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Show poliot n cab DRIVERS 00! TITLES Parisians Purchase Decorations and Pretend That They Are Real Peers of Morocco. SWINDLER UNDER ARREST Acquired Money Rapidly by Sale of Bogus Medals and Insignia of Nobility. Special Cable to Tho Tribune. PARIS, May 13. Jean Francais, despite his prolentloiui to democracy, dearly loves a title arid a medal and ho Is willing to pay' for one or both, even if Swindled In the operation. Apropos of this a laughable swindle on a large scale, whereby French citizens have been swindled was brought to light by tho arrest of Jean Valcnsl, moving spirit In the "Order of the Grand Red Crescent of Morocco," M. Clemcnti. founder of the. National Humanitarian league, and M. Mculcmans, editor. Specified charges against tho trio aro of having sold the decorations of the Academic Palm, with a diploma which was forged, to many tradesmen. M. Mueiemans Is said to havo had relations with numerous political personages and the newspapers hint that the scandal may assume more serious proportions. Tho most fantastic accounts aro given of the decorations bestowed on shopkeepers, shopkeep-ers, policemen, photographers, doctors and other professional men by the National Humanitarian league. Life membership, which co9t S-iO down, carried with it the violet Insignia, which was hardlv dlstlntrulshnblp frnm rh lirlt- imale French decoration of tho Academic Acade-mic Palm. Valcnsl first started a branch of the "order" in the north of France, and advertised ad-vertised for a certain day the visit of Lllc of Kald Said Carder, described as a representative of the Sultan of Morocco. The "Kald" and another Moorish official appeared, each wearing Moorish headgear, and with them his "excellency." Valcnsl, In a red fez. They were received at tho railway station by the authorities and a number of Lille adherents of the "Order of the Grand Red Crescent of Morocco." The affair created great excitement. At Valonsi's hotel the Moroccan flag was flown from the balcony, speeches were made at a banquet by the "Kald," In broken French, and "his excellency." Valcnsl, Val-cnsl, and, subsequently a number of decorations deco-rations were distributed. A cab driver was created a count. The prefect of police in the town was nominated nomi-nated an officer of the "Golden Cross of Italy." |