THE CHAMPION THIEF.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1244, 12 May 1914, Page 4

THE CHAMPION THIEF.

CLEVER DEALINGS IN JEWELS.

A very cheerful scoundrel, bearing the bluff name of Francbomme, or Freeman, and avowing himself “the champion thief,” was recently sentenced in the Paris courts to three years’ imprisonment. The sentence was by no means a heavy one, seeing that the man was charged with over 200 thefts, all at the expense of jewellers, and some of them considerable, extending over a period of close on twenty years.

That M. Francbomme had not been laid by the heels much sooner was due to the subtlety of his methods. This is how he worked. Disguised as au inspector of police, he would approach his victim. “Look here,” he would say confidentially, “you know that a good many jewels pass through the hands of us policemen, and some of them”—this with au engaging wink—“stick” there. If you cared we might do business profitable to us both.”

He would then take out of pockets jewels, stolen, of course, which he offered for sale at a price more than reasonable. Generally the jewellers rose to the bait and closed the bargain. But when the pseudo-detective had gone they discovered that several valuable pieces ol jewellery had gone with him. Their own conscience not being clean In the matter, they did not dare to lay a charge against their visitor. In this way M. Francbomme remained at large for many fat years. Even at his recent trial, of the eighty seven witnesses called by the prosecution only a few had the courage to give evidence against him. The majority sturdily denied that he had robbed them. To this collapse of the evidence M. Francbomme no doubt owed the lightness of his sentence.