The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-23
BALENSI MUST
STAND TRIAL
Gees Back to France TO Answer
EmbezzIsment Charge.
MlsAPpROPRIATED S1,5oo,ooo
Arrested as He Left Prison After Serving
Sentence for Larceny E1traditlon
Has Been Granted.

Louis A. Balensi. who is in Ludlow
street Jail, must go back to France, there
to stand trial on a charge of having en-
bezzled sl56o, 900 more than six years
ago Since he fed from France he has
served four years in prison in this
country, having been convicted OF defraud
ing jewellers.
Depite his vigorous defence, the State
Department has issued extradition papers.
soon depart for France. and there ii Is
likely he will be sent TO prison for an
other long term. The authorities OF
France never gave up their pursuit Of
him. and he was arrested on their charge
as he left the prison in this country,
where he had been confined for many
years.
1t was IL years ago that Balensi form
ed La Francaise de Banque ct de Change,
In Paris. and became its general manager
at salary of s3700 a year, 10 which was
to be added 40 per cent of the profits.
He lived extraN agantIy, speculated ex-
tcnsively, wagered large sums on the
race tracks and was one of the poldest
gamblers in all france.
He disappeared about six years ago and
an Investigation OF the banks affairs, IT
! Is charged. showed he had embezzled s.
| 500 DOOR. and had. as well, taken costly
! jewelry which had been intrusted to his
| care; for many persons OF note had been
/ patrons of his bank. among them Max
| Lebaudy who had millions OF dollars. and
! who was such victim for sharpers that
| he was known as the little sugar bowl
HAD ASSUMED NAME.
| After the result of the inquiry became
| known the French authorities began to
| hunt for Balensi. but they were unable TO
| find him. Nor did they learn where he
| Was until he was arrested in this country,
| where he had been living unuer an as
sumed name. for when he lett Paris ne
J came here and went TO philadelphia.
| where, under the ndme of william A.
! Bellwood, he opened jewelers. store.
/ and IL Is said his first stock consisted OF
the gems ne had taken when ht left Paris.
! Among those from whom he purchased
goods Mas company OF TINS ci'y; siri sha
] tnat IL permitted nim 10 take, on hls own
/ mcmUrailoa. Jewery vaiued al s2TvO tie
/ and il was learned he had hypotnecated
4 IL with a pawnbroker
! lie was arrested and two indictments
were found against him In July. 1855. one
| Tor the larceny OF oiamond necklace,
! valued q >4yC0. and the other Tor the lar,
/ ceny of pair OF earrings ana snlali
/ necklace, which were valued At S2ccJ Az
! none other than Balensi, and when ne
| was brought TO trial a United states
marsha was In the court room ready to
arrest him II he went free The federal
| warrant had been issued after an invesu'
CATION in France by Gen Horace Porter
| United states Ambassador.
PLEADS GUILTY.
Tried on the first indictment. the jury
disagreed and he was placed on trial or
the second indictment lie was convict
cd and after he had been sentenced 70
imprisonment for six years he ssio n,
charge he admitted, at that time that
he uas Balensi. and that his com pany ~
Paris had lost millions Of dollars belong
ing to Us customers ns re lnsIs,eu, -. s nov wsy
saving he had lost the money IN s2ecu'
lation, and he added that the charge grew
out of a little banking and brokeraSe
company ! had founded and IN "hioh
he went To Sing Sing and from. there
60 Nanpanach rcfosmatoH, ana MS
length OF imprisonment was made 9 ilttl' @
As he left the prison he was placed under
arrest by United states marshal, ioi
the French officials had decided that no
as they were Concerned. While await.
Ing a decision ne was placed In Ludlow
street tail
lie contested every step in the the proceed e,o d
yer, David r Anthony. went to Wash.
ington. holding there was no law undei
which he might be returned 10 France
papers wsre granted ny the state derar'
meat ycsterlny As soon as the docii
ments are received here Balensl will bs
| taken back TO France.