Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1911-01-27


His Own Affairs Than He Did Him
self and Proved 1t In Most Startling
and Conclusive Mann%.
The police Of Paris have always
made it a 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 to learn their
secrets The following incident, in
which the national impulse for dramat-
ic effect crops ont, will serve to Illus
trate how We'll at times they do their
work:
At the beginning of the French rev.
olution 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 be of a criminal nature.
A merchant of high respecta biity in
Bordeaux had occasion to visit Paris
upon commercial business. carrying
with him bills and money to a very
large amount On his arrival at the
gates of the French metropolis a gen.
teel 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-
Quoting you to NJ. de Sartine"
The gentleman, astonished and
alarmed at this interruption and still
more at hearing the name of the chief
inspector OF the police mentioned. de-
manded to know what NJ. de Sartine
wanted with him. adding that he had
never committed any offense against
the laws and that the police could
have no right to detain him.
The messenger declared himself ig
norant of the cause of the detention
and said that when he had conducted
him TO NJ de Sartine he should have
executed his orders. After some fur
Their 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 be seated to
his astoniShment described his port
( ma, MI fpiI him, ho
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 a number of other
circumstances which be 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 at 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 muir
dered this night" replied NJ. de Sar-
tine. Of you are a man Of courage
/ you must go to your hotel and retire
to rest at the usual hour. But be
1t be 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 to me If you do not
feel your courage sufficient to bear
you ont ! will procure some one who
will personate you and go to bed in
your stead"
The merchant. being convinced that
NJ. de Sartine's information was accu-
rate in every particular. refused to be
personated and resolved TO follow lit
orally the directions he had received
He accordingly drove tn the hotel
and went 10 bed al his HSal hour, |
o'clock. Al half past l2-the time
mentioned by NJ de Sartine-ihe door
Of his bedchamber was quietly forced
open. and three mon entered with !,
dark lantern. dageers and pistols, Tht
merchant. who pretended to be ASLEEP,
perceived one of them to be his own
servant They rifed his portmanlpaI
undiSturbed and discussed and settled
the plan nf pm tin. him TO death
Hearing all this and not knowing b.
what means he was TO be rescued tn
merchant WIS under great perturba
ton of mind during such an interya!
Of suspense
Just at the moment the villains wert
preparing to take the merchants lift
four police officers. who were conceal
ed under the bed and in the closet
rushed ont and seized the offenders ii
the very act of attempting murder ane
with the stolen property in their pos
session The law made short work G
the criminals. and the police congrati
lated the merchant on his courage an.
GOODNESS