New-York tribune., 1902-06-20
WILL FIGHT HIS EHTR1DITION.
BALENSI. THE FRENCH VETERAN BROUGHT
HERE FROM THE NAPANOCH RE-
FORMATORY.

Louis Alfred Balensi. charged by the French Gov
ernment with embezzling $1,S076s2 of trust funds.
whose France is awaited by Parisians
with great interest brought down from the
Eastern Reformatory at NapanOch yesterday by
NJ W. Blake. of United States Marshal HenkePs
staff After arraignment before Commissioner
Shields ne was taken to Ludlow Street Jail. He
will have a hearing next Thursday. and from that
day until July L he his counsel will have
opportunity TO examine the papers in the French
Governments against him Mr. Murray, OF
Coudert Brothers. representing the French Gov
ernment appeared at the arraignment yesterday
and urged a speedy hearing in Saensfs case in
order hasten the extradftOn proceedings.
Balensi was sentenced March 81. 1888. to Sing
Sing for six years for grand larceny 1t was al
legged that he obtained from Marcus & Co., OF No
544 Fifth-ave jewelry worth $4,000. which he
obtained loans from local pawnbrokers- On
count of good behavior Balensis sentence was
commuted to four years and two months. At Sing
Sing he a shipping clerk. and at Napanoch he
had charge of the distribution Of food to the other
prisoners BaIensi is a man Of marked intelligence.
speaks English fuently. and yesterday at Marshal
HenkeIs office chatted freely with Tribune re-
porter about himself
Il a partner and managing director Of La
Societe Francaise du Banque ct de Change OF Paris
when got trouble through unfortunate specu-
lation,' said he. AS a partner and director saw
fit TO speculate with the funds of the depositors-
We conducted brokerage business. and was in
vested with large discretionary powers l was un-
lucky with my investments, and lost a large
amount of money. Then left Paris. with the
pectation of making this country my home My
family came here soon after reached New-York.
and We intended TO start life anew IL Is not true
that | Marcus Co. 50. AL told the IN
debtednesS will amount more than $500.
shall write old friends in Paris for assist
ance- L shall fight the extradItion proceedings
which aim TO land me back in Paris. do not want
10 go back / have no counsel and money TO
employ one, unless l hear from friends the
other side My wife and family there now.
1t is not true. as charged, that have large sum
of money hidden away. | have not enough TO send
d BILE message If | rich 1 would not have
gone to prison account of d shortage Of 800
When il suggested that he appeared TO be
well educated BaIensi said:
Il graduated from the University of France n
class of SO, and fought in the FrancO-Prussian
War for my country l lived in England many
years and that may account for my familiarity
with the language. If I cannot ind suitable coun-
sci I will conduct my as l am familiar
with the laws relating to extra dition haven't
any fault find with the prison officials They
treated first rate"
BaIensi is about sixty sixty-two years old, well
built and prepOSSessing in appearance. COudeTt
Brothers apparently are confident of effect1ng his
extradition- The French Government has 20 bear
the expense of keeping him while the extraditieT
proceedings on