A CRIME THAT FAILED.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1289, 12 November 1896, Page 10

A CRIME THAT FAILED.

STRANGE REVELATION OF PARISIAN LIFE. A most remarkable story has been brought to light in the Paris Assize Court. Ifc was told by the counsel for a prisoner charged with belonging to a gang of burglars. The dramatis personal consist of an ex-commandant of gendarmes, a common gendarme and a professional criminal who haunted till recently the famous Chateau Rouge in the Rue Galande, Paris. One night Gaspard Truyman, known on account of his vocal talents as the " Songster of the Chateau had obliged the "crooks" assembled as usual in that establishment with a song and was taking up a collection. As he passsd one of the tables A BLACK-BEARDED MAN of military appearance dressed in a workman's blouse, asked him to take a drink. His collection over, Truyman sat down at thia man's table. He was asked a few questions and finally accompanied his host outside. Once iu the street he was suddenly asked, "Do you want to earn 10,000 f. (£400)?" To get 10,000 f. I would do anything," replied Truyman significantly. " Even kill a man ? " " Yes." " There would be no fear of you losing courage at the last minute ? " " Nob when there is 10,000 f. hanging to it." Such was the brief conversation, and after making an appointment, for the next day in " Mother Martin's " restaurant, 3 Rue St. Severin,

THE "MAN OF THE CRIME " the name by which Truyman always refers to him —departed, after presenting the " Songster" with a five-franc piece. Both men kept the appointment, and during dinner the " Man of the Crime " explained that the service he wished Truyman to render him was to kill a gendarme. " I will not be content," he said, " until the cr«ature is dead. He must die within a week. When you have killed him it is not only 10,000 francs I will give you. You shall also have a yearly pension of 1200 francs, and I will marry you to a young woman with 40,000 francs (£1600) dowry." " I would murder four gendarmes for that," said Truyman valiantly. At a second rendezvous, held in a restaurant on the Boulevard Sebastopol, the " Man of the Crime " turned up in a new character. He was no longer dressed as a stonemason with a full board, but was

ATTIRED IN A FASHIDNABLE FROCK COAT and wore tho ribbon of the Legion of Honour, a short, billy-goat beard and a carefully waxed moustache. On this occasion the name of tho gendarme who was to be killed, the place of his residence, and how his acquaintance could be made, were explained. Truyrnan received some false beards, &c, half-a-dozen ciyars poisoned with strychnine, two vials of that poison, and a dagger. The latter wap only to be employed in the last extremity. Truyrnan was then taken to the Lyons railway station, where a ticket for his destination and a sum of money wero handed to him. Notwithstanding his previous determination Truyrnan weakened at the last moment, and, instead of poisoning the gendarme, told him the whole otory. " lb is 1113' ex commandant," cried the gendarme. " lie is NOT SATISFIED WITH HAVING TAKEN .MV WIFE. Now he wants to do away with me." Truyrnan was arrested, repeated his story to the magistrate, and an inquiry was opened. Analysis of the cigars and bottles ahowed their contents. It turned out that the commandant had lost his position owing to tho scandal caused by his relations with the gendarme'3 wife, and Truyman's statements were verilied from beginning to end. The inquiring magistrate's report to the parquet concluded, however, by saying, " Not even a commencement of execution of the plot having taken place, and as it failed solely through the will of its author, no prosecution can be instituted either against the principal or its accomplice. But I consider it my duty to bring the case to your notice, believing that ex-Commandant X is a Knightof the Legion of Honour, and holds a command in the police reserve. In this case his conduct should bo reported to the proper authorities." It was reported, and the " Man of the Crime" LOST HIS RIBBON AND HIS COMMAND. Truyrnan, set at liberty, returned to Paris, joined a gang of burglars, and was caught. His advocate told the above

story to the juf-y in the hope' that it Would militate in his client's favour; The judge sent for the police dossier, £nd it , was found to be exact in every detail. Tru'yman, nevertheless, was sentenced to eight years' hard labour;