The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1909-04-09
A REAL MONTE CRISTO
The Tragic Career of PiCaud, a
CobbIer OF Paris.
HIS RISE TO GREAT WEALTH.
Thrown Into Jail by Secret Enemies,
He Was Left a Fortune by aFellow
Prisoner-Released. His Scheme Of
VENGEANCE Brought Him Death.

That romantic creation of the brair
Of Alexandra Dumas, THE Count ol
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, 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 a 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 ec-
clesiastic told Plcaud 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 a vast mum
ber Of political prisoners throughout
France who were given their freedom
He proceeded to gather the priests
treasure and to plan vengeance upon
his enemies. Who they were he did
not know.
Disguised as an italian priest, he sue
ceeded by briblng the least guilty of
the conspirators and discovering the
entire story Of his undoing The lead
er in the plot he learned was one Lou
pain, who had married Marguerite
Vigoureux, prospered and become the
proprietor Of one of the handsomest
cafes in Paris.
Picaud went to the capital and under
a suitable disguise obtained work as a
waiter in Loupaln's establishment
Fellow servants there were Guilhem
Solari and Gervals Chaubard, who
with Loupain. had denounced Picaud
In 1907. The pretended waiter was
not long I'm bringing his vengeance to
consummation. Chaubard was the
first victim OF his wrath. His body,
pierced by a knife, was found on one
Of the bridges over the Seine. Lou
pain was disgraced, reduced TO pen.
ury and finally stabbed TO death in the
Tuileries gardens. Solari was poison. |
ed and died in frightful convulsions.
But speedy retribution overlook the |
implacable avenger. One night Picaud !
was seized, bound and borne to an
abandoned quarry. In the darkness a
terrible voice sald
"Picaud, what name are you passing
under nOw2 Are you still the priest
Baldini or the waiter Prosper? You
wished for revenge. You have sold
to the powers Of hell Ten
years you have given to the pursuit of
three wretches you should have spared
Me you dragged down to perditlon.
The diamond by which you bribed me
was my destruction. | killed him who
cheated me. / was arrested, condemn.
I'd TO the galleys and escaped only
lfter years OF torture. My one thought
las been vengeance on the priest Bal.
lini. You are in my power Do you
,now me? am Antoine Allut. How
much will you pay for bread and wa.
erT
81 have no money" groaned Picaud
you have sixteen millions. These
re my conditions: ! will give you
omething TO eat twice a day, but for
ach meal you must pay me 25.OOO
rancs."
However, the cupidity OF the prison.
r proved stronger than his hunger
Ie underwent terrible suffering with
ut any signs Of yielding untl his
aptor, goaded to fury at the prolong.
d obstinacy, threw himself upon ri
aud and stabbed him to death.-Book
nan.