THE STORY OF A BURGLAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 7020, 17 May 1884, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE STORY OF A BURGLAR.

The following & related of a French burglar, J who, although never detected in a crime, J ( was almost an accomplice of every robbery : committed in Paris during hi 3 time :—A cer- j tain wealthy merchant, named L. A. De Meiteons, residing in Paris, who carried on perhaps the largest trade as goldsmith ia the city at that time, was on the night of the 30th of October, ISI3, robbed of some thousands of pounds' worth of jewellery. Being' acquainted with the many midnight thefts which were being committed during the later months of that year, he determined to guard himself from being the victim of any of them. This night being a rather dull and foggy one, was selected by M. F. Bis, the burglar referred to above, as the most fitted for bis business, which he intended putting into execution on the occasion, namely, that of robbing the warehouses of L. A. De Meiteons. Bis, having made up his mind, left his house at twelve o'clock and " glided " down the streets almost tmnoticeable till he reached the warehouses. _A little chisel which he carried with him helped to cut out one of the panels of the large oak door, which done, he entered, and lighting his lamp, commenced his robbery. He contented himself at length by _ taking some of the most precious of Meiteons's jewellery. The only thing now left to be done and he was safe was, if he would be as successful in making an exit as he waa_ in getting in. Tliis seemed to trouble his mind greatly. How2ver, he determined to do so ; he boldly walked across the shop to the door, but before he succeeded in doing so, a hand caught hold o!: him and pulled him back ; then a voice said to him, "What is your business here at this hour of night?" "I won't tell von," was the quick reply. "Won't you," said our brave clerk, as he presented the revolver at the man's head (this clerk was commissioned to watch_ the house by Meiteons on the same evening). The robber, seeing this by the glare of his lantern, at once struck him, and now ensued a desperate struggle, in which the clerk proved the victim, but quickly springing to his feet, discharged the contents of the pistol at the robber ; hearing no moaning or sighs of a wounded man. he struck a light, and, to his amazement, found net a single trace of the man and what he hai robbed. This at once aroused the suspicion of the police, who arrested him and .carried him before Meiteons, who desired him at once to be put in prison; thinking as he did, of course, that he had his prisoner well-secured. But the clerk, seeiDg the condition he was in, torn, and covered with blood, at once changed his appearance by gettiog a coat from the authorities and washing the blood from his face, thus looking who he was, not, as Meiteons thought, a robber. In the meantime he wrote him a line saying he wished to see him on business. The next morning Meiteons visited the prison, and knocking at his compartment asked admission, which he gained, but, on entering, what did he tee ?— a roan with his back completely turned towards \ him, and on askiDg him what he required of him; he got a very astonishing answer, "Look at me." " What does it mean," he said to himself. "That is what I want you," be again repeated. "Very well," retorted Meiteons. "Very well; you're the man who robbed me yesterday, aren't you?" " Am 1 ?" and he turned round by way that , Meiteons might see who he was. " Now am '. I? You have been mistaken." "Then . it" must be a dream, for you are my 1 clerk," he cried, and thus in a frantic passion [ left the prison. A few days of illness, which this caused, was soon over, and he begged ■■ pardon of his clerk for the trouble he gave him; and, offering a reward of about £500 on the robber, resumed his usual business [ again, though almost a beggar and a bankl rupt. So ends the story.