New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-08
Paris. October 26


Information gathered BY the Criminal Investi-
cation Department concerning the double mur-
der at Aix-les- Bains last September Of Eugene
Fougere. a concert hall actress and her maid
servant reveals an alarming departure in the
methods OF robbery and homicide. Consterna-
ton now prevails among the large and afiuent
classes Of theatrical women and professional
beauties who frequently convert their fortunes.
for convenient keeping or for personal adorn-
rnent, into jewels Of rare value The new type
Of assassin-robber is a man Of progressing.
fashionable appearances. Of liberal education and
Intelligence. who takes part in the manual OF
mechanical functions Of the actual killing. but
who confines himself solely 10 the brain work Of
the enterprise It is the master mind that con-
ceives and plots the crime planned and regu-
lated down to the uinutest details. but the ex-
ecution Of which is condded to men or women
Of the lower ranks Of criminals so nurner-
Gus in Paris. There are to-day thousands
of unemployed workmen who are eager
to undertake Job OF this description
as were the rrercenary soldiers who in the
rough-and-tunble days OF the fifteenth century
caused so much trouble under the lead OF the
condottiert- Indeed. the system Of the condot-
teri has its counterpart IN the twentieth cen
fury organization OF the criminal bands that
have become so dangerous In Paris. and which
III Lepine. head Of the French police. and his
assistants have determined to suppress Il
appears that three-fourths Of the successful
robberies committed in the French capital are
due to the conception and skilful plans Of young
men OF good education, who direct operations
with precision and intelligence. just as a gen
eral plans and controls the movements Of his
troops in a campaign The police records show
that there are hundreds Of young men OF re
spectacle birth who have failed 70 withstand
the temptations Of Partisan life and. cast aside
by family and friends. swell the ever increasing
criminal population. ard have become the con-
dottiert OF the mercenary "aDaches' Of Mont
Inartre, Montparnasse OF La Nilette-
A striking example OF the advanced intel
lectualty Of the professional criminals OF Paris
is presented BY the Aix-les-Bains murder. which,
according TO the evidence collected by the Grim
inal Investigation Department was conceived
and planned by an accomplished. we'll educated
youth named Henri BassOt- II is needless 70
recount the grewso-ne details OF the sensa-
tionaI double murder committed at che Iuxu-
rious Villa SoIns. at Atx-les-Bains. on the night
Of September 10. The mere outline Of the bust
ness will show what an extraordinary part was
taken by the mild hammered. gentlernanly Grim
inaI, who according TO French law. can only be
proceeded against as mere acconplice who
took no part in the killing. The facts as adducet
genie FOugere. an ex-c0nCert hall actress, not
to be COMPOUNDED with artist Of the same
name who once had considerable success IN
Paris and New-YOrk made herself conspicuous
IN certain public resorts by her rich gowns and
jewels. During the season at Aix-les-Bains.
Eugene FOugere put in a dazzling appearance
at the bacCarat table. and around this brilliant
butterfly futtered many admirers. among whom
were several Americans well known at the
fashionable water cure OF French Savoy. The
young Henri Bassot early IN June visited AK
and it occurred 20 him that Il would not be q
difficult feat TO organize a grand robbery He
arranged with an ex-professiOnaI beauty OF
mature age named Victorine Giriat, COM
monty known as the 'Nubienne." who had in
former days been a friend Of Eugene Fougere.
70 seek the position Of saIaried companion with
the brilliant and generous concert hall singer.
IN six weeks the Giriat woman was duly in
stalled the Villa SOms- Henri BassOt left
Aix-Ies-Baius and took up his headquarters at
vichy, where he lived comfortably with one OF
his women admirers named Marguerite Ber-
nard, alias Piersette Renaud. alias Tvonne de
Morlange. Bassot hired Jailor's apprentice
named Cesar Ladermanu, commonly called Den
Cesar de Bazan,' 10 commit the robbery and If