The Columbus journal., 1911-02-01

II Methods Effective Even If
Sometimes Dramatic.


I{YChe police Of Paris have always
made It q rule to keep closely I'm touch
With the criminal element, the spies
aud secret officials Of the department
posing Al criminals among the real
criminals when necessary to learn their
serets The following incident. in
which the national impulse for dramat-
fc effect crops out. will serve to Illus
trate how well ut 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.
A merchant of high respectability 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 gen.
teeI looking man opened the door Of
the carriage and addressed him to this
effect:
''Sir, I 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 I 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 n. de Sartine he should have
executed his orders. After some fur
Their explanations the gentleman per
United the officer to conduct him to
the police Official
N. de Sartine. the chief Of police. re-
ceived him with great politeness and.
after requesting him to be seated. to
his establishment described bis 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.
II. 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, adding
that no man had hitherto doubted his
courage.
Sir. you are to be robbed and muir.
dered this night" replied N. de Sar-
tine IF you are a man Of courage
you must 60 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. II you do not
feel your courage sufficient to bear
you out ! will procure some one who
will personate you and 60 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 to the hotel
and went to he'd at his usual hour. IL
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 rifled his pOrtmanteau
undisturbed and discussed and settled
the plan OF putting him to death.
Hearing all this and not knowing by
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 aud 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
coolnesA