A CAREER OF CRIME.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1919, 20 July 1889, Page 3

A CAREER OF CRIME.

A remarkable career of crime comes to us from New Caledonia. Captain Debuigny (says Le Coloa, of June 19) does not belong to the French Army, but he is the redoubtable chief of a band of scoundrels; and another youth, named Hugonneau, with fair and effeminate features made part of this band of six young criminals. Hugonneau was lieutenant of the band, Albert Debuigny is not more than sixteen years old, but has already committed more than 30 robberies, and only a few months ago cam© out of a house of correction. Very autocratic, he exercised a real despotism over his accomplices. The mother of one of these went to him one day to reclaim her son, Debuigny listened to her quietly, then, pointing his revolver at her, said, "Madame, let me see no more of you, or this will do for you." On Saturday last the Debuigny band plundered the shops of a chocolate maker in the Rue de Palihoa, and of a gunsmith in the Passage de la Mare. From the establishment of the latter they carried off some 50 fire arms, several kilos of powder, and more than 500 cartridges. Om the following day, Sunday, the Commissioner of Police, at the Quartier des Lilas, was informed that a murder had been committed in a sandy quarry. He proceeded to the spot indicated, and found insensible, in a pool of blood, a young man 16 years of age. This was Francis Hugonneau, who resides with his relations at Bellevillo. Debuigny's lieutenant had been shot in the back of the head, and he was conveyed to the Tenon Hospital. On the following day he had recovered the use of his voice, but to the astonishment of everybody he refused to give the least information respecting the circumstances under which he had been wounded. The Commissioner of Police has, however, succeeded in ascertaining the particulars, which are among the most extraordinary ever known. It appears that on Sunday morning Debuigny, who hated Hugonneau, sought a quarrel with him. " One of us ia one too many," | said Debuigny, "if you agree I propose we fight a duel, in the American style. Let us go into a quarry that I know at Lilas, and each one of us will try to kill the other the best way we' can." Hugonneau accepted the challenge, and the whole band repaired to the quarry referred to. There for more than two hours the two combatants, concealing themselves in the holes, and iaking cover in the recesses of the rocks, discharged their revolvers ten times without doing any injury. Night was coming on, and it was supposed that the combat had terminated, when suddenly Debuigny, springing behind Hugonneau, fired a last shot from his revolver into his head. The lieutenant fell, face downwards, and the young bandits took to their heels. The police have the description and names of them all, but at present have only arrested the two receivers of the band.