Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1909-05-20
A REA A ! ! ..c|||'R|;|.|STO
The Tragic Career Of Pleaud, a
CobbIer of Paris.
HIS RISE TO GREAT WEALTH.

Thrown Into Jail BY Secret ersmiss,
Hs Was Left = Fortune BY = Fellow
Prisonsr-RsIsassd, His sehsms Of
Vengeance Brought Him Death.
That romantic creation of the brain
of Alexandra Dumas, THE Count OF
Monte Cristo," had a counterpart In
real life in France in the last century.
This Is the tragic story:
In 1907, when Napoleon was at the
height Of his power, Francois Picaud
was a sturdy young journeyman cob
bier Of Paris, full Of health and ami
NAL spirits and happy In the love OF
Marguerite Vigoureux, a young girl
of his own station in life. On the eve
of his marriage hidden enemies de-
nounced him to the imperial govern
ment as q spy. He was cast into pris-
on. where he remained, forgotten by
the world, for seven years.
Among his fellow prisoners was
wealthy Milanese priest, who treated
him like a son and bequeathed to him
100000 francs on deposit in the Bank
| of Amsterdam. Furthermore, this &C.
clesiastic told Picaud the secret Of
hiding place In Italy where were con
cealed Jewels to the value of 100000
francs and specie amounting to three
millions.
When the empire was overthrown In
1914 Ficaud was one Of vast uum-
Der Of political prisoners throughout
France who were given their freedom
He proceeded to gather the priests
treasure and to plan vengeance upon
bis enemies. Who they were be o1d
not know.
Disguised az an Italian priest, be sue
ceeded by bribing the least guilty Of
tho conspirators and discovering thu
entire story Of his undoing. The lead
Or In the plot he learned was one Lou
pain, who had married MaEgpel1te
vigoureux. prospered AID became the
! proprietor Of one Of the handsomest
cafes in Paris.
Picaud went to the capital and under
q suitable disguise obtained work as 9
waiter In Loupain's establishment
Fellow &c rvants there were Gutlhem
solari and Gervais Chaubard, who
with Loppain, had denopnced Picand
In 1907. The pretended waiter was
not long in bringing big vengeance to
| q contamination. Chaubard was the
i1rst victim Of hfs wrath. His body,
pierced by a knife. was found on one
Of the bridges over the Seine. Lou.
pain was disgrqced. reduced to pen
ury and 1nally stabbed to death in th tn
Tuilertes gardens. Solari was poison
ed ana dad y fFtEhtfh cony'Rl|llsailoon.:
But speedy reribytttQp overlook the
implacabls aveneer. One night Pieaud
was seized. hound and horne to N
abandoned quarry. In the darkness
terrible voice SAID:
.Picaud, what name are you passing
under now1 AGe you sttll the priest
| Ba}dtnt Or the waiter Prosper1 Yeu
| wished fpr revenge: You have sold
your,elf to TIE pow~er, Of hen, Ten
years you hays given 70 tho pursuit rs q !
three wretchea yop fhould haze spared y
Ne you dragged down to perdit1onl
The diamond BY which you bxibed me
was my destruction. killed him whe
cheated me. ! Wns arrested, condemn
ed to the galleys and escaped only
after years Of torture. Ny one thought
has been vengeance on the priest Bal
dini You are IN my power. Do you
know mel I am Antoine Allut How
much will you pay for bread and wa.
terri
Il have no money" groaned Picaud.
"You have sixteen millions, These
are my conditions: will give you
something to eat twice a day. but for
each meal you must pay me $4,000
francs"
However. the cupidity of the prison
er proved stronger than his hunger.
he underwent terrible suffering With
out any signs Of yielding until his
captor, soaded to fury at The prolong.
ed obstinacy. threw himself upon Pi.
caud and stabbed him to death.-Book-
man.