A GENTLEMAN ACCUSED OF ROBBING HIMSELF.

Southland Times, Volume III, Issue 200, 10 January 1866, Page 3

A GENTLEMAN ACCUSED OF ROBBING HIMSELF.

A wealthy Englishman had the misfortune to be robbed of his portmonnaie the other day, containing a large sum, with a ticket for abox at a Parisian theatre, which he had purchased in the morning, and a carte de visite. He went to the commissioner of police, but could give no clue, and there was no hope. The commissioner, however, took his address, and turning the matter over in his mind, thought it just possible that the thief might have the impudence and audacity to make use of the ticket for the theatre, or sell it to some one who would give a clue to the appearance of the pickpocket. Accordingly, an officer was pasted in waiting at the theatre, duly concealed from observation, and awaiting the possibility of the arrival of the thief, and to his great joy a gentleman appeared shortly after the doors were opened, accompanied by two ladies, presented the ticket, and was ushered into the box. As soon as they were seated, the delicate policeman tapped, beckoned monsieur quietly out, so as not to make a disturbance, closed the door, and gave orders that the ladies were not to leave. Then taking the gentleman by the arm, he said " This way monsieur — you are my prisoner!" " 3?or what ?" was the surprised question, and the indignant question, of the proprietor of the ticket box. " That is what you will learn — this way," and he was led down a side staircase to a dismal room, where he found himself in company with two other sergents de ville, to whom the order was given to search. " Ah, as I thought," Baid the officer, " here is the very portmonnaie and the carte de visite ; where is the money? The gentleman seemed now rather amused than surprised and indignant, and after a good deal of explanation, it turned out, and was satisfactorily proved, that this was the identical Englishman who had lost the money, but to whom the thief had in the after-part of the day politely returned the portemonnaie, ticket for the theatre and carte de vitite, but retained his money, as, he wrote, a reward for his honesty.