St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-29
Story Of How a Great Singer
Entertained a Great
Criminal.
A Desperate Two Fingered
Villain Crouched Under
the Table,
While She Coolly Wrote a
Short Letter to Summon
the Police.
Remarkable Episode in the
Career Of the Celebrated
Nine. VeStpiS.

The following episode in the career of
the celebrated Nine. Vestris happened
in the winter of 1S47, when the star OF
her genius was still in the ascendant,
in spite Of her fifty years, says the Gin
cinnati Enquirer. She had married the
famous Charles Matthews the younger
only a short time before, and was visit
ing Paris in his company. The chief
object of their visit was to secure az
ballet troupe Tor spectacle. the prep
arations for which were then in prog
ress at one of the large London theaters,
at the time under their united manage
ment. But it so CHANGED that the selec-
ton of the ballet fell principally upon
Matthew'S, because his wife was tempo
rarily disabled by an unlucky spraln OF
the ankle. She was confined to their
hotel in the Rue Sainte Honore, where,
of course. she could console herself by
giving receptions TO her admirers. who
were quite as numerous in France as Ill
England.
One evening she was alone in the
small but elegant salon adjoining her
apartment. Her waiting maids were
within call, and she could now and then
hear from one of the further rooms the
playful bark of her King Charles span
iels, Flock and Floss, which always ac-
comDanied her Oh her travels. Taking
up newspaper. her attention became
absorbed by the first article on which
her glance alighted, for it was upon a
subject that had excited all Paris for
number of days.
A number of robberieS had taken
place in quick succession, whose perpe-
traitor had not been discovered. 1t was
evident, from certain characteristics
common to all the crimes, that they
were the work of one man. His favor
lite, and indeed only, method had been
to secrete himself in close proximity to
some fashionable and wealthy lady's
sleeping apartment, and then possess
himself of her jewels and other valua-
bleS after she had fallen asleep. When
his victim happened to awake he had
not hesitated to use violence to prevent
her giving an alarm.
The only clew to the william as yet
Law IN the knowledge that he had but
two fingers on the left hand-a circum-
stance that had been noted by one lady
who had had the nerve to simulate UNI
consciousness while secretly observing
his felOnOus operations in the sub
dued tight of her b0urdOir. A panic OF
fearwaS said to be existing among such
ladies as were noted Tor the number
and value of their jewels; and sarcastic
comments were passed upon the III
effectiveness of the police authorities.
Nine. VestriS was woman of eX-
ceptionally strong nerve, but she could
not restrain a little timorous thrill
when, having finished the article, she
limped across the salon to the door Of
her bourbon. intending TO summon her
maids and retire for the night.
Before entering her boudoir, however,
she turned to extinguish the wax lights
of candelabra that bad been left burn
ing in addition to the small shaded lamp
by which she had been reading. The
candelabra stood upon bracket, and
cast strong, level tight upon the floor,
throwing out the shadows or the inter
vening pieces of furniture, especially of
the table at which she had been sitting.
i'll pretty Strong relief, inasmuch as the
shaded reading lamp in the middle Of
the table shed its lesser ulster in a
small, circumScribed circle.
As she cast final glance over the
room she was suddenly TILED with fear
on perceivIng, cast Out upon the floor
directly across her stood, the unmistaka-
BILE shadow of a man crouching under
the table at which she had been sitting.
She remained perfectly quiet, but her
terror was increased hundredfold as
she saw, or thought she saw. the image
of hand that possessed but two fingers.
She was convinced that the mysterious
criminal, whose deeds had so excited
the city, was lying concealed there, and
had SO lain, probably i'll contact with
In fnihc Of hnY hrnSc thn nnti,n
ing.
Having come to this conviction.
through swift and dreadful train of
reasoning, which every woman under
stands, Mime NeStriS remained for a
moment almost petrifed. Her jewels
were noted for their spiendOr and cOStli-
ness, and she was known to always
have them in casket at her bedside
when retiring; and since her arrival in
Paris it had also become pretty we'll
known that she was in the habit of re-
firing comparatively early, while her
husband duties kept him away from
the hotel until late hour. Her maids
slept at the further end Of an outside
corridor. and thus, for considerable
time. she was virtually alone upon the
third floor of the hotel.
OF course tic rObber had made him
SClI WITH ttCoO CtINuiH-
stances, and was waiting his OppOrtun-
lty to enter upon his coarse of pilIage
and violence, possibly to end in murder.
These thoughts and conclusions flashed
through Nine. VeStriS' mind with terri
bic rapdity. Then, by tremendous
effort of will power. she not only recov-
cred her intrepidity and GOODNESS, but
also formed plan to eXtrlcate herself
and OutWit the villain.
Without eXtinguishing the lights she
began to carol light operate air, while
resuming her seat, and touched the sill
yer spring bell on the table with which
she was i'll the habit of sum-
mOning one or the other Of her
maids. This action alone cost her
great pang of fear; for if the spanielS
should accompany the maid they would
doubtless at once sniff out the presence
of the concealed robber, who might then
attack her without delay Fortunately,
however. the maid who responded to
her call was not accompanied by the
dogs, which had romped themselves to I
sleep in one of the femOter apartments.
Adele said Nine. Vestris, sis the
establishment of NJ. Vernac, the jew
eIer. still open, think you?'
"Oh. yes, madame" replied the maid.
at Is Saturday night. when all the
shops keep open until IL. and it is now
but little after TO-"
Il shall then have to get you to take
a message to bin at once" said the ac-
tress. He has been repairing my cost
Hest diamond necklace and my tiara OF
sapphires and briilidnts, which he
promised to return this evening. |
Shall not sleep without having them at
my bedside tonight. Whether repaired
or not he shall send them with you by
one of the clerks. Bring me the writ
ing materials from my boudOir."
Adele did as she was directed, and,
still humming her song. Mime. VeStriS.
with a firm hand. pennpd the following,
which. she sealed and directed tn nj.
Veruac. tie then fashionable jeweler
of the Rue des Italiens:
monsieur: The two-fingered villain