Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-12

thought he might be trusted. He had com.
mitted no great erime-and he had lately
done his best, when he was free, to lead an
honest life, These things argued In his
favor. 1t was decided to accept his offer,
though not without stringent guarantee.
He was required to bring to justice eyery
month a certain minimum of culprits, and Il
stipulated number he was to be delivered to
| the hulks once more.
The compact was concluded on these terms.
Vidocq was taken, handcuffed, from the
prison, was put into wicker car, was driven
| from the city, and was suffered to escape.
The same evening ne was loose among the
cutthroats and ring-droppers, in appearance
still 3 fugitive-in reality a spy.
This act, the turning point of
his career, has given rise to many
opposite opinions. In the eyes of his ad-
mirers Vidocq was penitent, who, turn
ing resolutely from the paths of crime, gave
up his varied talents to the service Of the
State. In the eyes of his detractors, he was
a miscreant who turned sneak to save his
skin. The truth lies between the two ex-
tremes. Vidocq was not beau ideal OF
virtue; but, wild and graceless as his youth
had been, he was bird Of very different
feather from the rabble of the hulks His
only proper cause of quarrel with the law
had been the punching of rivals head.
His prison glory was not of his own seek
ing. With the Yahocs of the galleys,
among whom he had been forced to live, he
considered that he broke no faith, because
he owed none. Moreover, the word spy is
apt to be misleading; for, at least to English
ears, spy, sneak and coward are alltarred
with the same brush. But Vidocq's
undertaking was not merely that
= oil 1ak
an arrester; and how far that task
was fitted for coward or a fool may easily
be Judged by the examples of his captures
few among a thousand-which it has now
become our business to describe.
His first achievement was the capture of q
coiner by the name of Watrin-a fierce and
cunning desperado, who had completely
baffied the police. Vidocq tracked him to
his lair above a certain cobbler's shop. At
midnight he went, single-handed, to the
spot, met, by chance, the coiner at the door
way, and rushed instantly upon bim. Wat
rim dealt him tremendous blow, and dart
ing back into the building through a win
dow, snatchet up the cobbler's knife. To
follow was TO rush on certain death; for the
ruffian, armed with such a weapon, was as
dangerous as q wounded beast Of prey. But
Vidocq used his wits. He made q sound
head out Of the window to make
sure that he was gone; and in an
instant Vidocq seized him by the
hair. The bravo struggled furiously, but
gradually Vidocq, by sheer strength Of mus
Gle. dragged him through the window, and
the pair lell, locked together, to the ground.
Before his enemy could use his weapon,
Vidocq wrenched II IRON his grasp, bound
his arms and dragged him single-handed to
the guardhouss. NJ. Henry aud the officers
on duty could scarcely trust their eyes when
they beheld the pair come In.
Watrin (who was hanged) was mere saw
age. st. GERMAN was q rascal OF different
dye. This rogue, O clerk turned felon, was
dandy and wit, and so great master Of
the graces that, In spite OF his pig eyes, his
hyena's the ladies OF his circle thought him
charming. 81. German had conceived q
spirited design-to climb one night into
bankers garden, to break into the house,
to knock the inmates on the head,
and TO go off with the cashbox. He had al.
ready two confederates, but he required
third; and he invited Vidocq. Vidocq, who
thought be saw his way to take the rogues
red-handed, readily consented. But he
soon found that he had been too hasty. The
scheme was to come off that very night, at
midnight. As yet it was not noon; but st.
German, who like Sampson Brass father
Foxey, suspected every one on principle,
whether friends or foes, required that they
should spend the interval together in his
lodgings. The other two assented willingly;
and Vidocq was compelled to do the same.
But while his three companions were en-
ployed in cleaning pistols, and in putting a
keen edge on murderous knives which, at
the least suspicion of his falsity, would
have plunged into his heart, he
racked his brains for a device to
send a line to the police. At last he found
one. He remarked that at his lodgings he
had some bottles OF choice burgundy, which,
if they could be fetched. would make the
time fly gaily. The robbers roared in ap-
probation. st. Germans porter went off
with the message; and Vidocq's housekeeper,
Annette, brought the wine. Vidocq mean
time had stretched himself upon the bed,
traced few words secretly upon scrap of
paper, which, under the pretext of kissing
Annette as she left them, he slipped into her
hand. The scrawl instructed her to watch
them in disguise, and to pick up anything
he might let lall. He next proposed that,
tor precaution, he should be taken to inspect
the place OF action, which as yet he had not
seen. The rest agreed. Locking their two
companions in the room, St. Germaiu took
him to the bankers garden, and showed him
where they were to scale the wall. Vidocq
had now learnt all he wanted. While ST.
German, on returning. stepped into shop
to purchase some black Grape to use for
masks, he scribbled his directions, and let
fall the misslve in the street. Annette, who
was behind them in disguise, picked up the
twist OF paper and carried it to the police.
Midnight came; the confederates stole
forth upon their deed of darkness. scaled
the wall, and dropped into the garden.
Vidocq was still astride upon the coping,
when party OF police, who had been lurk-
ing in the shrubbery, sprang out upon the
robbers. The latter fred their pistols;
several officers were injured; but at last the
rogues were struck down, seized and bound.
Vidocq, to play his part to the conclusion,
tumbled from the wall, as if shot dead, and
was carried off before the eyes OF his COM
panions under a white sheet.