New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-28
CRIMINAL BANDS IN PARIS,
Continued from Ninth Page.

nous thieves den the Place Maubert,
known as LIE Pere Lunette." lie Pere Humbert
is a long haired, rather dirty parsonage nearly
seventy years old. Interviewed by a reporter Of
lie Journal" he expressed his regret at the
youthfuness of the criminals of the day. He
declared that everything now done by syn
dicates, and that opportunities for valuable
coups' were studied out by several partners in
the special operation assigned them by the chief
Of the band. "All the cracksnen seem to have
learned to read and write and where all this
education will lead US Heaven only knows, Any
how, the good old days are over"
1t is interesting to note that in the last five
years almost all the audaciousIy planned rob-
berries in Paris such that of the American
Express Company and of the jewellers shop in
the Rue de la Paix, We're accomplished by for
eigners The waylaying and robbing beIated
wayfarers at nightfaIl in the streets of Paris.
and the numerous instances of 'cambriolage,'' or
burglary rich apartment houses in the alb
sence of the tenants. the only crimes that
show anything like marked increase in Paris,
and these almost invariably perpetrated by
Parsians of from sixteen to twenty years Of
age aided by their female accomplices who Of
ten by means of stolen references obtain en-
trance to fashionable intelligence offices and Sc
cure employment as ladies' maids or servant
girls.
:
In an American family. The wife OF a well
known Baltimore business man, temporarily re-
siding near the Avenue de Bots du Boulogne, en-
ragged a highly intelligent and comely maid to
look after her children. The certificates and ref
erences were perfect The maid. whose name
was Marie, seemed 10 be invaluable, and was
SPOKEN OF by her Baltmorean mistress as "a
perfect treasure" The children became devoted
to her ono day Marie fell seriously ILL., The
kind hearted Baltimore woman took care Of her
as if she had been her own daughter She was
in bed for q fortnight, and as soon as she was
strong enough to walk across the room appealed
with tears in her eyes to her mistress TO send
her away at once. "Why?' oh l can't tell
you, madame. but only send me away as quick
" as possibIe." The Baltimore woman insisted.
Finally Marie explained that the references and
been stolen: that she belonged to a hand Of.
to take Impressions in wax Of all the locks in
! her mstress's apartment and 10 furnish her
arCompllcrs with 4 detailed description Of the
f Hat and OF the habits Of the members OF the
family. Marie said: Madame you have been
kind 10 fn--l feel that You have saved my life
/ ~ your care and attention, and by the medical
attendance You procured for me during my ill
F u-~S-t THAT can never do YOU harm. / tell you
this, hut h-se"ch You to discharge me at once,
tccauS" if / remain in your employment and fail
. to carry out my promise the members of thi
band t. which l belong viii kill They ara
bound 10 DO So 10y the rules Of our asSOcia ton"
After this singular confession the Baltimore
woman consulted with her husband. and il VA
/ decided that on the whole. the best COURSE
was simply 10 discharge Marie. which they
did. This instance illustrates the perfectot!
that the now criminal syndicates or trusts
have attained in Paris. c. / 3.