FRENCH DETECTIVES.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3796, 14 September 1883, Page 4

FRENCH DETECTIVES.

According , to a Homo journal, French detectives are not only personally unknown to tho general imblic, but, save in exceptional cases, even to each other. It is known where they may bo found sit a moment's notice when wanted ; but, as a rule, they do not frequent the Prefecture more than can bo helped. They have nothing whatever to do witli sowing , summonses, or executing , warrants. There arc among them men who have lived in ahno.it every class of life, and each of them has what may be called a special line of business of hia own. In the course of their duty sonic of them mix with tho receivers of .stolon goods; others with thieves; many with what arccalled in Paris commercial rascals, and not a few with thoso whoso industry it is to

melt silver and other property of a like valuable nature. Forgers, sharpers of all kinds, house-breakers, and horse -stealers — a very numerous and most industrious class in Paris—have each and all their special agents of the police, who watch them, and know where to lay hands on them when they arc "wanted." A French detective who cannot assume and " act up to" any character, and who cannot disguise himself in any manner so effectually as not to he recognised even by those who know him best, is not considered fit to hold his appointment. Their ability in this wnv in jiKii .-ellons. One of them some years ago made mo n. "hot that ho would, in the course of tho next few days, address me four times, for at least ten minutes each time, and that I should not know him on any occasion until he discovered himself. As a matter of course, I was on my guard, and mistrusted anyone who came near mo. But the man won his bet. It is needless to inquire into particulars. Let it suffice to say that in tho course of the next four days ho presented himself in the character of a bootmaker's assistant, a fiacre driver, a venerable old gentleman with a great interest in tho Bourse, and finally, as a waiter in the hotel in which I Avas stopping. Assuredly tho man deserved to win his bet, for in no single case had I tho faintest suspicion of his identity.