Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1912-04-12


seizing another prisoner by the arm,
led him sternly out the door. past
dozen soldiers, who saluted the sup
posed gendarme as he passed them on
his way to freedom.
The French police, however, who
like Vidocq's father, had no sense
of humor, were continually arresting
the bakers son. Whenever a pocket
was picked or their breakfast dis
agreed with them, the gendarmes went
out and dragged the unhappy Vidocq
to Jail and put him to the trouble OF
prying a hole in the wall or biting his
way through the iron bars.
Finally he was sentenced to the
galleys for a forgery which he hadn't
committed, and this really annoyed
the gentle thief. He made up his
mind that as soon as he escaped again
he would lead an honest life and take
good care of his mother, to whom, as
has already been mentioned. he was
always good.
Well, Vidocq escaped and was ar
rested again and escaped again in
nuns gown, which had been given him
by a nurse in a hospital after he told
her the sad story of his life. Then he
was caught and taken back to the gal
leys, escaped again and became SOL
dier. His past was discovered-or al
least a part Of it-and Vidocq escaped
to Paris and tried to live a compare
lively honest life as a tailor. On the
ground that he hadn't been arrested
for some time the police took him In
to custody again. This time Fidocq
was really discouraged.
mo use trying to lead an honest
life," he told his mother, who came
to weep through the prison bars over
him, I'm going to be policeman.
Then he fixed it up with the chief
of police and went out to lure few
banditti and other birds Of prey into
the police dragnet. At this he was
eminently successful. Vidocq's game
was to get into the confidence of the
confidence men and thieves, learn all
their plans, and then when they
started off some dark night, bent on
dark deeds. Vidocq tipped the police
off and they arrested the criminals.
One of Vidocq's finest exploits was
in connection with an old sexton who
had stolen the gold plate from the al
tar of church. Vidocq caused him
self to be placed in the same cell with
this pleasing old gentleman, and while
passing the long hours waiting for the
taller to come around with the bread
and water they used to talk over what
happy days they would have when
they escaped from prison and fled to
Germany. The sexton confided that
he had a homely old wife whom he
would be glad to abandon, and finally
the detective and the criminal did
escape. The old man led the way to
the place in the forest where his sto-
len treasure was buried, unearthed 1t.
and began to lift the golden vessels
out. AS he did so Vidocq picked up
the spade and threatened to kill the
old man with 1t unless he went back
to prison with him. The sexton came,
murmuring sadly: And he seemed
like such a nice young man.
In 1912 Vidocq became the head Of
a detective agency in Paris, and for
thirteen years was highly successful.
Then somebody started the story that
he planned the crimes in advance, and
so it was no wonder he always detect
ed them. Nobody ever proved this,
but it resulted in the retirement Of
Vidocq. At last, although he had
promised his mother to reform, he
became a lecturer, and he made large
Of money in England telling
of his adventures before and after he
became a detective. He had a lot OF
stage properties, ball and chains, cos
tunes and so on. When he told Of
his experience in the galleys he used
to come clanking across the platform
with the ball and chain attached to
his leg, and as he unfolded the tales
of great malefactors he appeared clad
in the costumes they had worn. VII
docq made enough money to retire
rich and lived to the
age of 80. a successful proof Of the
assertion that only the good die young
kansas City Star.