FRENCH ARISTOCRAT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 7, 9 January 1937, Page 4 (Supplement)

FRENCH ARISTOCRAT.

VERSATILE IN CRIME.

Student of agricultural science, a nude dancer in a Montmartre cabaret, Trappist monk, insurance inspector, and finally a gentleman gangster bank robber are some of the roles in the life f Adolphe Paris de Watripont, aged 34 family" ° f * Fre " Ch aristocra tic

He was sentenced in Paris to five for r °bbing a bank of tloOO in French notes.

According to the prosecution, he drove up to a branch bank at Verneuil-sur-Avre in February in a motor car borrowed from a relative, held up the staff with a big revolver lent to him by a friend, and escaped with 150,000 francs. The agility of his one-handed leap over the counter impressed the bank clerks more than his revolver. At that time he wa« working respectably as an insurance inspector. Here is a sketch of hie extraordinary career.

After being educated by Jesuits in Belgium and Jersey, Adolphe was given a farm -by his wealthy relatives. But he soon tired of a country life and went to Paris, where he appeared in a little Montmartre cabaret, dancing in the nude with a naked girl. Later he entered a Trappist monastery, threatening to commit suicide if he were not admitted—but he only stayed there for a few months.

After taking steps to join the Foreign Legion he became an insurance inspector.

During his varied career Adolphe found time to get married, despite the opposition of his family to his bride. But his wife soon . divorced him, though a child, now eight years old, was born of the marriage. Doctors gave evidence that Adolphe was abnormal and had been eager to admit his guilt.

His wealthy parents were said to own a large farm which once belonged to the Duke of Richelieu.