The North-Eastern Weekly Gazette. — 1883-07-14 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

THE ILLITERATE ROBBER.  A gentleman who had been out late in Paris on a very dark night was returning home with a lighted lantern in his hand, and while passing over the Point Neuf he was accosted by a stranger in a manner so polite and so supplicating that he stopped without hesitation. "You have a light," said the stranger, "and will perhaps do we the kindness to read this bit ot paper which I have just picked up. It may be of consequence." The gentleman held up his lantern and looked II first upon the applicant, whom he found to be I a strong-built, sinewy man, heavily bearded, and very respectably dressed. Then be took' the paper, and, to his amazement, read as follows :—" When you have read this speak not a word Speak, and you die Give to me your watch, your jewels, and your purse! Do this, and then silently depart, and you may live. Beware " Daring robberies had recently been committed in Paris by bold and desperate men, and the gentleman had no doubt that he had met one of the fraternity. He had no weapon of defence with him; and not caring to jeopar. disc his life, he deemed it most prudent to iollow the directions thus silently given, and accordingly took out his watch and his purse, his rings and his breast pin, and delivered them up, at the same time taking another careful survey of the stranger's face, so that he might recognise him should he ever after meet him. Having done this without opposition, he made his way over the bridge as rapidly as possible. A week, or more, I lad elapsed, when one day, as the gentleman was standing upon the Quad de la Conference, he observed his robber friend of the Pout Neuf passing near at hand. Keeping the man in sight until he could call in the aid of the police, he uad him arrested and taken before a magistrate; aud upon full representation by the gentleman of all the circumstances, and upon direct accusation of the robbery, he was sent to prison. When the robber was brought to the bar for trial he picked his teeth and stroked his beard unconcernedly, and in answer to the indictment he pleaded not guilty most assuredly. The gentleman, who was the only witness of the fact against the prisoner, swore positively to the robbery, and the identity of the person. The prisoner made his own defence; and he did it with an ease and assurance to be found only in the most accomplished of his class. "Gentlemen," he said, "I confess that on the evening specified I did meet this gentleman on the Pont Neal; and the scene, as be has related it, transpired between us. But, ciel! I had no evil thought. It is my misfortune not to be able to  read. I had jest picked up a piece of paper; and thinking it might be of importance, and seeing the gentleman had a lighted lantern in his hand 1 asked him to read it for me. I would have asked Min what he had found; but before I could speak he pulled out his purse and his watch and thrust them into my hands, and also forced upon me his linger rings and diamond pin. I was astounded. I thought him mad—perhaps he meant to jump from the parapet into the river—suicide. Was it the paper had caused tois? I was on the point of questioning him, when he turned and dashed away, leaving me, for the time, like one stupefied. When I recovered myself the thought flashed upon me that the paper might be of great value—some State secret, perhaps—and the stranger, wishing to keep it without question, had given me his valuables to get rid of me. Ma foi I I think it is I who ought to complain. I would like justice for the useless excitement I have suffered.'' Not a soul in court but believed the rascal was guilty; but no formal demand upon the gentleman for his money had been proved, and the man who could not read, but who could plead , with such skill and grace, was suffered to go