Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-05-22

backed lady was seamstress, ana
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 room at the top of the building.
How was he to be got at? He was a
man of prodigious strength, a man who
had vowed he would never be taken
alive, man who always carried fire.
arms, ready to STAY any one who might
seek to take him.
"Such man is best taken in his bed,
M. Henri" suggested Vidocq The only
difficulty was how it was to be man
aged to take him SO.
Fossard, in spite of his being such a
desperate criminal, was bit of fop.
He used to keep bottle Of eau de
cologne in his room. That scent was
to prove his undoing 1t is not the
only occasion tldr perfume has proved
disastrous to criminals who have in
obliged in it. A few nights later, when
Fossard was in bed and fast asleep,
he was awakened by timid knock at
his door. Calling out to know what
he was disturbed for, he heard a tim
orous child's voice in reply. 1t inform
ed Fossard that the knocker was poor
little Louis, the nephew of woman
on the next floor who had been taken
very i'll and who had sent the child to
beg M. Fossard to lend her his bottle
of eau de cologne. Fossard CROPPED
round for the bottle and with it in his
hand threw open the door. Vidocq
and his helpers were on him in an in
slant.
The most terrible man in Paris
such became the description among
the dangerous classes of vidocq, now
a recognized agent of the police.
He was not regarded with favor by
members of the detective service. They
might well. indeed, look askance at a
man with such a record.
Il have never caught any criminal
who more deserved Imprisonment than
M. Vidocq," protested an indignant Of
ficer to M. Henri one day.
But Vidocq was too useful to be
hastily set aside. Never had the GRIM
inals Of Paris such bad time as they
were now enjoying with Vidocq in the
detective force.
He organized the first really efficient
detective service on the continent. The
task Of selecting twelve assistants was
conf1ded to him. vidocq chose the
majority Of them from the cleverest
thieves he knew. Those that had been
pickpockets he made wear gloves. It
was impossible for them to indulge in
their former bad habits while wearing
those fashionable articles.
Tall, of magnificent physique, with
what is known as an "open" counte-
nance, with large twinkling blue eyes
and mouth that seemed to be ever
ready to break into good natured
laughter, Vidocq was perhaps the last
man in the world to be taken for a de-
tective.
II always regretted" he declared
once, ''that my duty prevented me from
cultivating mustache, but it would be
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 he remained close shaven man
to the end of his days. Perhaps there
never was a more energetic disguiser
than Vidocq. He relied upon his 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
DISCUSSES!
He went, when he was not in dis
guise, constantly armed. A pistol lay
ready to his hand in pocket of his
handsome clothes, and dagger was
concealed in the front of his coat.
At the end OF ten years service he
retired.
The 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 private inquiry Of
| fee, and clients Of all kinds focked 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 he 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 he at last got the conviction re-
versed vidocq found himself a ruined
man.
One Of the attractions at q place of
entertainment in London years ago
was M. 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 a dozen differ.
ent men upon the stage by his marvel.
GUS quickness in changing his appear.
ance.
One day in 1857 a white haired, fee.
BILE, mumbling old man lay dying in 8
bed In the garnet of house in q
/ v,nyeo,.o t,1> ,sr usdoo,