Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-08
from the most extraordinary man in

visit from the most extraordinary man I'm
France
The marquis was interested. Pray
continue. he begged. 'All my life L
have wondered who was really the most
remarkable man in France, you or Mon
sieur Coquelin."
Neither of us. I fear" the baron an
swered. with a smile. "The man to whom
| am alludtng is Jacques Leblun, the de-
tective.
Il have heard of him often the mar
quis said, quietly.
He is over here. the baron continued.
in connection with an affair which 1t
the time. l remember, interested me
greatly. You. marquis. probably never
read Of It. 1t is difficult to keep In touch
with the domestic affairs of other
tons. This affair. though, was. in
sense. OF worldwide interest for the peo-
pie concerned in it were OF all nation
alitfes. 1t was simply the breaking up
OF band of thieves. the most dangerous.
think. in some respects, of any that
ever f1ourished in Chris"
You interest me greatly" the marquis
murmured Pray continue
They began In small way. / be-
heve. the baron said. "A very we'll
dressed and charming woman. accom-
man, indeed, of our ancient nobility-be-
gan to frequent the night cafes of Paris,
the sort of places which flourish now III
the Montmartre district. There they
SCCIlcu " Ildht dCQudlHldHGtS Will pet-
pie from all parts of the world, young
people generally. who had money and lit
tie sense. They made acquaintances with
Russians, with Englishmen. with Ameri-
cans, and in time invited them to their
house, an old-fashioned but very fine
place in the Place Noire. Gambling to
an unlimited extent went on there. gam
bling which, without doubt. was con-
Quoted upon principles favorable to the
occupants of the house Strange stories
began to be whispered about concerning
that house in the Place Noire. People
entered 1T who were never seen to reap
pear. From it. too. as 1t eventually
nanspired, was conducted a system of
and. on the whole, 1 should imagine. i'm
mensely lucrative. The police were
warned, and the whole locality was under
constant surveillance. And yet, so clever
before the police felt themselves justified
in raiding the place. That night attack
is well remembered in Paris. even today.
Two gendarmes were shot. but three of
the rfngleaders were arrested. man
named Marcel. who was supposed to be
the ringleader and against whom many
things were proved, was sentenced to i'm
prisonment for life. Throughout his trial
however, he denied most emphaticaliy
that he was the actual leader OF the
Black Foxes, as they called themselves.
He denied that 1t was he who shot one
Of the gendarmes through the heart, or
tndt ne was Responsible Tor more IMAM
the conduct of the gaming part OF the
place. The police. however. were almost
unanimous against him, and the story OF
some other leader was looked upon as
myth Only this man jacques Leblun
was dissatisfied. There was a story about
man, an Englishman or an American.
think he was, who escaped in disguise
as workman, pushing piano through
the streets. Such person was certainly
seen In the vicinity that night, but was
allowed to pass. as there was nothing to
excite suspicion. A dwarf. who was usu-
ally In charge Of the piano. was there.
and q girl who sang. They were known
to the police. as all these semi-mendfcants
are. There was nothing against them. SO
they let them go through the Gordon
which had been drawn about the Place
Noire. Curiously enough, however.
neither the dwarf nor the singing girl
was ever seen in Paris again.
"A most interesting story" the mar
auis declared "You say that the man
Marcel was convicted?
(To be continued tomorrow