The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-02
GIRL CROOK GIVES
LIFE AS PENANCE
AS FRENCH NURSE
Her Father, a Paris Banker,
also Head Of a Gang
of Bandits.

9G" 4NxbA1 JoAs AN Lu0 yOui
1888 a gang Of desperadoes infested
Germany, France and England. NJ
robbery was too difficult for the mem
bers to attempt. They stopped at nj
crime. At the same time NJ. Franch,
con was wealthy and trusted bank,
er of Paris.
e The brains of the detective forces
OF the countries In which the gang
worked seemed unable to cope with
the thieves. Finally French detec.
tive, known now only as Francois
got the assignment to ferret out the
gang. A clue was found in a false
date on bill Of exchange between
Berlin and Paris. Arrests were
made, and a confession proved that
the head Of the gang was LIE Pere
Francheon, the trusted Paris banker
or.
He disappeared. 1t was found he
was living in the South of France
with his wife and two-year-old
daughter, Ellina. Francois led the
party that went to arrest the mas
ter criminal. Two gendarmes were
killed, Francois was wounded and
Francheon's wife was so badly hurt
that she died little later.
His Fate a Mystery.
But Francheon escaped. The next
day his empty boat was found float
ing near his home, and the general
belief was that he had been wound
ed and had died. Nothing has ever
been heard OF him since.
Ellina, the only survivor, was sent
to Paris convent. Her family story
was forgotten. One thing was re-
membered later-that she had on her
left arm birthmark-a perfect let
ter U. All the Francheon property
was conf1scated by the government.
2 In 1891 an American millionaire
on his honeymoon reached Paris. He
met the little girl, was at once struck
with her beauty and intelligence, and
ended by adopting her. She was
then five years old. He brought her
back to his New England home,
where she was brought up as his
own child.
The child did not do well in the
schools she attended. Things often
were missing from rooms Of pupils
and proof seemed to point to her.
But no accusations were made, for
she was a millionaire's daughter. She
was taken to France to finish her
education and was graduated from
school there.
In the summer after that Fran
co.'s was called from the Paris de-
tective bureau to the 1alals hotel,
Trouyille, to hunt for valuable
necklace that had been stolen or lost
at that fashionable watering place.
Remembered Her Face.
Sauntering on the beach the day
after his arrival, he was. struck by
the resemblance OF one IF party
of American girl bathers to some one
he had seen before. He recalled the
Francheon child and decided that she
was the one he had in mind. Pre-
tending to be fortune teller, he got
the girls to show their left arms and
hands. He saw the telltale letter U,
the birthmark of Ellina Francheon.
When the girl returned to Paris
she was taken to the projects Office.
She confessed she had seen the lost
necklace on the sand. covered it up
and returned for it. She offered, If
released, to return 1t with trunkful
Of spoil taken from the college from
which she had just graduated. She
was not prosecuted and returned to
America.
In 1913 L. A. Newcome, New
York detective, was called in to find
the man who had robbed the home
of certain millionaire. Much jew
elry had been taken, as well as $685.
600 in securities. The millionaire
was the foster father of Ellina
Francheon.
The securities had been in secret
drawer, unknown to any one, 1t was
thought. except him and his wife.
Two such tables has been presented
to him by friend in France. The
spring Of the drawer was in a knob
behind clock. The drawer would
open for five minutes. then close
automatically.
Miss Francheon at that time was
engaged to one Collins. He left
town for Montreal the night before
the robbery. Newcome found Collins
was man he had known in France.
He also learned that big Newfound-
land dog in the house was very fond
OF Collins, and that the dog had been
aroused on the night OF the robbery,
but had quieted down.
Aweek later the other secret draw
er was robbed, and that night Ellina
also disappeared, sending back word
that she had eloped with Collins and
was his agent in Paris to keep track
Of the coupe. He soon learned the
French police had driven them out
and they were on the way back to
this country.
They went to Nantasket beach,
near Boston. where they stayed at a
hotel. Newcome went thither with
one Of his men. That night large
sum of money was stolen from a
contractor. But Newcome was able
to recover most of the securities
stolen from the millionaire and his
wife. The girl refused to go back
to see her foster father and foster
mother. She and Collins returned
to Europe, but could not stay there,
and came back to America. In 1914
he enlisted in the Canadian contin-
gent of the British army. 1t Us
not known where he Is.
A Dear Little Creature"
A letter to Newcome from the
French detective. Francois, tells what
happened after that. He says:
"As ! sit here l cannot help but
think Of the dear little creature