Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1911-03-09
POLICE OF PARIS.
Their Methods Effective Even II
Sometimes Dramatic.
TESTING A MAN OF COURAGE.
The Secret Service Knew More About
His Own Affairs Than He Did Him
self and Proved II In a Most Startling
and Conclusive Manner.


self and Proved It In Most Startling
and Conclusive Manner.
The police of Paris have always
made 1t 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 out. will serve to Illus
trate how well 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 respectable 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 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 Saytine"
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 liz
norant of the cause of the detention
and said that when he had conducted
him to M. 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
M. de Sartine, the chief Of police. re
ceived him with great politeness and.
after requesting him to be seated. to
his establishment 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 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 "If you are man of courage
you must go to your hotel and retire
to rest at the usual hour But be
careful not to fall asleep. Neither will
It 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 beal
you out ! will procure some one wht
will personate you and go to bed II
your stead"
The merchant. being convinced tina
NJ. de Sartine's information was accu
rate in every particular. refused to b.
personated and resolved to follow lit
orally the directions he had received
He accordingly drove to the hote
and went to bed al his usual hour. l
O'Clock. At half past l2-the tim,
mentioned by NJ de Sartine-the doc
of his bedchamber was quietly forced
open. and three men entered with
dark lantern. daggers and pistols. Tn
merchant. who pretended to be asleeI
perceived one of them to be his ow.
servant They ritled his portmantea
undisturbed and discussed and settle,
the plan OF putting him to death
Hearing all this and not knowing b
what means he was to be rescued, tn
merchant WAS under great perturba
ton of mind during such an interva
of suspense
just at the moment the villains wer
preparing to take the merchants lif
four police officers. who were concea
ed under the bed and in the close
rushed out and seized the offenders |
the very act of attempting murder an
with the stolen property in their po
session. The law made short work {
the criminals. and the police congrat,
lated the merchant on his courage an
GOODNESS.
An Excellent Reason.
H.