Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1912-04-24

OF the male hotel rats who were scat
tered or rounded up with Countess
Manola and Baron Frandin at Nice in
1908. Previously they had made a
trip to Algiers. where a well.known
American millionaire went to bed.
locked aud bolted his door, heard
nothing in the night, and awoke be-
reaved Of rings. studs. buttons and
chains worth $4,000 and $4,000 cash.
In any case, one night at Nice In.
spectors Henic, Benoit and their men
smashed in two bedroom doors. flash
ed lights and discovered Monsieur
Bawer In black tights, rubber band
over his mouth, stiletto and eelskin
at his belt, filling a black silk sack
with jewels and money. The man they
belonged to snored on peacefully. His
face looked queerly pink and white
Quickly Benoit pulled the face OFF,
1t was chloroform mask. most reck
less and brutal death risk In q near
by bedroom Frandin put up a terrific
fight, laid out a plain-clothes man with
his eelskin (sand bag), jiu-jitsued
Henic to broken arm and almost got
away by stabbing. when a hotel por-
ter knocked him down. In his room
We're found the gangs utensils.
Today the brutal males are still In
Jail or frightened out OF the business.
The King Of the Hotel Rats operat-
ing at this moment In Paris seems not
to have done a single job in the Is
fashionable hotels OF the American
quarter where he made such rich
hauls. But as his sublime sneaking
utilities certain mechanical effects OF
the true jirmouichs. 1t is important to
be posted. Besides. the stalwarts will
get back to work one OF these days.
The male rat laughs at bolts. He
tries to get room next to his vic.
TINS. European hotels are built with
communicating doors, that any num-,
Der OF rooms may be thrown into a
suite. These doors are kept locked
and bolted on both sides. OF course,
of course.
The rats first work is to gimlet tiny
peep holes into a door or partition. II
decided to 90 on the Job from what he
sees. he unlocks the communicating
door when the victim Is out, jimmies
the inside bolt. injuring 1t as little as
possible, enters. removes the screws,
replaces short screw tops. putties,
paints the dummy bolt as shut" and
slips out the room door on the corri-
dor. where a confederate is on guard
to keep the coast clear.
In the old days. II the rat could not
get an adjoining room he picked the
corridor lock In the daytime, 4 when
the victim was out, and liked" the
corridor bolt In the same way, warned
by confederates. An accordion was
the outside signal. Striking up a GER
tain air meant that the victim was re-
turning. Finally. II interrupted, there
was the stiletto-and the jirmouich
knew where to strike
Would you not prefer the modern
work OF ladies'? The old EQUINE and
her choir Of virgins in black wells
seem almost sympathetic. scattering
perfume Yet as you slept the door
swung open as the nail heads quit
their holes. In slipped the staiwart,
CARRIED In black tights. sandbag and
stlletto at his bolt.
To rise In bed meant death,
To lie still meant the brutal chloro-
form mask held tight as you woke
struggling to the sound OF deep bells
ringing in your ears: and then forget
fulness- perhaps forever.
Bolt your room door today. the no.
tel mouse will pass you BY The
mouse Is all for gentleness and conn.
dence. A bolted door already means
suspicion.