VILLAINY OF THE "APACHES" OF PARIS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 35, 5 November 1907, Page 9

VILLAINY OF THE "APACHES" OF PARIS.

In tho last few years tho "toughs" of Paris have boon yetting the tipper''hand to an astonishing degree. Previously' they did not. receive much consideration, as most of thorn \wore unarmed, but now, however, the youngest boy has a coutcau, while tho oldest carry revolvers. And woe to the stranger who comes along Ihrough certain parts of the city at night I The Parisian police lire so used to finding men in tho gutters with their pockets turned inside out that the facts are made public in small type and under the title of "The Bandits of Paris." They are fast forming n manent institution. Every now and then, however, gendarmes make a raid and seize firearms. . These revolvers arc sold at auction, to the joy of tho toughs- who are enabled to get dangerous weapons at a ridiculously small pricu. So the bandits arc really aided and' abatted in'their search for arms. "However," says Henry Mnret in his "Garnet d'un Sauvage," "it is a pity that the victims always dio.". Perhaps it would bo best to invent somo method by which the ruffians might examine ii man's pockets' without necessarily, killing him. To that effect the State might open'shops for tho sale of special powder .possessing the property of making those who smell it fall 'into a profound sleep. In tho meantime, the aggressors might operate, cnlm and undisturbed, nnd appropriate whatever they saw fit. They would not need' to worry about committing murder. The sergeants oil their daily round the next morning could pick up the sleepers, and. have them ;ill sent to a hospital, wliere an untidoto could bo administered. .. • .