The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-03-03
LONG LIST OF CRIMES SLOWLY
COMING TO LIGHT.
TERRIBLE DEEDS OF DEMONS
Leader Committed his First Burglary
on his Wedding Day when 20
Years Of Age-Beine Sue.
eessful, has Continued.

Paris Mar. Full particulars re
garding the startling exploits of
band of thieN'-. who murttned a
hundred and who terrorized the de.
partment of the Nord and certain dis.
tricts Of Belgium for several years,
are slowly coming to light These
thieves have committed more than
thousand crimes. They began by op-
Grating In hamlets and becoming
bolder, penetrated into villages. In
numerous cases murder accompanied
their pillaging The revelations show
that they committed crime almost
every day for the last seven years.
Their plan Of operation was to sci.
ect a house In a remote parish. Hav-
ing effected an entrance. they would
gag and bind the inmates aud ran.
sack the house from top to bottom.
In several instances the occupants
were discovered next day, mutilated
In barbarous fashion. Seized with
terror the inhabitants of many villa.
ges spplied to the police authorities
for protection. Police and gendarmes
could not be found At last NJ Men
yon, who now occupies an important
position on the detective force, was
employed to run down the criminals
For some hime, however, so perfect
Iy were the thieves organized, that
they outwitted him.
Some weeks ago suspicion fell on
three men belonging to Hazerbrouck,
who were known as smugglers. They
were closely watched and evidence
obtained showing that they were com
nected with a horrible murder com
mitted at Violaines in January of last
year. The three men, of who two
August and Abel Pollette-were bro.
Ithers, were arrested in their homes.
The arrest of the three men was fol
lowed by an inquiry, which led to the
discovery that they belonged to a
band OF thieves. At the present mo
ment fifty members Of the band are
under lock and key.
Abel Pollette is the leader of the
gang. Several OF his lieutenants are
said to be responsible for three hun
Idred crimes. To the band were at
tached numerous agents. who acted
as receivers and persons who nego-
tiated the stolen property. One of
the latter, it is said is the owner Of
fifteen houses and possesses a for
tune of several hundred thousand
of francs.
Abel Pollette is described as a YER
liable Cartouche. lie Is "a years
old and was born in the village of
IVieuxberquy. He was always first
, in his class but when It came to max
ing communion. he startled the whole
village by robblng grocery shop
and was sentenced to three months
imprisonment When he left prison
he was employed by cattle dealer
and became familiar with the dis
trict of the Nord and the Pas de Ca
lais He got to know the houses OF
wealthy people and fifteen years hat
er turned his knowledge to good ac
count, so most of the customers OF
, his former employers received a visit
from his band.
, Returning to Vieuxberquy after 9
weeks Imprisonment for stealing {
ring from the cattle dealer, he became
associated with his brother. Angus
> as a smuggler. Every evening th'
: brothers stepped over the Belgian
frontier and brought packages of cof
. fec rnd provisions TO France. Abe
Poliette added to his profession o
' smuggling that of fishing and th'
Ipoultry fouges of the district suffer
at his hands. He married when h
was a little over 20 years old and OF
d his wedding day committed his frs
burglary In the company OF his bro
r ther The coup was brought of 81
! successfully that he resolved to con
l. fine his energies to thieying alone
Other burglaries followed in quici
succession. More thieves Joined thu
brothers Pollette and Abel ultimatel!
= became the chief Of the band.
The authorities will try to hav'
? the leaders tried at once and execut