Newspaper Enterprise in Paris.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume I, Issue 31, 6 December 1879, Page 3

Newspaper Enterprise in Paris.

The ingenuity of civilised thieves is extraordinary.. A capital story is told by a correspondent of the doings of one of these rascals in Paris. He started a paper called ‘ ‘ Le Scandale. *’ The name of course tickled the Persians, and it was placarded everywhere. “Robert Morel’s paper was the talk of a certain quartier. Sub-editors, readers, managers, and printers were wanted, and “ printers’ devils ” were not despised. “ A number of workmen and people from the country, servants -who had put by a little money, and did not wish to remain idle, forwarded their claims for places, and Robert obliged them all. They were all engaged right off, without a question being asked. Now oi>rnes the swindle. Just to show their bona tides the applicants were requested to hand in 300 or 500 francs as a deposit. The piquant newspaper appeared for two days, but on the third a scandal of a very different nature appeared. Robert had levanted, and had taken with him all the deposit accounts. The office was of course closed, and there was a general rush’ of the printers and the enormous staff engaged to the nearest police-station. Robert wa* ultimately caught, after a fierce struggle, in which he nearly murdered his captors. In the dock he was bland -and mild-man-nered. He knew the Code Criminal by heart, and corrected the judge when he erred. When asked to state his means of subsistence, he replied that ho had many friends, that he had gambled on the Riwurae. that he negotiated with the Turkish Khan, and that he was a sculptor. When asked to account for the wounds which he inflicted on a policeman, lie said that the man was hurt bv thrusting himself against him (Robert), and he added, “ I am very strong, sir : I have that reputation. The man wished to do « brilliantstroke of business when he laid hands <na me; but if I had really attacked him ho would be a dead man now.” “ But," observed the judge, “ Dr. Bergeron haw stated ” Robert ; •* Dr. Bergeron ban not studied legal medicine as I have." It seems almost i pity that so smelt ingenuity should lie idle in a prison for twelve months, the period to> which Robert was sentenced.