Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-29
HUMBERTS IN PARIS
Noted Swindlers Landed I'M
the Conciergerie.
NO DEM ONSTRATIONd
PRISONERS WERE BROUGHT mn
VERY QUIETLY.
Their Arrests Have Stirred Up5
France Like the Dreyfus
Scandal.
NO DEM ONSTRATION1

PARIS, December 29.-The members OF
the Humbert family, who were recently ars
rested In Madrid in connection with th0s
great safe frauds in this city, arrived at
the Orleans railroad station here at 7:4O
O'Clock this morning. There was no demons
stration. The prisoners were conducted to
the Conciergerie prison.
The arrival Of the fugitives was devoid Of
sensational incidents. as the French police
had chosen an hour for their return here
when Paris was only half awake. The
crowd at the railroad station was compara~
lively small, but large force of police and
soldiers, mounted and on foot, was drawn
up in front Of the station and guarded all
the street approaches in order to prevent
the possibility OF a popular demonstration.
A number Of the chief functionaries Of the
prefecture were on hand to personally su~
perintend the prisoners arrival
Men and Women Separated.
The men and women of the Humbert par.
ty were kept separate during the trip from
Madrid to Paris and they were brought
from the train in two separate parties The
women came first, leaning on the arms Of
officers. Madame Humbert was dressed 10
black and was veiled, but she was readily
recognized by her stout figure. Her young
daughter, Eva, was the most pathetic-looka
ing of the women. Madame Humbert waa
followed by her sister Marie, who did not
show the bravado she exhibited at Madrid.
but was pale and appeared dlsconsolates
Frederick Humbert Madame Humbert'4
husband, looked completely broken down.
Roman d'Aurignac and his wife Emile,
maintained the calm, defiant attitude they
had shown throughout. NJ. dAurgnac still
wore a Spanish beard, which had served
him as disguise.
The party passed through double lines Of
police to the carriages in waiting. Detach-
ments of mounted police officers surrounded
the vehicles, which were driven at a rat~
ting pace through the gathering crowds to
the conciergerie, where minute preparations
had been made to receive the prisoners.
Country Much Excited.
The return of the Humberts to Paris is ,
the absorbing topic for discussion through
out the city-indeed, throughout France. az
no event since the return of Dreyfus has
aroused such intense interest. All ciasse6
of society are equally interested as the
Humberts' operations were so colossal and
so interviewer with some of the foremost
personages in France that their return was
viewed with apprehension. Crowds from
all parts Of the city were ready to assem-
BILE at the station and give the prisoners @
police baf1ed the plans OF the mobs and
permitted the Humberts to be landed sis
lenty and swiftly inside the gray walled
Conciergerie
The public had doubted the sincerity Of
the government in ever attempting to bring
back the fugitives. owing to the political |
and social shock which was sure to fob
low, but the arrival Of the prisoners is noW
generally accepted as showing the purpose
OF the authorities to spare no means fo1
the prosecution and punishment of the a0i
cused. The plans for the prosecution o4
the Humberts have not yet been announced
Owing to the belief Of the authorities that 4
Eva Humbert was the innocent victim Of
her mothers operations tney proposed to
intrust her to the custody of her grand.
mother Madame Gustave Humbert widow
of the former minister of justice In the De
Freycinet cabinet. but Mile. Eva posi- |
lively declined the proposal, declaring her
purpose to remain with her mother i'd
prison. The attitude of the girl eXeitee I
universal sympathy.
Later in the day Eva Humbert was given
in charge of her grandmother who preN
vailed upon the child to accompany her to |
her home.
The judge during the day interrogatedi
Roman q Aurignac and other members OH
the family. This was confined to questions
Of identity. The judges did not enter upon !,
the merits of the case as Nine Humberf
and the other chief figures were too oveHn l
come with excitement and fatigue. Mme /
Humbert complained of feeling sick and q !
doctor was hastily summoned, but he said
there was nothing serious in her condition.
The police continue their strict precaus /
tiols against the possibilities of sui icide. /
destruction was taken from the prisoners.