A SWINDLER’S END

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1929, Page 5

A SWINDLER’S END

AN ARREST. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright .) . (Received this day at 10 a.m.) PARIS, October G. Following statements by Clements’ lriends, the police arrested a graved.gger named Boulogne, who is ail ex-con-vict, nicknamed “The Tattooer.” Allegedly lie actually buried the so-called Marquis. DETAILS OF CRIME. PARIS, Oct. 5. In a letter to the “Matin,” the selfstyled “Knight of Themis” states that a woman assuming the name of Madame Dargeval, formed a society professedly composed of members of the French aristocracy. She wrote to Clement, while lie was in prison, regarding the publication of his memoirs. She met him at Trouville on his release, and .drove him to an estate which was apropriately named “Bois de Justice,” where he was buried. She also wrote to Clement’s mother bidding her farewell on his behalf. In In's pockets the kniglits found a plan which they believed referred to the hiding place of the money Clement had obtained by swindling the knights. It was decided to use the form of torture employed by the Inquisition, called the water test. They bound the victim and inserted a funnel into his mouth and poured in water, a litre at a time, questioning him regarding his plans, till at the seventh litre, Clement confessed that he had hidden, in the forest, a box containing fifteen million francs worth' of securities. The knights searched and found the box. Its contents included first-class British securities., They decided to carry out the final punishment. The letter adds: “The knights are only beginning their work. They will deal similarly with other swindlers.” The general 1 opinion, however, is that the incident is intended only to boast Clement’s memoirs, and a .tragedy was not expected. It was due only to one air-pipe being used, preventing a through draught clearing the carbonic acid gas from the coffin. It is not clear why the accomplices, if they were such, , failed to liberate the man in /■ tune.