Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-12
A MAITrEN EPISODE.
How a stolen Sardine-Box Led
to u state Visit.


which was recently announced in lie
Pcupie, a newspaper published in Port
au-Prince, tho capital city OF Haiti, re-
calls financial swindlo and robbery
perpetrated by this man on the govern
ment OF the black republic. This ex-
plot, although it may never have been
heardof beyond The bounds OF the small
West India Island where it occurred, is
certainly worth telling if only as an ex-
ample of criminal ingenuity and
audscity.
Boutin was a mulatto. born In Guada-
loupe, French colony of Africa. He
came TO Port-au-Prince when Young
man and established himself as banker,
broker. and money-lender in that city,
says the New York Sam. His wife,
negroes, feet 8 inches in stature,
conducted a grocery business on the
same premises, and imported from the
United States and France canned goods
and other delicacies, which she disposed
of to the natives at handsome profit.
Boutin also acted as French consular
agent at the small town OF st. Marc.
A German named Simmonds, who had
lived in Haiti many years, was appoint
ed in 1887 by President Solomon to act
as Consul-General of the republic in
Paris. He had been a coffee merchant
in Haiti, and when he left for France he
appointed Boutin as his agent. On ar
irving in Paris Simmonds found that his
pay as COnsul-General would not allow
him TO become a millionaire at
short notice, and he was dissatisfied
with the small revenue he re-
ceived from his coffee business. So he
set about making plans, and determined
upon the following method as the most
likely TO make him a rich man within
brief lapse of time. AS consul he had
the official seal Of the Haitien republic,
and with the aid OF this he made
out an apparently official order for
the printing and engraving of
$!,000,000 worth Of Haitien bank
notes. The order was given to q
firm in Hamburg, and in less than two
months Simmonds had this vast sum in
bogus money at his house in Paris.
How TO get the notes into circulation in
Haiti was the next question. This was
comparatively easily solved, because
Simmonds's agent, Boutin, was broker
at Port-au-Prince, and might easily issue
notes if they could only be smuggled to
him through the custom-house.
After some weeks of planning Sim
monds decided to pack the bank-notes in
sardine-bo and to ship these. tightly
sealed, to Mrs. Boutln's grocery-store.
She could pay duty on bank-note sar-
dimes at the regular rate called for by
real sardines and reap handsome profit
in the bargain. Boutin and Simmonds
were TO divide the profits equally after
all expenses had been paid.
The combination worked like charm,
and Boutin passed off the bogus bank
notes through his bank and purchased
real estate and coffee with the reckless
extravaganza of a real millionaire. The
sardine-boxes came regularly once q
month, and the clerk in the grocery
store had orders never to open any of
these cases without orders from his
mistress. She usually unpacked the
bank.note sardines and put them in the
safe and allowed the clerk to unpack the
real sardines and range them on shelf
in the store.
One day, however, Nine. Boutin was
ont when a box of bank-note sardines
arrived from the wharf. The clerk was
chatting with his sweetheart in the
store, and she asked him what was in
the case.
"Sardines," answered the negro.
al ike sardines, said the negress.
"Well, don't you tell any one, and
I'll give you fresh box Just imported
from Nantes, and the clerk opened the
case and gave her box of bank notes.
A few hours later the negress returned
TO the grocery store with all the money
she could borrow of her friends.
Madame Boutin was behind the coun-
ter. The negress asked for n dozen
boxes of sardines. The shopkeeper was
at the request, because no ma
tive was ever known to have money
enough TO buy more than one small
box of these imported delicacies. But
Madame Boutin went to the shelf and
took down what was asked for.
"But don't want that kind" said
the negroes, 81 want dozen boxes of
those which came on the ship this morn
ing"
Then Nine. Boutin suddenly dropped
to the fact that something was
wrong. She opened the case and
found that the clerk had disobeyed his
orders and that as a result both her hus-
band and herself would probably
lose their heads as soon as the
government was informed of their
of bank-note sardines.
She went to her husband and told him
what had happened. NJ. Boutin turned
very pale, but soon decided on the only
course open for him. He put on his
best clothes and went to the palace OF
the President. AS French Consul he
was Immediately accorded an audience
by Solomon, and he remained closeted
with the dark Executive for two long
hours.
That night the President and all his
suite in full uniform dined at the house
of M. and Nine. Boutin, and spent the
evening in drinking and smoking with
the French consul. The news OF the
bank. note sardiues had spread, but the
people understood all when they saw the
honors so oiiiciously paid to Boutin by
Solomon.
On the following day large case was
sent from the grocery store to the pa
lace, and the National Bank of Port-au-
Prince entered ON its books, at the
States account, figure. exceeding by
81, 700, 900, the actual issue of national
bank notes.
AND THE HEBREWS