The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-19
| THE SPIDERS WEB.
Curious Places in Slums and
Rookeries Of Paris.
HOW POLICE TRACK CRIMINALS.
Hideous Habifations Of che Peer-Liv-
ing IN Reom with Corpse
Les 3iserables.

Hfdeous Habitatt00e Of the Roor-11v.
ing n . Room with Corpse
Les lGiserables.
PAINS, April Especial Correspond
ence lone winters evening, four or ave
years ago, as was dressing to go out to
dinner, porter came to my door with q
note, which read as follows: "Come this
evening, 10 o'clock: curious case"
The writing and signature were those of
. friend Of mine who was at that time sec
rotary at suburban police station. The
poor fellow has since gone to his grave; he
died Just As he was about TO be promoted
to the post of superintendent and grid the
official tri-color scarf. Without loss Of
time hailed cab and drove to the police
station, where crowd was already assem-
bled
N. Claude, the then head superintendent
of police, had dispatched dozen of his
best detectives to arrest brawny rufian
named LIE Borgne, who for upwards of six
months past had been wanted" but
could be found nowhere. His misdeeds
alone betrayed his whereabouts, which
usually took place ont by the Route de
la Revolte. He belonged to species at
one time well known in London, but little
heard Of in the French capital. He was q
garroter. His way of proceeding was
simple in the extreme and peculiar to him
self Tall, stout and strong, he would
take up his position at some point
along that ugly and solitary road, with
no other instrument than plain leather
strap, which he deity flung round the
wayfarer's neck: then, passing the two
ends of the strap over his shoulder, he
would hoist the unfortunate man on to his
back, and while he held him there like q
bundle, an accomplice ritled the victims
pockets. LIE Borgne thereupon relin-
pushed one end of the strap, whereupon
the man fell heavily to the ground, half
strangled, and before the latter came to his
senses. both villains had disappeared in
one of the by-lanes.
Information had been given at head
quarters by a coqucur or preacher, that LIE
Borgne would spend the night at a low
lodging-house which stood in the middle
of an open field along the road. The OBJ
ject, therefore, was to surround the place
at night and nab him there.
At 1880 p. m. We prepared to sally forth
officer, who, after comforting with the
superintendent, mustered his men and
instructed them how to proceed. They
were to file OF and form what is techni-
cally called the spider s-weh." This
operation consists in deploying round the
house at 500 yards distance every way, so
as to form an extended circle, aid, at a
given signal, to bear down upon it. Every
one caught within radius of 500 yards
from the house is arrested as soon as the
concentration begins.
was somewhat at a loss to know what
part should have to play in this, to me,
quite novel expedition; but my friend,
the secretary, set matters right by assign
ing me position along with himself side
by side with the police superintendent,
whose authorization had been obtained.
The detectives went off on their mission
with the brigadier and we three started
straight for the house, where everything
seemed as quiet as the grave As we moved
round the frowsy tenement, however, We
detected faint light issuing from one of
the windows, or rather apertures in the
thick wall at the back of the structure.
THAT is where he must be-" muttered
the superintendent, pointing to the light
and abiding to lie Borgne; but, before
proceeding further, let US wait for the
men,"
Soon vague rumor like that of leaves
rustled by the wind reached my ear; it
proved to be the noise of the approaching
detectives, who gradually closed in around
the house and brought in tow two men and
woman, who seemed anything but salts
fed at their summary arrest.
The police superintendent, who held q
bulls eye in his hand, closely scrutinized
the prisoners, and, satisfied that they were
in no way connected with the business in
hand, ordered their immediate release.
They were sent off with excuses for the
trouble he had put them to.
Not soul meanwhile had come out of
the house, so that the ruffiian was evidently
still inside. The brigadier gave three loud
raps at the door. At once the lights went
out, but no one answered the summons.
A few minutes elapsed. Again the briea-
der knocked, with no better result.
1--WE must break open the door, said
the superintendent.
At this juncture one of the detectives
called attention to side door in the fenc-
ing which might be more easily tackled in
went up to it. and putting both hands
against the deal boards pushed forward
with all his weight, SO as to break the lock.
The door, however, not being locked. flew
open with bang, and my poor lamented
friend fell forward into Quagmire inside
the enclosure. He came out despatched
with mud from top to toe, cursine the
house and its inmates, and in spite of the
superintendent, who was at my elbow. I
had the greatest difficulty in smotherine a
wild ut of laughter which came over me as
| noticed the pitiable plight he was in.
We had gained admittance, however. to
the place and the inmates, who now real.
lied this fact, thought it was high time
to give up their little game of feigning to
be asleep. A woman appeared on the
doorstep and called out in shrill voice.
Who are You, and what do YOU want pr
The magistrate showed his official scarf
She bowed assent. drew aside, and we ali
three rushed in. There was no one on the
ground floor, no one on the first story. and
only bed half undone, was to be seen on
the second fight.
It's mine" said the woman; 81 am
alone here"
But the secretary found bed with the
eounterpane hastily thrown up in an ad-
joining room, from which evidently some
one had but shortly departed.
quIred.
. lis the bed where traveller silent last
night. answered the woman.
Then why Is il still warm % asked the
secretary, who felt with his hand under
the eounterpane. The woman made no
answer.
I'VE have found the nest" added the
Z. =