The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-01-24
OF PARIS.
Their Methods Effective Even If
Sometimes Dramatic.
TESTING A MAN OF COURAGE.

self and Proved II In a Most Startling
and Conclusive Manner.
The police of Paris have always
made II II rule to keep closely In touch
with the criminal element. the spies
and secret officials of the department
posing as criminals among the real
criminals when necessary 10 learn their
secrets. The following incident. In
which the NATIONAL impulse for dramat-
ic effect crops out. will serve to illus.
trnte how well at times they do their
work:
AT the beginning of the French rev.
olntion the chief of the police of Paris
had upon his register the names OF no
fewer than 1000 suspected and deprav.
| ed characters whose pursuits were
known TO he of II criminal nature.
A merchant of high responsibility In
Bordeaux had occasion to visit Paris
upon commercial business. carrying
with him bills and money TO very
large amount On his arrival at the
| gates of the French metropolis u gen
tepl looking man opened the door of
the carriage and addressed him to this
effect:
"Sir. ] have been waiting for you
some time. According to my notes, you
were to arrive at this hour. and. your
person. your carriage and your port
manteau exactly answering the de.
scriptiOn ! hold in my hand. you will
permit me TO have The honor of con-
ducting you TO NJ de SaTine"
The gentleman. asionished and
alarmed AT this interruption and still
more ut herring the name of the chief
inspector OF the police mentioned. de-
manded TO know what NJ de Surtine
wanted with him. adding that he had
never committed any 0ffense against
the laws and that the police could
have no right to detaln him
The messenger. declared himself lg-
norant of the cause of the detention
and said that when he had conducted
him TO NJ de Snrtine he should have
executed his orders After some fur.
ther explanations the gentleman per
mitted the officer to conduct him to
the police official
NJ. de Sartine. the chief Of police. re-
ceived him with great pOliteness and.
after requesting him to he seated. to
his astonlshment described his port.
manteau and told him the exact
amount In bills and cash which he
had brought with him to Paris. where
he was to lodge his usual time of
going to bed and number OF other
circumstances which he had conceived
were known only to himself.
Having thus excited his attention,
NJ. de Sartine asked him:
'Sir, are you man Of courage?"
The gentleman. still more astonish.
ed mt the singularity of his interroga.
tory. demanded the reason why such
question was put to him. adding
that no man had hitherto doubted his
courage.
"Sir. you are TO be robbed and mur-
dered this night" replied NJ de Sar-
tine, "1f you are man of courage
you must go TO your hotel and retire
to rest at the usual hour. But be
cnreful not 10 fall asleep Neither will
II he proper for you TO look under Your
bed or into the closet which is In your
chamber You must place your port
manteau In its usual situation near the
bed and betray no suspicion Leave
what remains 10 me If you do not
feel your courage sufficient 10 bear
you ont | will procure some one who
VIII persOnnte you and go to bed in
your stead"
The merchant, heing convinced that
| NJ de Sartinr'S information wns accu-
rate In every particular. refused to be
| personnted and resolved To follow lit
orally the directions he had received
He accordingly drove to the hotel
and went to bed AZ his usual hour, II
O'Clock. Al half past ~ the time
mentioned by NJ de Sartine-the door
| Of his bedchamber was quietly forced
| open. and three men entered with
dark lantern daggers and pistols The
merchant who pretended to be asleep.
perceived one OF them to he his own
servant They ritlrd his porimanteau
undiStnrhed aud discussed ana settled
the plan of putting him to death,
! Hearing nil this and uol knowing by
what means he was To he rescued. the
merchant was under great perturba-
tion of mind during such an interval
of suspense
just at the moment the villains were
preparing 10 take the merchants life
four police officers. VINO were conceal.
ed under the he'd and In the closet.
rushed ont and seized the offenders IN
the very act of attempting murder ana
with the stolen property in their pos.
session. The law made short work OF
the criminals, and the police congratu-
lated the merchant ON his courage and
coolness.