The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1911-02-01
POLICE OF PARIS.
Their Methods Effective Even if
Sometimes Dramatic.
TESTING A MAN OF COURAGE.

His Own Affairs Than He Did Him
self and Proved It In a Most Startling
and Conclusive Manner.
The police Of Paris have always
made it Ii rule to keep closely in touc!!
with the criminal element the spies
and secret officials of the department
posing as criminals among the rea!
criminals when necessary to learn tleil
secrets. The following incident, in
which the national impulse for dramat.
ic effect crops out, will serve to ili;s.
trate how well at times they do theil
work:
At the beginning Of the French rev
olution the chief Of the police of Paris
had upon his register the names OF ne
fewer than 1000 suspected and deprav.
ed characters whose pursuits were
known to be of criminal nature.
A merchant of high rcspecta bilty 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. l 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 l hold in my hand you will
permit me to have the honor of con
Quoting you to NJ. de Sartne.'
The gentleman, astonshed 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 Snrtine
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 il
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
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 be seated. to
his establishment described his port
mantcau 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 a 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 a man of courage"
The gentleman, still more astOnish-
ed at the singularity of his interroga
tory demanded the reason why such
a question was put to him, addin"
that no man had hitherto doubted hie
courage.
''Sir. you are to be robbed and muir
dnred this night" replied NJ de Sar
tine. "If you are a 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 yoH,
chamber. You must place your port
manteau in it's usual situation near the
bed and betray no suspicion. Leave
what remains to me. If you do no;
feel your courage sufficient to bcar
YOU out ] will procure some one who
will persOnate you and go to bed in
your stead"
The merchant, being convinced thai
NJ. de Sartine's information was aeon
rate in every particular. refused to h'
perSonated and resolved to follow Ii;
orally the directions he had received.
He accordingly drove to the hotel
and went to bed at his usual hour II
o'clock At half past 12-the tim"
mentioned by NJ de Sartine--the door
Of his bedchamber was quietly forced
open, and three men entered with Il
dark lantern, daggers and pistols. tn"
merchant. who pretended to be asIee.,.
perceived one Of them to be his OWL
servant. They rhed his portmant"a;:
undisturbed and discussed and settled
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 perturbn.
ton Of mind during such an intcrv..'
Of suspense.
just at the moment the villains WEI.
preparing to take the merchants lif.
four police officers. who were conceal
ed under the bed and in the closet
rushed out and seized the offenders IL
the very act of attempting murder an,
with the stolen property in their pos
session. The law made short work o,
the criminals. and the police con%ratu
lated the merchant on his courage ant
cOolneSS.
An Excellent Reason
You girls are beyond NE said the
fat her aS ha Iin,I thn r;I',.,n nf his