The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-15 00:00:00

A STRANGE STORY.

We find in Galignanis Messenger of the 17th the
following strange story:—" A few nays since a medical
man, named Philippe, died in a village near Paris,
where he had resided many years, and had acquired a
great reputation for skill and probity. He never de•
manded any remuneration, except from those who were
in circumstances to be able to pay him; and during the
last visit of the cholera he was indefatigable in his
attention to the suffering poor. Last year an English-
man, travelling in that part of the country, was
taken so suddenly ill that he was obliged to stop at
an inn in the commune, and Dr. Philippe was sent for.
Scarcely, however, had he arrived at the bed-side of the
patient when the latter became violently agitated, and his
countenance changed exceedingly. The doctor appeared
also to be agitated, and at once ordered every one out of
the roam. When that was done, the door was locked on
the inside. The landlady, being curious to know what was
going on, listened at the door, but the conversation was car-
ried on in a language which she did not understand ;
she, however. heard the patient exclaim in French
' Assassin ! assassin I' after which a violent alter.
cation ensued. The Englishman appeared to threaten,
and the doctor to supplicate him ; the latter after-
wards left the room, and went into the kitchen, where
he prepared some medicine which he ordered to be
given to the patient several times during the night.
On the following day the stranger was much worse,
and feeling his end approaching, he made a sign for
pen, ink, and paper, and wrote a few words in English
which the landlady gave to the mayor of the com-
mune, who, not understanding the language, threw
it aside into a drawer, where it was forgotten.
The stranger died the same evening. A few days
since the mayor, when called on to register the death
of the doctor, who in his turn had paid the debt of
humanity, thought of this paper, and on his showing
it to his nephew who understood the language, it was
found that Dr. Philippe was nb other than the famous
Patieson, a noted robber of the United States, all trace
of whom had been long lost. The Englishman had re-
cognised him as a man who had, twenty years-before at-
tempted to murder him, while travelling in the State of
Vermont, in America. The mayor immediately proceeded
to the house of Dr. Philippe to institute an inquiry. He
found that he had during his illness refused to be undressed,
and had made the persons who attended him promise that
he should be buried in the clothes which he then wore.
The mayor, however, ordered the body to be undressed,
when it was found that the doctor was in reality a
very spare man, although he always appeared stout, the
bulk being caused by his wearing clothes wadded most
thickly. ills legs were also bandaged up, and one of his
feet was found to be a very skilfully-made artificial one.
The body was covered with marks of wounds. In a dark
closet there were found several chests fastened with triple
locks, and on these being forced oped they were found to
contains arms of various kinds, watches, gold coins of all
nations, and diamonds and jewels to a considerable
value. Particulars of this discovery have been trans-
mitted to the Government, and a copy sent to -the autho-
rities of the State of Vermont."