CAPTURE OF A FRENCH BANDIT.

Waikato Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2242, 20 November 1886, Page 3

CAPTURE OF A FRENCH BANDIT.

Thk Department of Pas de Calais has jn*t been relieved of a notorious bandit. This second Roi dcs Montague", C.vrpentier by name, has for the past eight months kept the districts of Bethune and St. Omer in a state of terror at the audacity of his exploits. The police, till a few days back, weie never able to lay their hands on him, and the power of his name was so great that he was accustomed to stroll thiough villages and public places with impunity, the inhabitants beiue too f lightened t«> fetch the police. His fa\ounte pursuits were highway robbery and burglary with violence. He twice forced a pantry and enjoyed a meal of bread, wine, and bacon. A year ago Carpentier went so far as to rob the house of a rural policeman who was at that time commissioned to capture hm\ Shortly after he was secured and handcuffed, but unexpectedly forced his way out and escaped. On the 7th February last a posse of 35 gendarmes surrounded a small wood in vhich he was known to be hiding, but after searching everywhere they found that he was gone. Another time he was .surrounded in a farmhouse. While the police were knocking at the door he climbed on to the roof and jumped over their heads. It must be said that Carpentier has some good traits. H« can be playful, good humomed, and considerate. He would never lay his hand on the village of BuKsifU-e and Gosnoy. "The inhabitants of these villiages,^' he nobly says, "feed my wife and my children. Therefore it would be unbe coming in me to do them the least injury. ' lie once broke into the house of an old man, and, pointing his gun at the lonely occupant, asked for his tr.oney or his life. When he had received the money he laughingly pointed out that the gun was not loaded. Carpentier was very fond of sitting down to have a glass at a cafe" among the other customers. There have often been traps laid for him at these places, but he soon scents Parisian money and politeness, and hastily goes away. His capture at a cafe ultimately was owing to a chance. He was recognised, public f pel ing was aroused, and, what was more important, a gun happened to be near. Carpentier was pinioned, and, acknowledging resistance to be impossible, quietly went off to the station.