Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1897-09-23
a HAIR-DRESSER'S GRATITUDE
lie Restored the Priceless Crown
Jewels of France

ne Restored the Priceless Crown
Jewels of France,
On the 10th of September, 1892. the
crown jewels of France were stolen.
The following curious story of their
inert and recovery was afterward con-
lriouted to the Revue Retrospective by
sergeant Marceau, an official of the
National Assembly. Marceau was one
uhy visiting the prisons, when a con-
Nict sent Tor him. The creature WAS
shivering with fear. and begged pite.
ously that he might be allowed 70 be
en"Veu' Ihis was against the prison
regulations, but the man was insistent.
crying out
'Oh, be merciful, Monsieur Admins
traitor, and let me be shaved, l. who
never nave done anybody any harm,
look like some ferocious assassin with
my hair thus! Let me be shaved and
uecehtly dressed, SO that may receive
some pity when l go to the scaffold,
was by occupation ladies' hair
dresser so you can see was not a
scOundrel."
Marceau was SO touched by this
strange and pathetic appeal that he
granted the favor.
In the stress of affairs he thought no
more about the wretched barber who
he supposed had been executed. Short
~ a1terward the crown jewels disap-
peared, and though every effort was
made, no trace of them could be found.
one day mulattO woman, who came
constantly to the tribune of the Jaco-
bin Club, approached Marceau, who
was member, and said:
What would you say If l enabled
you to recover the missing crown jew
els! know a man who has the secret,
Out he declares that he will reveal it to
no living human being but you. He 10
Under an obligation to you, he says"
Nlthlittle faith in the woman's story,
Marceau answered:
Bring him in at oncev'
An hour later man dressed in the
uniform of the National Guard entered
The apartment, and said, in faltering
voice:
Monsieur Administrators, can show
you where to find the crown jewels.
but you must give me your word of
honor not to denounce me-"
"Denounce you for rendering such an
important serviceY' replied Marceau.
"Aou will rather deserve reward"
Il can take no reward except my life.
MY name canot appear in this matter
without yisking my head"
speak! l promise you what you
ask" said the magistrate.
DO you not recognize me, then, mon
sieur?' inquired the National Guards
man.
mo, never saw you before
"Oh, sir, let me have your word as Il
magistrate that you will not give me
up" cried the man again.
why all this mystery? demanded
the magistrate. IF you know any
thing, reveal 1t. If you were an accom-
plice, l will protect you"
mo, SIR" was the reply, II had moth
Ing to do with 1t. l am Lamievettc,
the hair-dresser, whom you allowed to
be shaved at the conciergerie. AL
though l have been set free by the pop
ular Judges, the tribunal may arrest
me again."
DO not be afraid" said Marceau.
"Tell what you know about this theft
After kissing the magistrates hand,
the hairdresser continued:
"Two fellow-prisoners of mine were
talking together one night about the
theft, and although they used thieves
slang l was able to understand them.
pretended to be asleep, and l heard
them say that all the crown jewels
were concealed in two beams of a
house In Dash street. Send there as
quickly as possible, for they may not
yet have been taken away. But l en-
treat you not to mention my namew
The search was made, and the jew
els were discovered, concealed exactly
where the hairdresser had said they
were. The thieves were never traced.