The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-04-23
SERGE STAVISKY
GENIUS OF SIN.
REPORTERS find
frances Arch Crook, Born
of Good Family, Began
Career Early.
Continued from Page One

as an embezZler ano sentenced to
Iiteen days Imprisonment. Thus he
was launched on a definite career.
Inc incident taught him something
to cover his tracks: to be the out
SIDE operator" and permit others TO
pun the chestnuts out of the fire.
He became cautious.
At the outbreak of the World war
Stavisky did little military serv-
Ice and then eased himself out Of
the army by declaring his Russian
birth. He was very happy in war
time Paris, where so many husband
less women were living, and where
ScrupleS and morals, blasted by war
conditions had fallen TO low estate.
But again he was caught in a
minor fraud, and this time he served
a second sentence Of six months.
1t was during his detention with
a vulgar band of ordinary Grim
lnalS that Serge Stavisky began to
ponder on the efficacy of an open
check book. II was also at this per-
lod that he took strange service with
the police as an "informer'-a not
unusual practice and one that was
helpful in that it gave him an in
sight into police methods
Drove Father to Suicide
Readers of Victor Hugo's Les
MiSerables" will recall a shadoWy
figure, half police spy, hall desper-
ado, known by the title of patron"
Serge StaviSky might have been that
mans prototype.
The first major swindle that
brought him into police ken involved
100000 francs. When the police
arrested him, he had only $1,000
francs left and was taken to Jail
from the gayeSt of champagne par
ties in honor of his men and women
friends. When Stavisky's old father
learned of this NdiSgrace-he killed
himself. That was the first suicide
of a long train.
Stavisky bribed his way out of
trouble. His companions, among
them the beautiful and faithful mis-
treSS- and-Wife, Arlette Simon, went
to prison. Stavisky's health" was
bad. Physicians certified to it, after
the alWays-Open check book had
been fiOurished under their noses.
Yet there were warrants out for him
which, if executed, would have cost
him a thousand years in Jail.
Banned at Monte Carlo
AS a gambler, and always on the
crooked side, his repeated eScapadeS
brought bans against him from
Monte Carlo and Biarritz TO Deau-
vile Yet always he succeeded in
having his rights" restored. And
his check book stubs became of
SnOW-StOrm proportions. Many of
these stubs returned to plague Sta
viSky, and many more returned to
drive government officials out of Of
flee in disgrace.
Stavisky's method. by this time,
had been Simplified. 1t was merely
to corrupt every corruptible official,
to bride every crooked functionaire,
to compromise every possible states
man. Scores fell into his net.
Stavisky'S mind delved into a
thousand avenues Of crime. He
would pawn jewels, get full value
for them, and then contrive to have
the real stones replaced with paste.
He forged. raised checks. black
mailed, and took a profit from dope
and white slavery.
Throughout all this career, how
ever. he maintained his connection
with the upper side" of life. He
used pretty Arlette adroitly and vi
ciOuSly, to gain the esteem of some.
He provided little cocotteS and
chorus girls for his sensual friends.
He moved in many circles and in
devious paths. And he was as hand
some and convincing a confidence
man as ever StrOlled a Paris boule-
ward
TOmOrrOw-"ArIette the Queen of
Easy Street.