LOUIS BROWN

Alias: FRENCH LOUIE

Specialties: BURGLAR, KEY-FITTER, TOOL-MAKER

No: 204 Last Displayed: 1/1/0001

Description:

Fifty-nine years old in 1886. Born in France. Married. Machinist. Slim build Height, 5 feet 10 inches. Weight, about 145 pounds. Gray hair, very thin; hazel eyes, fair complexion. Large nose. Thin face. Small mole near right eye. Wife's name, Annie L. Wolf.

Record:

BROWN, or FRENCH LOUIE, the name he is best known by, is one of the most expert burglars in America. His particular line is the manufacture of burglars' tools and making false keys from impressions in wax. He seldom takes a hand in a burglary, unless it is a large one. He generally paves the way for the operations of confederates, and works from 6 A. M. to 8 A. M. in the morning, when his operations can generally be carried on with impunity, as any person seeing him at that hour would fancy that he was simply opening the store for the day's business. French Louie has spent at least twenty years in State prison in America, two-thirds of it in Sing Sing prison, New York.Louie was arrested in N ew York City on July 15, 1877, in the act of committing a burglary at Nos. 27 and 29 White Street. He was convicted and sentenced to three years and three months in State prison at Sing Sing, N. Y., on August 16, 1877. He escaped from Sing Sing on July 16, 1878, and was re-arrested in Philadelphia, Pa., on February 18, 1879, and returned to Sing Sing prison to serve out his unexpired time.He was arrested again in New York City, on August 27, 1881, for tampering with the padlock on the store of E. H. Gato & Co., No. 52 Beaver Street. There was $5�,000 worth of imported cigars in the store at the time. Louie pleaded guilty of an attempt at burglary, and was sentenced to two years and six months in State prison, on Septem ber 12, 188 I, by Recorder Smyth, in the Court of General Sessions, N ew York City. His time expired on October 12, 1883.French Louie was arrested again, under the name of John Yole, in Hoboken, N. J., on March 18, 1886, and sentenced to ninety days under the' Disorderly Act. He had some tools and keys in his possession when arrested. His case was referred to the Grand Jury, which body failed to indict him.Brown's picture is an excellent one, taken in Philadelphia, Pa.