DETECTIVES IN A TURKISH BATH.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1433, 7 May 1912, Page 6

DETECTIVES IN A TURKISH BATH.

A FAT HAN'S METHOD OF DISGUISU,

A drastic method of disguising himself irom the police was adopted by T.epreux, a cashier of tho Suez Canal Company, who disappeared from Paris last Ucioner alter having embezzled about .£BO,OOO, and li 0 ~[yT A t es, ,"l c I'aris correspondent of the Daily Mail" on Mnrch 19) was nr. rested yesterday in a Turkish bath at Lilie. Leprous, a stout, jovial-looking mail of forty-four, conceived Iho idea fha: a drastic course of ilesh reduction would lurmsh him with a disguise calculated to bottle tho most astute detectives. He accordingly went to Lille on November 1, and taking a small room in a poor suburb, devoted himself to the task of reducing his figure. Accompanied by a magnificent collie dog called Dick, Lepreux arrived daily at tlm bath at 2 p.m., and after passing through the various heat rooms was given elabo-' ate massage. Then he drank a hotll» of clnrot and went to sleep in tho divai room until seven o'clock. As a result this vigorous treatment in three and months Leprous reduced his weight by ,'Sst. 21b., ami effected such a charigo in his appearance that tho detectives could not at fj£sl recognieo him. Like bia embezzlements, I'opreux's arrest was duo t> his lovo for his only daughter Mareelle. When he fled ho left a note saying he had stolen in order to provide her with a dowry, and his refuge at Lillo was discovered through letters sent to him by his family and fetched from tho post oiiice by 0110 of the bath attendants, The detectives arrived at tho Turkish bath yesterday afternoon, and at onco went to the moist heat room, where the attendant pointed out to them a man in a bath wrap. They wero unabio to recognise the comfortable, jolly cashier of iho police photographs in this emaciatedlooking inslivtduil with sunken checks. face was deeply furrow«l, his erstwhile rotundity had vanished, and a ragged grey beard had taken the place of his neat black moustache. He vigorously denied his identity, but after seeiug that "tiie game was up" ho politely asked to l;e allowed to take his coid plungo before dressing and going to the polico station, The detectives affably agi-eed, and while his clothes were searched they watched the unfortunate cashier take his .last plunge. 111 Lis pockets the polico found thirty-two Suez Canal share coupons, some gold, and .£IG in bank notes, as well an soino white pills believed to be poison. Ho declared that he had lost all Hi# sums embezzled save .£2400 in unfortunate speculations. Lepeux, who had been in tne employ of (ho Siiez Company for thirty years, having entered its servico at the age of fourteen, was a most respeeted employer and head of the securities department.