Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1913 — TRUTH ABOUT THE CASE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

TRUTH ABOUT THE CASE

The Experiences of M. F. Goron, Ex-Chief of the Paris Detective Police Edited by Albert Keyzer THE LOTUS FLOWER

(Copyright by J. B. Lippincott Co.)

HE usually quiet Rue du H General Appert was in H a state of great excite- ||| inent. Carriages and < cabs drove to the house \ of Madame H , and crowds of well-dressed \v/ people elbowed their \ / -way to the salons on ‘ \/ the first floor. It was a i ’ few days before Mademoiselle Yvonne H——’s marriage, and a big display bad been made of the trousseau and presents. The three reception-rooms were open, and long narrow tables covered with jewelry, fans, plate, and. works of art of every description lined the Walls. At the principal table, where jewelry and lace were exhibited, a glass case had been specially fitted to guard the contents against indiscreet fingers. As a rule, detectives —who by the uninitiated. are often taken for poor relations —aye engaged to guard the property, as it Is difficult to know how many uninvited may manage to make their way into the ' house. Madame H , however, had not taken this precaution; and this mistake caused me to make her acquaintance. / It was discovered that a costly pendant had mysteriously disappeared, and early the next morning I was in the Rue du General Appert, seated opposite Madame H (the widow of a wealthy merchant), her daughter Yvonne, and a fat, red-faced, pompous gentleman, whom the ladles addressed as Uncle Jerome. He was loudest in his lamentations, and I soon discovered the reason: the pendant had been presented by him, and he seemed to take it as a personal affront that the thief should have selected his gift I had many questions to ask, so that I had to cut blip short and beg the ladies to show me the glass case from which the jewel had been abstracted. This ease was absolutely intact, and the thief must have Watched his opportunity to raise it unobserved. Only a man with a cool head and a steady hand would have dared to attempt this, in a room full of people with half a dozen attendants near the tables. Uncle Jerome had already questioned the servants, driving them to the verge of hysterics. I came to the conclusion that they knew nothing, and that no Information of value could be obtained from the ladles or their loudvoiced relative. While I was examining the room in search of a possible clue, I heard Uncle Jerome call out in angry tones: “And what about the baron’s coat? Does Monsieur Goron know anything -about that?** I turned around. “What baron, and what coat?*’ “Well, you see. Monsieur Goron,” said Madame H , “it was altogether an unfortunate day, for when Baron S asked for his coat it was nowhere to be found.” “Has anything else been stolen?” I Inquired. “No," said Madame H . “I think this was quite enough for one afternoon.” “I think so too,” interrupted the uncle; “the baron must have a fine opinion of the people you receive.” And turning to me, he added: “I have the pleasure of being one of the baron’s friends, and it makes it very awkward for me —very! I introduced him here.”

At my request Madame made a tough sketch of the pendant. It was of Oriental design, set with large diamonds, ending in a small lotus flower. I also asked for the address of the baron, whom I wanted to see about the coat, and learned he was a Russian. very rich, living in the Avenue de I'Alma. As I rose to leave. Uncle Jerome insisted on a minute’s private conversation. "Monsieur Goron," ho began when we were alone, “I did not like to speak before my sister-in-law; but I consider it my duty to mention a certain gentleman to you—Alfred O , a relative by marriage of Madame H , a good-for-nothing, who has been mixed up in several ugly affairs. I begged my sister-in-law repeatedly not to receive him; but he plays the 'funnyman,* amuses the ladies, and makes himself at home here —too much so." "Do you mean to imply— ’’ "I imply nothing, I am only giving you a hint." The valet opened the door for me, and at that moment a closed cab drove up; a young man alighted and remained talking to a lady inside. A lace veil bid her face. ; "Who is that?” I asked the valet. "That’s Monsieur Alfred," he replied, with the shadow of a sneer, "tad that woman inside is his friend Tips.’” "Who is Tips?" “Not much good." Alfred, apparently was not a persona grata. Thus far I had no clue whatever. I therefore resolved not to act before I bad seen both the baron and Alfred. In my office two inspectors met me with smiling faces. "You were right, sir," said one, "about these bicycle thieves. We arrested tbem 'th’s morning, and found

about twenty cycles in the place you mentioned.” Nodding to his companion: “That will be good news for Tips. Hers was among the lot." “Who the deuce is Tips? This is the second time within an hour I hear her mentioned.” “Her name, elr, is Georgette Chevallier. She was married to a trainer, a brute, who beat her and drank himself to death. She speaks English" as well as French, and is well known to the English trainers and jockeys in Chantilly and Maisons Laffitte, who christened her ‘Tips’ because she always wants to know the winner. You can see her almost every night at the Case Sylvain. She likes late suppers. A month ago her bicycle was stolen. I happened to be in the police commissary’jß office when she came to tell him of it. I promised her to do my best, and have sent her a note that will make her happy. I reckon she will be here to-morrow to ask for her bike.” Tips had aroused my curiosity. “When she comes I want to see her.”

“All right, sir.” Before calling on Baron S I made an inquiry about Alfred O , and what I heard was deplorable. The fortune he had Inherited from his mother was squandered in less than two years, and his father, a retired colonel, was almost ruined by his son’s extravagance. Alfred raised money when he could, and in a gam-bling-club had been accused of attempting to cheat. This charge had never been proved, and it ended in a duel, when he ran two inches of steel into his traducer’s body. He belonged to a good family, and was distantly related to Madame H , whose house he visited regularly. The baron, I learned, had an estate in Russia, where he passed the summer. The winters he spent in Paris and he was very popular in the world ou I’on s'muse. He had an apartment 'ip the Avenue de I’Alma; and I went there toward eleven in the morning. His servant, a tall, well-built young man, informed me in bad French with a strong Russian accent that his master was having his bath, and would receive me in a few minutes. He soon appeared, a distinguished, aristocratic man.

I apologized for disturbing him so early, and begged him to give me an account of the disappearance of his coat. "Between ourselves,” he smiled, “I am surprised these accidents do not happen oftener. This is my second winter in Paris, and the third time I have attended one of these fuhctiohs. They are a boon to the Paris thieves. I am sorry I lost my fur coat; it was valuable. My idiot of a servant will tell you how it occurred —Boris!” The valet, at the baron’s request, then explained to'me, in his abominable French, that he had been waiting in the hall'*for his master, with the coat 6ver*his arm. Finding it cumbersome, with so many people passing inand out, he had put it in a little room leading from the hall, and when he went to fetch it it was gone. “But why did you not leave it in charge of one of the servants?” I asked. "I expected my master to come down every moment, and as the door of the little room was open I could keep my eyesvon the coat all the time. I may have’lost sight of it for a second.” The baron shrugged his shoulders, and I heard I put a few questions; but as neither the baron nor Boris could supply any further information, I withdrew. In the room I had detected a peculiar perfume, very faint, without being able to fix it with certainty. I could not positively say whether it emanated from the room itself or from one of the men. Slight as it was, it caught my attention, as my sense of smell is acute.

I had written a note to Alfred O asking him to call, and found him waiting for me. I need not describe that type of young man—to be met on the race-course, at first nights, at fashionable gatherings—to whom life is nothing but a huge joke. He roared with laughter when I broached the subject of the robbery. "Please excuse me. Monsieur Goron, the whole thing is so ludicrous. Do you know, that Unqle Jerome, whom you saw this morning, darkly hinted that I stole the pendant? I heard it from the little German governess. I think he does it out of revenge because I made fun of IL You npver saw anything so ugly. The diamonds are magnificent, but the design is grotesque, with that silly little flower dangling at the end.” "You were at Madame H 's the day the pendant was stolen?” "Yes, the greater part of the afternoon." "Did you notice anything likely to throw any light on the affair?” "Nothing whatever. It seemk' Very strange. Uncle Jerome Is terribly upset; but. I think, more on account of the coat. The old chap Is proud of his acquaintance with a baron!" The next day I was bysy investigating a case that had happened dur-

Ing the night, I was informed that Georgette Chevallier, alias Tips, was down-stairs, having come about her bicycle. . “Show her in at once,” I said*, Georgette was pretty. She was small, remarkably graceful, with large, brown, intelligent eyes. “You wanted to see me?” she, remarked In a gentle voice. - “Madame Georgette- ** I began, “Please call me Tips; everybody does.” ♦ “Very well; Tips, since you prefer it, I had the pleasure of seeing you a couple of days ago.” “Me? Where?” “In a cab; you were talking to your friend.” “What friend?” “Alfred O— — “He Is not my friend, Monsieur Goron. Not in the sense you mean; and 4do not understand you." “Never mind, Tips. By the way, are you glad your bicycle is found?” “Rather. But the stupid people gt the Police Commissariat are fussing to make me prove I am the rightful owner of the machine. I can give ybu the receipt of the maker; I have brought it with me.” She put her hand inside her muff, and with her purse drew out a small silk pocket handkerchief which she laid on my writing-table. I took it up, for I immediately detected the same faint perfume that had struck me at the baron’s chambers. “What scent is that, Tips?” I asked. “There is no scent on it,” she replied crossly. “I never use any!” “Do you mean to tell me you smell nothing?” And I held the handserchief to her nose. —“No; nothing.” “In that case, Tips, all I can say Is

that this handkerchief cannot be your property. How do you come by it?" She bit her lip, and, after a silence began: "I really do not understand why you are so interested in my handkerchiefs. I call it Indiscreet. And now, allow me to wish you good-morning.” “Please sit down again, Tips, and excuse my being what you call indiscreet. But I must and will know more about this handkerchief. Once more I ask you how you came by it!” "I picked it up last night at the Case Sylvain.” “Do you know who lost it?” “Yes; a man.” “What man?” “I don’t know him." “Tips, speak the truth." “I am speaking the truth. I swear it. I bail dined at Sylvain’s last night and was drinking my coffee, when a gentleman at the table next to me asked the waiter for bls bill. I fancy he must have taken a little too much champagne, for he dropped fi«>l Lis pocket-book, then his Keys, and finally several gold pieces. After he had left I saw this handkerchief on the floor, and when I picked it up a small glittering thing fell out of it. 1 saw it was of little value and put it inmy pocket for luck." L. . "Show it to me, Tips,” ! sald-

fjhe took It out of her purse and threw it op the table. It was a tiny lotus flower in green enamel and gold. I gazed at it a long time, and could hardly repress a smile when, looking up, I noticed the expression in Tips’ eyes, 1 . u ,. “Why do ycl laugh, Monsieur Goron?” she asked. “And do you mind explaining what it all means?" “I am laughing for several reasons. Tips; but especially because you eye me suspiciously. It is the world reversed.” She was holding the handkerchief to her hose, and sniffing bard. “It may be my imagination,” she said, “but I fancy I trace a slight smell of violets. Is that the scent you meant?” “No, Tips. Perfumes, like flowers, have a language of their own, a language which I am afraid you would not understand. I shall keep the handkerchief and the enameled flower, for I have a notion that I shall come across the person who is now anxiously looking for both. Will you come back this afternoon?” “Certainly.” And she tripped out of the room. I had made no discloures to her. and let her go, fully convinced of the truth of her story. I was beginning to see daylight, and the was also growing In interest My first visit was to Madame H , whom fortunately I found at home. She recognized the. lotus flower as forming part of the stolen pendant, and pressed me with questions, which I refused to answer. Then I went to the Case Sylvain. Tips’ statement was confirmed by the waiter. A dark, close-shaven man had dined there the night before, and had dropped several things. After he had

| gone the waiter had found a pair of I gloves, which he brought me. They, too, exhaled the same faint, curious smell. Thrusting them into my pocket, I promptly drove to the Avenue de I’Alma. The baron —the concierge informed me —was out of town. I mounted the stairs to his apartment on the second floor, and was just going to press the bell I quickly withdrew my hand, and stood motionless —I had heard a noise. Somebody near the door was moving a box of a heavy piece of furniture. It was Boris, the valet. I heard him bump against something, uttered an exclamation of pain and relieve bis feelings in vile language. I softly stole down-stairs, and in less than three-quarters of an hour returned with two of my men. Boris opened the door. His master, he said, hao gone to Nice. “That does not matter,” I remarked; 'my visit is to you. I have come to bring you the news that I have discovered the man who stole your master’s coat I can even give you the address of the house where you will find it" The man eyed me and my companions with astonishment, and remarked that his master would be glad to hear it

, "That remains to be seen,” I continued. “For the moment 1 have to deal with you, and I must say that I am surprised your master should have selected you to assist him in his work. I never saw a man so bungle things. “Your master and you go to Mad-, ame H- ’s house on an expedition of a peculiar nature. Your master—apparently a great expert—performs a marvelous trick of sllght-of-hand in making"a jewel disappear from a glass case, and then diverts suspicion by posing as a victim. That story of the stolen coat was cleverly invented; but from the way you told it, it dawned upon me that you might be the supposed thief and that the coat is here now. V “Your" next mistake was also very bad; your.master, having extracted the diamonds from the pendant, left you the gold setting—no doubt by way of perquisite—and you put the little lotus flower in your pocket In the evening ybu wanted to play the ‘swell.’ You dined in a fashionable restaurant; but you got so drunk that ybu dropped your gloves, your handkerchief, and also the gold flower. “Worse still, your handkerchief and glpves tell —I should rather say smell —their own tale. People in your profession should not use scent. Unfortunately for your master, his olfactory nerves are less developed than his other senses, otherwise he would not have allowed you to use it. I noticed that smell when I called after the robbery. “Now comes your crowning performance: Your Russian accent was as good a thing as ever I heard. I even own that at first it deceived me. But you should have remembered that when a man once adopts a foreign accent he must stick to it —even when he is alone. An hour ago, when you ■v • V

knocked your shins, you started swearing in the purest Parisian slang. “And the result of these mistakes is that it is now my duty to arrest you.” The changes in the man’s face, while I spoke, were extraordinary. Surprise, disappointment fear, despair, shame, alternately were depicted, until finally his features assumed an expression of resignation, which they retained. At bay request he showed me the stolen coat It was hanging in one of the cupboards. The man seemed numbed. When we arrived at the Police Prefecture 1 gave orders to let him what we call in police parlance "simmer" in a room by himself to collect his thoughts. An hour later I sent for him. The clock struck four. I remembered Tips. She had arrived. "Do you know that gentleman?" I asked her, pointing to Boris. "Why, yes; he's the man who eat at the table next to me at Sylvain’s, and " ’That wl|l do, Tips." I took her to one of the rooms adjoining my office, and said: , “You have unconsciously placed yourself in danger, and unconsciously have rendered me a service, foF which 4 thank you. Let me now give you a word of advice. Don’t frequent cases, and if ever again you find something

in a public place, don’t put it in your pocket It might prove fatal." Tips’ eyes opened wide.' "No, Tips; I have no time for explar nation. Good-by."— . And I returned to my prisoner. Boris was pacing up and down the room, and, in a hoarse voice, said: “It is all up with me. The smash was bound to come. The man I am serving bought his title in Italy, I njet him three years ago in Moscow, in a club where I was one ofthe attendants in the baccarat-room. These Russian clubs are hells. One night I gave way to temptation. I was conducting a half-tipsy gentleman to his carriage. His portfolio, full of banknotes, was hanging out of his pocket, and I took it. I thought nobody was near; but Baron S had watched me. He told me to come to his rooms that night, and forced me to write a confession of my crime, prdffiising not to denounce me so long as I served him faithfully. The next day I discovered that he was a dangerous adventurer; he has come to {Paris for a big coup that he supposes will bring him in a lot of money.” “Why, then, did he steal that. pendint, a most difficult undertaking, where he ran a terrible risk?” “I have asked myself that question several times. I am inclined to think he was short of money. On the other hand, he is a strange men. Danger attracts him, and I would not be surprised if the very difficulty of the thing tempted him.” Heaving a sigh, he added: “I don’t care what becomes of/me. Monsieur Goron, if I but get out of that man’s clutches-.” The baron had gone to Nice, and Boris gave me his address. I had telegraphed to Nice to keep an eye upon him until my arrival. I waited until be returned from the club to his hotel, and then informed him that he would have to come with me to Paris, to answer the charge of having stolen a jewel. He eyed me for a moment with a slight lifting of the eyebrows. ‘Trnust warn you, Monsieur Goron,” he said, “that you are risking your position by arresting me on such a preposterous charge.” “I take the risk.” He did not utter a syllable when we overhauled his luggage, nor when we searched his pockets. And all the way to the capital he remained silent.

At the Police Prefecture he made a formal protest against his arrest, and then drove with me and an’official to his apartment, which had been kept under observation. Except the famous fur coat I found nothing of interest beyond a quantity of correspondence and a heap of documents —chiefly in Russian —which I seajed in his presence and took back to the Prefecture. On the following morning the baron was to be confronted with Boris, I had informed Madame H that Baron S had been arrested; and a couple of hours later she and Uncle Jerome came to my office in great alarm to tell me that they did not want to prefer a charge against the baron. I looked at them in amazement. “Yes,” they said, speaking in excited tones, “this case must never come to trial, We dare not face the scandal.” “What scandal?” I shouted. “The scandal in the press. Why, we should become the laughing-stock of all Paris!” “You surely cannot expect me,” I sternly returned, “to enter into such considerations. I think myself lucky in having caught that fellow, and he certainly shall not escape. Moreover, you do not seem to be aware that even your withdrawing the charge would not further matters as far as you are concerned, for the case is already Id the public prosecutor’s hands.” They whispered together, and left. But it was written that this affair should be fraught with surprises. I was asked to call at once on the examining magistrate on an urgent matter, and, with a grim smile, he handed me a document. It was a demand from the Russian Government for the extradition of a so-called Baron S on a charge of forging bonds, swindling, and bribing state officials.

It meant transportation for life. The baron’s nerves nearly gave way when this news was communicated to him. But he made a violent effort, and, turning to me said: "I have a request to make of you. Monsieur Goron. Do what you can for that poor wretch Boris. He has nothing to do with this Russian business. I trust you understand nie?” It spoke well for the man that in this hour of trouble he thought of the humble companion whose ruin he had worked. Things altogether underwent an odd change. It was decided not to proceed against the baron in connection with the jewel robbery, as it was doubtful whether, owing to Madame H ’s attitude, a conviction could be obtained. After the usual formalities the baron was banded over to the Russian officials, and twenty years* transportation fell to his share. Boris was released from custody after a severe admonition. I never again came across him. One day a lady asked to see me. On her card I read: Madame Alfred O She entered and I recognized Tips, looking as pretty as ever. T knew you would be glad to se« me," she began. “Very glad, Tips." "You see, we were married six months ago. Alfred Inherited a little money, and is quite a reformed character. He has become a bookmaker, and has a fine connection. I help him in the business.” "Naming winners. I suppose?” "Of oourvel Isn’t my name Tips?"

THE.CHANGES IN THE MANS FACE WHILE I SPOKE WERE EXTRAORDINARY