The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-17

Many of Depredators Are
 Deserters from the Army
 Criminals Pose as Sol
 diers Home on War Leave
 Rob Temporary Employ
 CTS in City.
 Paris, May 17.-The declaration made recently in New York that Europe's crooks had arrived in America to operate in that country, which every foreigner appears to look upon as heavy with gold, has been de- nied by the police Of Paris. At any rate, if some have escaped across the water few are left here to carry cut old traditions. The younger crooks as body have disappeared with the call te the national defence. but older and riper vintage has taken their place. The crook, like the poor, you have always with you"
 It is possible that some outlaws may have secured 8 safe conduct te the States; but to people acquainted with the difficulties and exactiens put in the road of every traveller, even though he has passport, the way would seem thorny. Those crooks who have suc- ceeded in landing in the States prob ably have been agents of some band which makes things easy for the trav- eller from the steamship ticket to the agent" that is to meet him at the dock. And this "bandenoire," while considerably thinned in numbers since the war began is still living and thriv- ing. to judge from reports sent in by the policG
 For year after the start of the war. save for an occasional crime, Paris seemed purged of it's malefac- tors and civilians breathed in peace. Never did city present a more self respecting front. The violation of the tomb of the lamented actress Lanthe1- me was really the first intimation Pa risians had that all the apaches were not in the trenches. = Other misdemeanors began to be re- corded. and now that the streets are almost totally dark at night the apaches are using the obscurity as their cover to resume their old line of talent. Some of these have desert ed the army to renew their activities far behind the firing line. Others, because of poor physical condition, never entered the military service, and it is generally these, with boys 15 or 16 years old, who have helped keep the police busy.
 The Paris malefactor belongs to a band that before the war encfrcled the whole of Europe and ramified over the Channel to the British isles. II was only occasionally that the authori- ties ran afoul of the band, but enough Information has been gained to prove that objects stolen one day have been found the next day in a neighborins country. Prior to the war Brussels was the great. centre, for lace and em- broideries because of the great demand for such in the legitimate market | there, so most laces stolen were trac- ed to Brussels.
 Paris was unquestionably the biz European centre for all pilfored ob- jects, and London was the market fo1 things stolen and assembled on the Continent-things the band would not | dare exploit so near home. The Chan nel protected the thieves, for com. | paratively few detectives thought ii worth while to take the long trip or an uncertainty. The sale of old fam. I fly Jewels in London, of old rugs, old l china, even of 'furniture-for in more than few instances entire villas have 1 been looted-encourage shipment O. l such wares to England
 Men and women work together ir the ''bande noire,'' as the police call it and their means of getting into home. and locating spells is now, as before the war, through domestics Once il a house and familiar with famil, hours and habits, the rest is not diff, fcult- There are now "neutrals'' ant allies" belonging to the band, ant they work together skilfully. Fol months the Y. W. c. A. of Paris wal In hot water because of the servant, 1t apparently was recommending. Tn. organization only lately discovered 1 that some young women going from | It's doors were professional thieves Ladies applied there for governesses companions, maids. &c., and they wer, apt to revive what seemed to be com 1 munication from the Y. W. c. A. di rectress brought by the applicant il person.
 The stamped stationery had beer stolen by the parlor maid, who hat intercepted the post As the writin, was good and the wording grammati cal no one of these looking for servic thought of going further, but engag ed the woman or girl. In one in stance the lady's maid 'tsent from tn r. W. c. Az was English, of defectiv vision, but as her wage was not higl and her English was excellent she wa hired to be with the children an, teach them English when not occu pied with madame.
 Before the first month had passe, 1000 in silver and jewe1ry had dis appeared, but no one thought of ac cusing the half blind girl. She wa given holiday on Mondays in the af ternoon and evening, and twice, wa seen in high class restaurants near tn centre of the city with half a dozel well dressed men and women, who al vanished when it happened that tn girl failed to keep her engagemen with them on a certain Monday.
 Some of the silver was found in he room, all ready to be taken away; bu the jewelry was never recovered, an, though the thief is serving her sen
 tence and has been put through al kinds of examinations she will not dis
 close the names of her accomp1ices.