traveller
would have.
He adroitly engages his victim in CONVEX
satl N, speaks of the Inconvenience of rail
way station restaura Is, the crowd, the
long wait to be served and the small time
allowed to passengers. In a winning man
ner ne 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 90,
and that is why he is SO amply provided
with provisions If necessary he shows the
dispatch. Should the victim refuse to par
take be proceeds with his repast and after
ward offers him cigars, prepared as was
IC NNyfra H. .t,r -
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.
Inc chlorotormst then opens his vial aud
places it for several seconds beneath the
sleeper's nostrils. At the same time he
gently puts over the mouth a sheet of very
fine parchment to prevent the breathing
of the external air This parchment is called
the ''stihers." 1t Is shaped like the lower
part of the carnival mask. The man is in
sound sleep, almost a c0rpse-the chlOro-
form vapor has done its work. Then the
thief leisurely rifles the victims 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 depriving
his victim of money. Having enough left
to pay his expenses, the latter is in less
haste to make has complaint. 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 would be attributed to natural causes,
and the authorities will not suspect that a
crime has been committed
On steamboat the chloroformist brings
all his arUiices into play. He usually
claims to be a physician, and forms the
acquaintance of some rich family whose
sufferings from seasickness he adroitlv
relieves. This gives him standing and
enables him to select his victim, generally
wealthy American merchant or planter.
On disembarking he follows up the Ameri-
can and becomes his friend The robbery
ordinarily takes place in private room or a
cafe. While the coffee is being drunk
after the repast, the chlOroformist draws
the attention of his victim to some lady
who is passing in the street and quietly
pours the pernicious liquid iuto his cup.
he then relieves his pocketbook of the major
portion of its contents and leaves the cafe
Of course nothing is more natural than for
a man TO fall asleep after hearty meal.
A ROBBERY IN A HOTEL.
AS last example, i will show how the
chloroformist operates in a hotel. The
treasurer of commercial establishment in
Bordeaux was accustomed to come fire.
quently to Paris with large sums of money
lie always stopped at the same hotel, one of
the largest and best Three months ago he
arrived at the hotel with $4,000 francs,
which, as he required the money very early
next morning, he failed TO have locked up
in the cashiers safe. At 9 o'clock in the
evening he went to bed, first making sure
that the bank notes were in a sealed en-
yelope in the pocket of his coat. 1t was bis
habit to wake at 4 o'clock in the morning,
but at O'Clock he was yet asleep. When
he finally opened his eyes he had the con-
IuSeo sensation of having seen and heard
strange things during his sleep.
His first thought was that he had been
robbed, and hurried examination estab-
ilshed the fact. His watch and portemonnaie
were untouched, but the envelope had been
rlhed, and an old copy of the FiQdro sup
Piled the place of the stolen funds He
made his declaration to the commissary of
police, but while making it could with diff
Guilty keep awake. His look was vague and his
head heavy. He explained that on awaken
ing he had felt sharp pain in his upper
Jaw and tickling sensation in his nose
The proprietor of the hotel and his people
were above suspicion, and it was soon es-
tabllshed that the robbery had been the
work of chloroformiSt, who had made his
way into the victims chamber by means of
stolen master key.
have often noticed with regret that the
authorities and the police do not paw suf-
hclent attention to the small empty walls
so frequently found IN the pockets of ar
rested malefactors. The chloroformist is a
| constant source of danger, especially for
travellers and wealthy foreigners, and the
worst feature of the matter is that he Is
but rarely detected and punished.
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