Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-02-07
POLICE OF PARIS.
Their Methods Effective Even if
Sometimes Dramatic.
TESTING A MAN OF COURAGE.

The seerst Service Knew More About
HE Own Affairs Than He Did Him.
self and Proved Il In a Most Startling
and Conclusive Manner.
The police Of Paris have always
made 1t rule to keep closely in touct
With the criminal element, the spie.
and secret officials Of the department
posing AZ 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 1900 suspected and deprav.
ed characters whose pursuits were
known to be Of criminal nature.
A 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 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 viii
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 be 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.
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. bis 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,
N. de Sartine asked him:
"eir. are you man of courage?'
The gentleman. still more astpnfsh.
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 bis
"Sir. you are to be robbed and mur.
dered this night" replied NJ. de Sar-
tine. III 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 |
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 I will procure some one who
will personate you and 60 to bed in
your stead"
The merchant, being convinced that
II. de Sartine's Information was accu.
rate In every particular, refused to be
and resolved to follow lit.
orally the directions be had roceived.
He accordingly drove to the hotel
md vent fo hofl NJ his ,,snoi hon. 4,