NOTORIOUS BANDIT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume L, Issue 15252, 15 March 1913, Page 7

NOTORIOUS BANDIT.

J NOVEL SUICIDE SCHEME. I ' l FOILED BY A SUDDEN CAPTURE. s -~ By Telegraph.—Press Association.— Copyright (Received March 14, 11.5 p.m.) Paris, March 14. The notorious bandit Lacombe (formerly a member of Bonnot's ' gang; who was arrested on Wednesday with a bomb, and fuse and three Browning pistols in his possession), had so adjusted the bomb and fuse, which was concealed in his clothing, that by a spark from a cigarette he could blow himself, up. It was only by his captors suddenly 5 seizing him from behind that he was } prevented from carrying out his pro- !' ject. i Lacombe, who was , a member of the IJonnofc bandit gang, is a notorious anarchist. In December last he wont into the bedroom " of a man who he asserted had informed. on the gang, and told him that he would kill him and his wife. Ho tossed a coin to • decide whether h© would shoot flicm at the I moment or give them till daylight to live. The fall of the coin gave the victims the brief respite, and Lacombe amused himself 1 in tho meantime by ordering the couple to r go to bed, where he entertained them with , tales of how they would die, ana by sing- ' ing ribald songs. Towards daylight, becom- > ing alarmed at the possibility of interven- . tion, Lacombe commenced a fusillade upon tho unfortunate man and his wife. The first shot extinguished the lamp, and emptying his automatic pistol in the dark, the bandit wounded the man, but missed the woman. He then escaped.