The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1909-06-04

one of which would have killed him. The untortu-
nate man had been stripped of all money jewel
'ry and other valuables.
Les Apaches," said the police, stolidly. He
should have known better than to go proving
about alone at night" And in the police records
another murder was put on the score OF the
thugs of the gay capital"
Paris is not proud of her Apaches, and the rest
of the world has known little of these criminal
bands, though theater-goers in many American
cities during the last season were given a glimpse
of one phase of their life in the skillful but re-
voting Apache dance"imported from the French
music halls. Yet the story of the origin, de-
H~elopment and deeds of these outlaw gangs is
Fascinating, if not edifying.
Nearly ten years ago there appeared suddenly
In the underworld of Paris a young woman so
beautiful and animated that she at once attract
ed general attention and admiration among it's
other denizens. Her head was crowned with a
great mass of lovely reddish-gold hair, on &C.
D. count of which she was promptly nicknamed
'''Casque dor" or Golden Helmet" Suitors
quickly hocked about the girl and in time she
selected from among them as her protector one
Lecat, known among his comrades as a clever
thief and a bold fighter whom the police would
be glad TO have behind the bars.
All went well for a time, until there came on
the scene a more attractive scoundrel, named
Manda. Pretty, tickle Golden Helmet promptly
transferred her affections to the newcomer, and
then the trouble began. Lecat, the forsaken,
vowed vengeance on his successful rival and
summoned his followers to his aid. Manda also
had no lack of friends, and soon all the thugs in
the district of the Halles or markets had ranged
themselves on one side or the other. Many a
bloody battle was fought in the streets between
the two bands, cheered on by their female friends,
and not a few men were slain in these conflicts.
FINALLY in one of the fiercest of the encounters
Lecat himself was killed, and Golden Helmet
shouted aloud in Joy. But her triumph was
sshortlived. Another leader for Lecat's band,
known as lie Manchot," sprang up and the
feud was continued with increased fury. One
night lie Manchot caught Manda off his guard
and plunged a knife deep into his back, and
for weeks the stricken leader lay in hospital near
to death. He recovered at last and was being
taken in an ambulance to a cell when the blood
thirsty lie Manchot, seeing his victim escaping
from his vengeance, broke through the police
guard, leaped into the vehicle and stabbed Man
da TO death. For this murder lie Manchot is now
serving a life sentence.
Golden Helmet, made notorious by the success
sion of battles and crimes which her attractions
had instigated, now sought other conquests, and
decided that the drama was her forte. Only the
Intervention of the police prevented her e~xploita-
ton by an INSCRIPTIONS variety hall manager.
Golden Helmet then speedily sank out of sight,
but the rivalry for her favor had lasting results.
Always the Apaches have one queen" whose
rule over them is absolute il temporary. one
of the most notoriouso of these was "Chifonnette,'
who reigned last year. She was % years old,
sall and graceful, and would have been a beauty