The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1902-01-10
A CLEVER STROKE
OF BUSINESS.
A Detective Chases the Wrong
Parties, While the Thief Takes
Himself Away. :: :: :: 3: ;:

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In July, 1867, NJ. Henri Gretry died
IN fafls' leaving a large fortune. few
days later there was Il large family gath
erihS al the house Of his son, NJ. Charles
1Fetry' on the boulevard st. Germain.
he dead man had left express instruc
'iohS tAat certain aged distant relatives
should pe provided for and his children
ana some Old friends met to consult as to
the best WAY to carry out the wishes OF
the deceased. They were converSing in
parl7r IN the rear of the grand saloon
When the report of pistol was heard
followed by the crash of glass The par
" IN great alarm entered the saloon and
found that splendid mirror Of great
value occupying the wall in the center
OF the saloon, was badly shattered. \
rev seconds aIter the catastrophe a gen
tlehiah dressed in black, with m overcoat
over ms arm, appeared at the door and
was admitted by a servant.
am afraid | am late. Jacques. he
SAID as he entered the hall.
40, monsieur, the servant answered,
supposing that he was one of those invit.
ed' they had Just assembled when an
accident happened which has disturbed
them.
All. What was that?' the gentleman
SAID and then, not waiting for an an.
swer, continued: See, have soiled my
hand will 70 up stairs to the lavatory
and return instantly.
WITH that he ascended the. stairs, and
the servant joined the company whc
were examining the shattered mirror i'll
the saloon. Soon afterward Charles, 4
son of M. Gretry. quilted the house, in.
forming the concierge at the gate that he
was going to give Information of what
had occurred at the house.
~ gentleman has already left for that
purpose, said the concierge.
An. DO you know who it wasY
Charles said.
i didn't recognize him. was the reply.
lie was a gentleman in black. with an
overcoat over his arm"
Il cannot think who it could be-,
Charles said. AT all events. my going
also can do not harm"
lie departed and returned soon with
a bullet from the outside had passed
through plate glass window and struck
the mirror in the center. No clcw to the
perpctrator of the act could be discovered
outside in the grounds. Next mornr .
a detective named Perclet came to TIC
mansion and found the family in state
of great excitement. Nine. Gretry's jew
el case, containing gems valued at 300
600 francs, was missing. When Percle
learned the fact, he asked
"When was it last SEEM"
I'VE are in mourning and wear nc
jewelry at present" Nine. Gretry said
''but | made it my business every even
ing when preparing for dinner to see that
the case and its contents are safe in my
escrtoire. and did so last evening This
morning | discovered that the escritoirc
had been forced and my jewels removed.
Percet examined the escritoire and
carefully scrutinized the grounds around
the house. He questioned the concicrge
and learned all about the gentleman in
black carrying an overcodt WHO had pa -
ed out the previous evening Just after
the catastrophe and who had said that
he was going to inform the police
Jacques. whose duty it was to admit Wis
itors. was likewise questioned and told
how he had admitted lust at the time of
the smashing of the mirror gentleman
who answered the description of the per
son who had soon afterward passed the
concierge. SAYING that he was going for
the police.
"He knew my name" jacques said.
"and | supposed he was one of the per.
sons invited. and when he proposed to 90
TO the layatory | Thought it was all
right"
"That was the man" the detective
said "And tho nerson who fired tho sh
was his accomplce il was very clev
er stroke of business
The concor,re didn't rn,nember having
seen the man who nasscd o,t entcr Inv
the gate Tho man who frcd the sbnt
might have antnrnd tho proupds Inv tbn
gate. bnt be certoirlv lid not lsavn tbot
wav, os M ono nosscd ofter rho f,.;ng NJ
tbe shot ovcept tho m,p ,Irasdv do
scribed and Charles Grotrv
Tho orornds woro NOT oyte,sive There
was vorv bigb u.,u covo,od With fo.
liage near the SPOT where the man who
did the deed must have stood. rs the bal
passed djagonally from the window to