The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-09-01
CRIMINALS STRANGE LUCK.
Some of Them Escape Danger in the
Queerest of Ways.
(Chicago Tribune.)

Edward Guerin, who has just had a
narrow escape from being shot, ought
to take his place in the novel of the
future among the Jack Sheppards and
Dick Turpins of story. He has twice
escaped from French prisons, on the
last occasion from the aptly named
DEVILS island, where Dreyfus spent
some frightful years. and whence es-
cape seemed impossible, so securely
protected does this Dantesque inferno
seem-On one side by the ocean and
on the other by the deadly swamps of
the mainland. Guerin, however, made
his escape not from the island, only
but from two COnviCts who accompa-
MED him, who Quarreled with him, and
who would, but for his resolution and
a revolver, have murdered him. Draw
ing the revolver, of which he had in
some way become possessed. he forced
the men to do all the rowing in the
little boat they had built together till
they reached land.
Here they separated, and Guerin
found his way to Chicago, after endur-
ing incredible privations and making
miraculous escapes. Finding Chicago
too hot to hold him, he made his way
to England, but was arrested in Leeds
at the instance of the French govern
ment, who demanded his extradition.
After more than years Imprisonment
in Brixton jail the order of his extra
dition was quashed the other day on
the ground that he was a British sub
ject, and Guerin found himself a free
man to his own bewilderment He
stood for some minutes dazed and
speechless. and then said TO his So
licitOr, who was leading him away,
Let me go for a moment: let me go.
I am freel What shall ! do? 1 must
hi 7 fnI
for a ride somewhere on an omnibus,
and come back to you later" This he
was enabled to do by the present of 81
thrust into his hand by a sympathiz-
ing bystander.
The quarrel between Guerin and his
two convict companions recalls q story
of that Incompatible scoundreI, Car
touche. After he and two confederates
had held up all the passengers on a
packet and robbed them of everything,
they adjourned to quiet spot to di-
vide the spoiis. '1 say" whispered
Cartouche to one of the two robbers,
there isn't much, after ALL when di-
vided by three, Ell? If your pistol
should go off by accident in the neigh
borhood of Adolphe's ear there would
be something worth while for each of
u.s." Pierre, on this hint. blew
sAdoIphe's brains out, to the virtuous
w
he cried, murder your comrade for a
few louis! Die. dog. as you deservep
blowing Pierre's brains out, and thus
apprOpriating all the spoil.
In his "Romances of Real Life"
Leigh Hunt recalls an uncomfortable
swindie of which a London baker was
the victim. A lodger whom he had
taken i'm informed the baker that he
came from Banbury. ''Banburyi Why.
then, you must know of the great Mr..
Wickham." Il am Mr.. Wickham," re-
piled the lodger. Il have come up to
London incognito in order to arrest a
merchant who owes me a large sum of
money and who is about to abscond"
The baker, who had come in his boy
hood from BanbUry, was overwhelmed
by the honor Of having such a lodger,
and yet more overwh elmed by the con-
descension of the great Mr.. Wickham
borrowing $1,000 from him until his
luggage, which had strayed. came to
hand. Shortly after the great Mr..
Wickham was struck down with sud- |
den and mortal illness. and the anx-
ious baker called in doctors and nurses !
to attend him.
When death was imminent the great |