The Warwickshire Herald. — 1894-08-16 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

FASHIONABLE FRENCH BURGLARS.  Romancers have ofzen enlarged upon the theme of. e burglar in a dress suit. It appears from disclosures which haw; been made, says a Paris correspondent,that he is not a creature of the imagination. Be actually exists. The Commissary of Police of the Clignancourt Quarter is investigating an affair which has already resulted in 11 arrests, and others may be made. Moreover, the prisoners, who are alleged to have been the members of a band of housebreakers, do not 'belong to the ordinary vulgar, tow type of thief. Real gentlemen in education and castes, everyone of them had his villa or his richly furnished chambers, with carriages and horses. It appears that a few days ago Edmond Charton, a ii:An 30 years of age, found upon entering his villa at Grand Montrouge, a suburb beyond the Luxembourg, that the woman with whom he lived had decamped with all the furniture. He hunted for her, and found her eventually with her sister, who occupied apartments in the Rue Marcadet. In his anger he fired a revolver at her, without effect. At the woman's cries the sister and a man ran to disarm the would-be murderer, the police intervened, and all four were taken to the police-station. Charton was placed under arrest, and in his rage lie cried, "But we are the whole lot of us burglars. We are the gang who stole the bronzes, pictures, and jewellery from M. Bane, the Societaire of the Com Edie Francaise, at Grand Montrouge. You will find them at Filix Bertin's house at Saint-Ouen." In consequence el these statements the four were locked up. Search was made at Bertin's place without discovering the goods, and the mother of this individual asseverated that they had been removed to another address. Further hunt was made, and• this time at the house occupied by one Victor several valuables ware found concealed beneath the hen-most. Bertin and Victor, in their turn, were arrested. Charton next denounced a certain Charles Corbeau, who had also lived at Grand Montrouge. According to the particulars which are forthcoming of his history, this gentleman's antecedents are of the most romantic description. He is hnown by his confederates as the "Codfish." He comes of an honest family, and his father, it is stated, is a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Corbeau began life as a successful law student, and took his degree as licentiate. Be then 'entered the army, and was twice condemned to death for striking an officer. His sentence was on both occasions commuted, and through the influence of hie friends in high quarters lie was allowed to return to France from Algeria with a free pardon. Corbeau then passed himself off as a German, and after a short sentence for robbery, was expelled. He soon crossed the frontier again, and organised the famous gang, which consisted of seven men and their mistresses. The value of the property stolen from different hoUses in Paris and the suburbs exceeds 500,000 f., which was divided by Corbeau amongst his subordinates at the rate of 2,000 f. a month to each. Corbeau's capture was effected by two detectives, who encountered him driving a tilbury on the Quai Bourbon. At the approach of the police he attempted flight, fearing that he would be arrested, and he would have succeeded in getting away had not the police in uniform come to the as.ci,tance of the plain clothes men. A number of bur,claries have already been traced to the band, seine-of the stolen pictures, itc., having been die. covered during the researches which the police have made at the houses tenanted by the thieves.  It has been notified at all Army Stations at home that the chief coastwise shipping companies have r(ticeded the privilege of reduced fares for all ,oldiers on furlough and their families; and a list of the fares is to be bunted shortly by the War Office in anticipation of the furlough season.  When& man of presumably opposite views cuts short your argument with a ready acquiescence, it may be that he is convinced, or it may be that he is only tired.  The heiress: "I am so suspicious of men that I sometimes wish I didn't possess wealth." The good friend: "But just think, dear, how lonesome you would be without it." "flow shall I enter the money the cashier skipped with?" asked the bookkeeper; "under the profit and lose P" "No; suppose you put it under main means."  fLOT TO