Palisadian., 1923-04-06
WOMAN CATCHES
PARIS RAFFLES
FashionabIy Dressed Thief Loot
ed Many Houses Before He
Was Finally Trapped.

Paris.--Paris boasts of gentleman
burglar in the person of one Serge
Henri Louis de Leuz, young man of
good family, fashionable appearance
and extravagant tastes, but with de-
generate tendencies and long crimi-
nal record. His trial, however, rubbed
off most Of the glamour of his career
as gentleman, If not as master
Of his profession.
Leuz is thirty years old and is the
son of former director of the Franco
Russian bank. He lived good deal of
the time with his parents in the SUBJ
urb Of NeuilIy while pursuing without
their knowledge his double existence
In Paris as man Of the world and
hOuse-breaker.
He was educated at the Calnot Ly-
ceum and the Paris School of Electric
ity, Before the war he served in the
cavalry, but was discharged as unfit
because of frequent attacks of hys-
terra. In 1914 he enlisted in the mill
tary supply train as a camion driver.
He soon deserted, however, and, hav-
Ing also been accused of theft, was
transferred after arrest to an African
battalion He asked to be sent to the
front and behaved creditably there for
a while, obtaining two citations for
bravery. But once more he deserted.
He was again arrested and was put
into the nOn-combatant forces.
Three Times Deserter.
He deserted a third time and was
thrown out of the army. In November,
1920, he was sentenced to two years
Imprisonment for burglary. but was
soon released under the general am
nesty. Since then it Is estimated that
he has committed 35 robberies, % of
them involving hOuse-breaking.
He operated almost exclusively be-
tween noon and l p. M, when most of
the apartment house concierges are at
meals. He was always stylishly
dressed and carried his tools in a
small bag something like brief case
He stole only articles of little weight
and high value.
Leuz was caught few weeks ago
thiVu6u thC vi
She saw young man with limp en-
ter the house. but asked no questions,
mstaking him for the son of the own
er. Presently he came out again, bag
in hand. She halted him.
'You don't know whom you are talk
ing to-" he said contemptuOusly. But
she insisted on an explanation.
81 am a wounded soldier" he went
on, more ingratiatingly. II just stepped
in here to rearrange my brace didn't
think it was necessary to ring at your
Office"
Trapped by Janitress.
He then limped away and entered
neighborlng house. The janitress be-
came suspicious and followed him.
She told the other concierge to 60 for
policeman while she detained the
stranger.
''Here is thousand franc note for
yOu." the latter said, becoming
alarmed.
The concierge refused 1t.
''Have pity on me-" he pleaded, II
have sick mother"
The second concierge appeared with
the officer, who arrested Serge. At the
police station they found that he car
ried complete burglars kit. He con-
fessed and even furnished the police
with full list of his robberies
He valued the articles which he had
stolen at 100000 francs, but said that
he had realized very little on those he
sold through stolen goods receivers.
At his trial 1t was brought out that
he had had passion for stealing since
early youth. He had robbed his school
mates. He had been arrested four
times before the war for theft, and
seven times In all before the two
concierges trapped him.
Leuz made the claim that he COM
mitted his crimes while under the in
fluence of drugs. But the physicians
who examined him declared him to be
completely responsible.