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


a recognized agent OF the police.
He was not regarded with favor b,
members OF the detective service, They
might well, indeed. look askance at /
man with such record
u have never caught any criminal
who more deserved Imprisonment thar
N, yldocq.' protested an indignant of
iccr 10 NJ. Henri one day,
But vidocq was too useful 10 b.
hastily set aside. Never had the crlm
inals Of Paris such n bad tlnic az they
were now enjoying with vidocQ IN Tho
detective force.
He organized the 1rst really efficient
detective service on the continent The
task or selecting twelve assistants wns
contldcd 70 him, vidocQ chose the
majority OF them from tho clcyeresi
thieves no knew. Those that had been
pickpockets he made wear gloves. II
was impossible for them TO indulge IN
their foxmer bad habits while wearing
those fashionable articles,
Tai. OF magnificent physique, with
what is known as an 'open' counte-
nance, with large twinkling blue eyes
and a mouth that seemed to be ever
ready 10 break into good natured
laughter, vidocq was perhaps tho last
man In the world to be taken for a de-
tective.
II always regretted" he declared
once. shat my duty prevented me from
cultivating mustache. but II would be
a sad hindrance to my Disgusting my.
self. | had to give the idea up. Grim.
inals would have got to know that mus.
tache OF mine"
So be remained close shaven man
to the end Of his days. Perhaps there
never was q more energetic disguiser
than vidocQ. He relied upon bis mar
velous facility In making up to utterly
bewilder the professional criminals he
had to deal with.
In one days hard work he assumed
no fewer than twelve wholly distinct
disguisesl
He went when he was not In dis.
guise. constantly armed. A pistol lay
ready to his hand In a pocket Of his
handsome clothes. and q dagger was
concealed In the front Of bis coat.
At the end Of ten years service he
retired.
Tho news spread all over Paris. vi.
docq, who had made the police OF Paris
more feared than they had ever been
before. was actually In the hands Of
the police!
He had after his retirement from the
force established a private inquiry Of
fee. and clients OF all kinds locked TO
him. Then he opened an agency for
the protection Of shopkeepers and mer-
chants against fraudulent customers.
He had as many as 5000 customers on
his books when the police arrested
him. and be was now accused Of hav.
Ing In many cases become the ally Of
the very people from whom he was
supposed to be protecting his custom
ers. He was found guilty and sen-
fenced to eight years Imprisonment.
When be at last got the conviction re-
versed Vidocq found himself a ruined
man.
One Of the attractions at a place OF
entertainment In London years ago
was NJ. Vidocq. The great detective
had taken to the stage! Enormous au.
diences came to see the strange man.
who related his extraordinary expert.
ences and seemed like q dozen differ.
ent men upon the stage by bis marvel-
Gus quickness in changing his appear
ance.
One day In 1857 white haired. fee
BILE, mumbling old man lay dying In a
bed In the garret of house In a
Paris street. lie was vidocq.
the marvellous detective. Helpless. In
poverty dependent on the charity Of
friends. the once terrible man lay there |
waiting the approach OF death. ALL
most his last word. according to one |
who attended on him. were. "You are |
my prisoner. London Tit-Bits.