New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15
STORIES OF MONTE CARLO.
THINGS SEEN AND HEARD BY AN AMERI-
CAN DETECTIVE

| things to every body at one time. The place Is
no sinccure. I spent two full seasons at it. and
! felt an exhaustion when finished as the veriest
rouc lid who had spent his time in every dis
honest game
My life there was one absolutely behind the
| see mes was not a detective for the gambling
! house. but for prominent jewellers: a firm who
! had to watch every jewel Of note and value
worn in that rendezvous OF adventuresSeS, eX-
convicts. awindlers and sharpers.
The diamond necklace worn by the beauty at
supper would be rented from us: would have
to keep ten PAGES near her during the ball or
dinner. Did she dance. glided about the
room. did she have a quiet Irritation in a re
| ccssed corner. I was there; did she take supper
a deux. watched every mouthful. Was I afraid
what did think about this. that the hand
that ddngied the monoclc was ready for the
revolver the instant some man attempted to
take the jewels from her throat.
Would she thank me forever for my kindness?
Perhaps so, perhaps not
She was most probably In the scheme. She
rented the jewels at a good price. man-her
complicc-wOuld rob her Of them in dark
corner. she was accepting his attentions osten-
sbly because he Count Blank She would
report in tears If her loss To the firm. but what
could she DO? she would ask. Her accomplice
would have time 10 disguise himself and get
to Paris sell the jewels. and finally the two
would divide the profits They might actually
be Of noble birth.
And for these tricks and my colleagues
watched and waited 1t was madder wilder
life than any one knows. That is why can tell
that have never yet appeared in print
FAKE SUICIDE STORIES
In ways that are dark commend to the
habitant Of Monte Carlo. For example. look at
the reported sucil"s | am not advocating the
cause If the Prince OF Monaco when declare
that stories about suicides are absolutely alb
surd In two full seasons | only saw one au-
thontic suicide from losses and heard OF dozens.
Every death by accident In Monte Carlo Is put
down as suicide. Il man with heart failure,
81 = ftsa. at NJ. f.a.
who sometimes md their lives from nervous in,
ability To- stand the ravascs of the diseasc-all
these deaths wildly reported TO swell the
bogus list Of gamblers suicides.
Now. let me tell you a story that no one but n
detective could tell you, Those suicides are
fakes, They are the despair Of those who are
there to catch up with them
I'll give YOU OF my hardest cases. man
passed "A forged draft at the jewellers in Nice
for jewels. then another at a shop. was put on
his track Here's his history. John Jones' was
swell In fashionable outfit. can" monoclc and all
the paraphcrnalia OF "dudism." He went
broke" at the table and applied 10 the company
for money 10 return home dhcy always give
thaD. lie was Identified player by the
bankrr-who watches every fa-c-giycn suf-
ci.nt money to take him home pay his hotel bill
and send him out II town In good manner. He
had t. sign a PAPER saying he would not return
- the table or allow the money they had given
him o. %" placed on the carpet.
IL returned from the hrst station. had a bar
Der shave him. instead ~ the blond mustache
are black side whskcrs and jet black wig.
pair II colored glasses finishing the disguise
H. boarded at new place. called himself John
Smith and played his return money. He goes
broke applies at the Office for return money
under 4 new name and face. Now Mr.. Smith Is
more. but had "A widow fascinating. coy
and young The disguise was excellent. The
veil had To- be- kept down. or when raised a fan
Kept at the mouth. The poor widow was not
lucky. she lost again and again. and went 10 the
office for her return money.
The fourth disguise was that - an old man,
Grim, fearful of people, shy. lie was
very cautious. avoided every one. he was reg
istcrcd James White. He lost and could get his
return money. but says he would rather XIII
hims,lf m IN humiliate himself. The next day a
hat coat and note are found near the sea 10y a
reporter for famous journal In Nice. Hush
money was paid. and in Nice found my young
fellow running cafe. and selling 10 victims a
sure combination to win at the 80 and 10 or at
the roulette. also ready To write the most SEN
sational articles for newspapers.
This IL how | found him: | was watching
with suspicion "A young woman She took the
train for Mcntone. 50 did l. ON the car played
the haysrcd, made inquiries about the games,
and Interested her so that she promised To go
back the next day with me and show me some
combinations. | have "A talent for playing the
provincial. and | fooled her She told me she
played irrcgularly for fancy her husband at
Mcntonc was dying Of consumption. | went |
home with her in casual manner and was
presented to the husband
In him found my man. | needed my hand |
cuffs and revolver before | got through with !
them both for she also was expert. lie has
a good chance now OF living long term out
in prison. for it was he who had passed both !
forged drafts-hrst as the DUDE. then as the
widow.
man and woman playing villains together |
under the sacred name Of man and wife. are
the worst To track down Just az women are
he nobest creatures In the world. they can be
the syost and trickiest. and when guided by
man Of low principles 1t takes some sharp work |
from detective.
SPURIOUS NOBILITY