The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-04-19

you tn possession OF the secrets OF hall
the criminals III Parls"
The otfer was tempting one, FOL
the Partisan police were then batllet
BY criminals Of all descriptions, and
parisians were crying out for NOR,
efficient guardians,
I'VE viii see replied the official,
A short time later vldocq found him,
self IN prison, condemned to serve d
sentence OF eight years, But that mis-.
erah,e convict sentenced to that terri
Bile sentence was really d police spy,
He was popular with the other con-
victs and learned All their secrets,
Each night he used in his cell to write
out nm account OF the discoveries he
had made during the day, The report
was dispatched 10 the chief OF the 20.
lice and proved remarkably useful.
One day the criminal world OF Paris
was amazed and joyful over the mar.
velous escape Of vidocq from prison.
They received him with open arms.
Az a matter OF fact, the authorities
had come to the conclusion that vidocq
could be much more useful to them
outside than In that grim place. His
escape had all been planned. vidocq
returned 70 his associates as q hero.
In fact. he was spy--a spy with the
keenest eyes, the most alert ears. the
most subtle brain. TO learn all the VII
lainy going.
II was wonderful what III luck be-
gan henceforth to dog the criminals
Of Paris. All their plans came In some
mysterious manner to the ears OF the
police. Was II vidocq who betrayed
them? Some Of them were so con.
vinced Of II that at last vidocq found
II necessary to disguise himself and
act the part among them Of a new
hand In crime. consummate master
Of disguise. he went among them. still
unsuspected. In his new role.
He was certainly one Of the most
useful fellows that the police had ever
had as an ally.
"Vidocq," said NJ. Henri to him one
day, I'VE must find that fellow Fos-
sard. the man who has escaped from
the prison at Brest. He Is in Paris,
hiding somewhere. His lodging Is In
house In a bystreet near to market
place. And there are yellow silk cur.
tai1is to the window of his room. In
the same house there lives a woman
with a bumped back. That Is all I can
tell you about the fellow-all have
been able to learn"
1t was vague clew to work on.
vihocq. anxious to distinguish himself.
vet on. A window with yellow cur
.ains, a woman with a bumped back!
For weeks he walked about Paris
searching for such window In a
house In which lived such q female.
He found It at last The hump
backed lady was a seamstress, and
vidocq made himself SO agreeable to
her that he quickly learned all about
the dodgers In the building. Fossard--
Under another name, Of course -tenant-
ed a room at the top Of the buildiso,
How was he to be got at? He was q
man Of prodigious strength, a man who
had vowed he would never be taken
alive. a man who always carried fire.
arms. ready TO slay any one who might
seek to take him.
Such man Is best taken In his bed.
N. Henri" suggested vidocq. The only
ilfficulty was how 1t was to be man |
lged to take him so.
Fossard, 10 spite Of his being such a |
desperate criminal. was a bit Of fop. |
lie used to keep bottle OF eau de |
cologne in his room. That scent was
o prove his undoing. 1t is not the |
,nly occasion that perfume has proved |
disastrous to criminals who have In
lnlged In Il. A few nights later. when
fossard was In bed and fast asleep. |
le was awakened by a timid knock al
lis door. Calling out to know what
le was disturbed for. he heard tim
'rous child's voice in reply. 1t inform.
d Fossard that the knocker was poor
little Louis, the nephew of woman
m the next floor who had been takcn
cry Ill and who had sent the child to
veg NJ. Fossard to lend her his bottle
4 eau de cologne. Fossard groped
ound for the bottle and with 1t In his
and threw open the door, Vidocq
nd bis helpers were on him In an In
tant.
THE most terrible man In Paris
uch became the description among