Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 January 1875 — A Shrewd Trick. [ARTICLE]

A Shrewd Trick.

The Parisian rogues are the cleverest rascals in the "world and positively elevate their villainy co a science. In no other European capital iis one-half the ingenuity exhibited by this class. The famous Duval eating-houses or restaurants are located in all parts of the French capital, though they are all run by the same company. The professed object of this company is to serve excellent food in a good style and for a very moderate charge. It has been lately discovered that a system of thieving was being practiced upon these establishments, whereby they lost a considerable amount of small silver articles, such as forks, spoons and similar table-ware, but >by whom taken it was difficult to find out. However a careful watch was set, and with the following result: It whs found that a respectable-looking person would enter the dining-saloon and give his order for dinner, of which he partook. During the meal he conveyed one or more articles to the under side of the table, fixing them there by means of wax, with which he was provided for the purpose. Should the servant who waits upon him miss any of his spoons or other articles the rogue is still in no danger and offers himself to be searched with perfect impunity and an air of injured innocence. Of course he is allowed to depart, but immediately after an accomplice enters, orders his dish, whatever it may be, seating himself at the same table, whence he removes the secreted articles to his own pocket, of course taking care that the waiter shall not miss any articles from the table as served before him. There is no reason for suspecting this individual, who quietly pays his bill and departs to share the booty with his waiting confederate. A case of this kind occurred a few weeks since in the Place de la Madeleine, where the superintendent suspected the trick, allowing the first party to retire after apologizing for searching him. He however sent for a detective in plain clothes, and bade him watch that particular table. Presently, after the departure of the first rogue, hm confederate entered, seating himself at the table in question, and while taking his soup began his work, little dreaming that the peaceable-looking citizen opposite, with his back toward him, was watching every movement in the looking-glass through a hole in the newspaper which he held before his face and pretending to read. It was almost as good as a play, and the detective was obliged to restrain himself or he would have burst into a fit of laughter. No sooner had the rogue succeeded in transferring the last of the forks and spoons to his pocket than he rose very leisurely, walked to the cashier’s desk, and took out his money to pay for the meaL But at the , same moment there was a hand laid heavily upon his shout: der and the detective very bluntly slipped a pair of handcuffs upon his wrists. The missing articles were found in his pocket and he was marched off to prison.— Kew York Weekly. Smoke and vapor have for sonje tin* 6 been seen issuing from Bald Hill, at North Fayston, yt.; and the snow has been melted for an acre around, though it is two feet deep in the vicinity. Responsible persons who have examined it declare it to be. a volcano on a small scale. 7 . —An old bachelor says: “ When I remember all the girls I’ve met together, I feel like a rooster in the fall exposed to every weather! I feel like one who treads alone some barn-yard all deserted, whose.oats are fed, whose hens are dead, or all to market started.” Dr. William E. Rossetkr, of Bridgeport, Conn., has just died from the effects of inhaling ether which he was administering to a patient four weeks ago." 1 It produced symptoms similar to those of typhoid fever and diphtheria.