The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1911-02-02
POLIC OF / ARTS.
Their Methods Effective Even if
Sometimes Dramatic.
TESTING A MAN OF COURAGE.
The Secret Service Knew More About
His Own Affairs Than He Did Him
self and Proved It In a Most Startling
and Conclusive Manner. -.

Inc ponce 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 out, 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 criminal nature.
merchant Of high responsibility 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 M. 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 M. 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.
M. 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.
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 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
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 M. de Sar-
tine. eff 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 your
chamber You must place your port
manteau in it's usual situation near the
ped and betray no suspicion Leave
"hat remains to me. If you do not
feel your courage sufficient to bear
you out ! will procure some one who
will personate you and go to bed in
your stead''
Ihe merchant, being convinced that
M. 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 to the hotel
and went to bed at his usual hour, II
O'Clock. At half past 12-the time
mentioned by NJ. de Sartine-the door
OF his bedchamber was quietly forced
open' and three men entered with a
dark lantern, daggers and pistols. The
merchant. who pretended to be asleep,
perceived one Of them to be his own
servant. They rif1ed his portmanteau
undisturbed and discussed and settled
the plan of putting him to death.
Hearing all this and not knowing nv
what means he was to be rescued, the
merchant was under great perturba-
ton of mind during such an interval
of suspense.
Just at the moment the villains were
preparing to take the merchants life
four police officers, who were conceal
ed under the bed and in the closet,
rushed out and seized the offenders in
the very act Of attempting murder and
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
GOODNESS.