The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-25

We drove rapidly from the Hotel Ter
minus. Detective Houlier, a brigadler OF
the service de surete. or secret service,
was my guide. having been assigned 10 the
task by NJ Crochefort. the commissaire.
Superintendent Byrnes. of New York had
had already told me about him. NJ. Hou-
Her was sent TO New York not long ago 10
take famous murderer back to France.
and is popular I'm New York. He speaks
English fuentiy. which did not prevent
him from talking emphatic French to our
Cabman.
We drove down into the worst quarter
of Paris~a quarter reserved for and ac-
Cepted by criminals. and only criminals.
The streets are lined with low cabarets
or drinking places. small shops where
thieves may sell their plumber. the dismal
abodes Of ugly women who are ready for
anything, from filtration based on fin
ance to a bit Of strangling. when IL may
be done safely. This one street In particu-
lar s said TO be without a single honest
denlzen. II is stated that il has been the
scene OF more murders than II has door
ways and that thefts are and have been
for many years nightly incidents along Il.
The whole policy of the Partisan police.
you know. Is concentration. They believe
that crime must exist and that criminals
cannot be exterminated. They recognize
that the social evil Ia inevitable. They be
lieye that these things being true, IL Is
to pretend TO annihilate them. while per
hitting them. in reality. TO take their own
devious courses. They have no idea that
wlckedness can be wiped out. but they set
10 work in an unassuming, practical. nine
teeith century way 10 do as much toward
keeping IL in check as possible
Thus the criminal population of Paris Is
concentrated in certain localities. II IS.
theoretically, impossible for thief TO live
elsewhere.
This argues the Partisan. has two ad-
vAntages. First. the honest man under
standing the system, knows what localities
10 avoid. second, having concentrated
crime, the police find Il much easier to
watch IL than would he the case were II
scattered about all over the city. The dis
trict OF which write is one Of those local
tiles IN which criminals are thus permitted
20 herd.
Just before we turned into the Rue de
Venice young man wearing a lapdated
yachting cap. and iaunty despite hts lack
OF a coat popped out Of doorway In front
or as lie began to whistle a French song
Instantly NJ HouIier whispered 20 me:
'tAh. he knows US, Keep close behind
him and see the doors close"
We stepped quickly along SO that he
should not get too far I'm advance Of us
Down through the Rue de Venice he
marched with nonchalauce of air. an In
difference Of step. which we're apparently
rs HnStuuftN as possible nut ne ever WINS
tied that French soag. And far as the
shrill notes reached the doors shut in ad-
vance of us.
After we had passed through the street
we glanced back and saw IL deserted and
dead The French song had done its work
II had sung Beware! Police Close upr'
20 every person IN the street. and the
warning had been most promptly and com
pletelv Needed NJ. UOuier told me that "A
man Is ever kept on watch at each en-
trance 20 this and other streets of similar
character. whose duty IL Is Ia scrutinizc
those who approach. and give the signal -
he has any reason &c suspect them. II was
quite like scene from one % the old mel
odramaS-silent and mysterious. As q
matter of fact. u IS not important. The
police understand that. aud the people un-
derstand Il too. probably. 1t Is simply onc
~ the many little harmless theatrical
things which the French love 20 do. Here
~ IS development az the criminal class
and is. therefore. a criminal trick. But IT,