A GABEEBER Of CRIME

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2174, 16 July 1889, Page 3

A GABEEBER Of CRIME

A remarkable career of crime oomes to us from New Caledonia. Cbpta'n Deblugny (Bays La Colon, of Jane 19) does not belong to the French Army, bat ha ia tbe redoubtable chief of » band of ■soacdrels ; and another youth, name \ Hognnneau, with far and frff-minato feature* made p»rt of thin band of s'x young criminals. Hogonneau w«s Hent'.inant of rhe band. AlHert De ulguy m not more than sixteen years nld, bat baa a'refcdy committed more than 30 rubberize, and only a few months ago came oat of a hoosa of correction. Vr«ry autocratic, be exerolsed a real despotism ovtr hie accomplice?. The mother of one of these went to him one day to reclaim her aor>, Dcbulgny listened to her quietly, and then, pointing hie revolver at her, said, " Madame, let me see no more of yon, cr thla will do for you." On Saturday last theDebu'gny band plundered tbe shops of a chocolate mtker In the Roe de Pallhoa, and of a gunsmith In the Passage de Ift Mare. From the establishment of tbe latter they carried off some 60 fire arm*, severs' kilos of ponder, and more then 800 cartridges On the following day, Sunday, the Commissioner of Police, at the Qaartier des L'las, was Informed that a murder had been committed In a sandy qnarry. He proceeded to the spot Indicated, and found Insensible, m a pool of blood, a youog mac 16 yean of »ge. This was Francis Hagonneaa, who reildes with his relations at Belleville. Debulgny's lieutenant had been shot In the back of the head, and he was oonveyed to the Tenon Hospital. On ths following day he had reoovered the nee of his voice, but to the astonishment of everybody be refuted to give the least information respecting the circumstance! under which he had been wounded. The OommUitbntr of Police has, however, succeeded In ascertaining the particulars, whloh are among the most extraordinary aver known. It appearsJbat on* Sunday morning Debolgny, who bated Hugonneau, sought a quarrel with him. " Oae of us Ii one too many," said DebulgDy, " if you agree I propose we fight a duel, In the American style. Let us go in.o a quarry that I know at LH*s, and each one of us will try to kill the other the best way we oao." Hagonneeu aooepted the challenge, and the whole batad repaired to tbe quarry referred tc. There for more than two hours tbe two oombataats, concealing themselves In the holes, and taking cover m the reoetses of the rooks, discharged their revolvers more than 10 times without doing any Injury. Night was coming on, and it was supposed that tbe combat had terminated when suddenly Djbnlgny, springing behind Hugonneau, fired sT last •hot from his revolver into his head. The lieutenant fell, f»O9 downwards, and the young bandits took to their heels. Tbe police have the descriptions and names of them all, but at present have only arrested the two receivers of the b*nd.