DETECTIVES IN TURKISH BATH.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LX, Issue 143786, 9 May 1912, Page 8

DETECTIVES IN TURKISH BATH.

FAT MAN’S METHOD OF DISGUISE. A drastic method of disguising himself from the police was adopted by Lupres, a of the Suez Canal Company, who disappeared from Baris last October after having embezzled about £BO,OOO, and who was arrested recently in a Turkish bath at Lille. Luprex, a stout, jovial-looking man of 44, conceived the idea that a drastic course of flesh reduction would furnish him with a disguise calculated to bat Tie the most astute detectives. He accordingly wont to Lille on November 1, and taking a small room in a poor miburb, devoted himself to the task of reducing his ligure. Accompanied by a magnilicent collie dog called Dick, Luprcx arrived daily at the bath at 2 p.rn., and after passing through the various heat rooms was given elaborate massage. Then ho drank a bottle of claret and went to deep in the divan room until seven o'clock. As a result of the vigorous treatment in three and a half mouths Lcpreux reduced his weight by 3st 21b. and effected such a change in his appearance that the detectives could not at first recognise him. Like his embezzlements, Lopreux r> arrest was due to his love for ids only daughter Marcello. When lie lied he loft a note saying that ho had stolen in order to provide her with a dowry, and his refuge at Lille was discovered through letters sent to him by his family and fetched from the post office bv one of the bath attendants. The detectives arrived at the Turkish bath, and at once went to the moist heat room, where the attendant pointed out to them a man in a bath wrap. They were unable to recognise the comfortable, jolly cashier of the police photogi aphs in tins eimvciatediooliiug individual with sunken cheeks. His face was deeply furrowed his erstwhile rotundity had vanished and a ragged grey beard had taken tiic place ot his neat black moustache. He vigorously denied his identity, but after seeing that the game was up, he politely asked to be allowed to take his cold plunge before dressing and going to the police station. T lie detectives affably agreed, and while his clothes were searched they watched the unfortunate cashier take his last plunge. In his pockets the police found thirty-two Suez Canal share coupons, some gold, and £T6 in bank notes as well as some white pills believed to bo poison. He declared that he had lost all the sums embezzled save £2-100 in unfortunate speculations, Leproux, who had boon in the employ of the Suez Company for 30 years—having entered its service at the ago of 14—was a most respected employee and head of the securities department.