CLEVER TRICK OF A PARISIAN BEGGAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9401, 6 January 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

CLEVER TRICK OF A PARISIAN BEGGAR.

PRETENDED SUICIDE.

CJillkt, a professional mendicanb of Paris, has the peculiar merit of being the organiser of a trick for raising funds which was unknown and undreamed of in the philosphy of the ablest representatives of the oldCour des Miracles. He pretended to hang himself from trees seven times during the summer, and on each occasion he was cub down from his gibbet by' good Samaritans, who invariably sent round the hat for him on the spot. In some instances the rescuers may have been Gillet's confederates, but according to what can be gathered he usually preferred to work alone. Having selected a fine day for his operations, Gillet dressed himself carefully and went to the woods of Boulogne or Vincennes. He next made choice of a tree near where young children were playing, and having put a noose round his neck strung himself up. Then he groaned and attracted the children, who ran in alarm to their mothers or nurses, until in a moment there was a crowd round him. Men summoned to the spot, and sometimes the .women who were called, extricated the artful mendicant from his apparently , perilous . position. He was extended on • the grass, his hands were übbed, cordials were pressed to his lips, and 'smelling bottles put under his nose. When he revived, the first question pub to him was naturally, Why did he do it? Pointing to a pocket of his coat, he would say, "Here is a letter which will explain all 1" The document being opened, contained a communication to the effect that Gillet wanted to hang, himself of his own free mil.' His desire to die was caused by destitution, and he - had. nob eaten for two days. A collection being made for the sufferer he. instantly regained the use of his limbs, and , before leaving his generous sympathisers treated them, to a brief autobiographical sketch, which set forth tbab he was a respectable young man from the country, who had been stranded in Paris and could find no work to do..' His. fraud has at last been detected, and charitable people have been warned against his knavery, which has nob only deceived ordinary men and women, bub also astute members of the police force. .