COINERS AS POLICE SPIES.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1957, 14 January 1914, Page 7

COINERS AS POLICE SPIES.

#ECHO,'OF : TeE"MdTbE BANDIT' ■ ■'• By Tekmßh-ProEa Aeßootation-Cowrißht ."Times"—Sydney •.",Sun".Special Cables. ~..:' (Hco. January 13, 8.15 p.m.) ■ '}'■!■- ■',.■' ■■ ■■■"'-■ '■'■■ Parts, '■ January 12. : At the Sefee. Assizes Pierre Jacob and Charlotte Hulot, who were charged with ■ coining, stated 'that for two years they were- employed by tho police as spies amongst tlio anarchists, being intimately., acquainted with the notorious motor bandits; , . : 'Vriio''anarchists accused Jacob of causing tho arrest at Sante of Liicombe, who committed suicido by loapinp; from tho roof of the prison at Chautillyl "... The prisoners' took up coining in order to allay tho suspicions of the. anarchists, the police' conniving at tho ruse. They called as witnesses fivo police functionaries, .'who admitted having informed Jacobithat .the anarchists intended to take his life, owing to his supposed connection'with; the police. , . Jacob further stated, that they were , about to abandon their coinage implements when they flvie arrested. .After an examination w4iich lias lasted mne months, M. Gilbert, Juge d'lnstructioii. in September of 1912 committed for jiial 22 of the prisoners brought before him charged with taking part in, or being privy to tho criminal ncls of the gang ol ■ motor liandits who torrorisod Paris earlier in the year. The gang Was particularly active from tho end of February "onwards;; The mui'der of the pnlico jßcnt Garnior on February 27 was quickly ioilov.-cd by an aitcmptwl robbery at the house of AI. Tintaiit, a lawyer "of Pontoise, and an March 'Jo took place tho attack cm the bank at Cliaiitillyi when two employees were killed; after the seizure of a motor-car. and tho murder i>l the driver near Montgeroii. Other crimes followed. Then took place the Bi-ege at Uhoisy-lc-lloi on Atiril 28, when MOjiHot and Dubois, two «f the principals, were killwl. On May 14 two other members of Hie gang, Gamier and Vallet, were run totarlli at A'ojjent-sur-Mariio, and alter a memorable night siege ivcro both killed. Tho list of crimes with which the prisoners wets charged was a formidable one. There' were no fewer than 28 separate counts, including eight murders or attempts to , murder, «mj IS thefts. Seven persons, not including four of t.'ie bandits, had already lost their lives, while at least 12 had been more or less seriously wounded. liacombe, another of tho bandits, while under arrest i'oi , murder, committed suicide in Santo Prison. Ho was exercising ill the yard, and, taking aflvniita.g«., of the warder's inatlentjov, scaled a' , Tail' ing, reached the root', and assailed his pursuers with tiles. Lacombe's lawyer was summoned, and endcavourod to p'orsittido tho man to surrender, bnt when tho fifo brigade arrived Lacom)>e sliuok the lawyer's hand, nnd tlirew himseli' hciulloiig from the roof, his skull being smashed. Lauoinlw kept his pursuers at bar tor two hours. Many prisoners witnessed tho tragedy through their ceil 'windows. They shouted, "Vive Lacombt! Vivo anarchic!" when ho jumped to his death.