Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-03-26
From the Norfolk Herald, March 81.

of real life or in the pages of romance, OF
deeds of blood and horror, equal IN atrocl'y |
and shocking circumstances, TO one whicn |
has Just fallen under our notice-the Parti-
culars OF which, as far as we have been able
to collect them, we hele lay before our rea'
ders.
About the first of this month two French
men came to this place from Baltimore, and
rented a small dwelling house in retired
situation near Plume's Rope Walk, hut sell
dom made use oft, and then only at night.
Their mysterious movements excited con-
siderable curiosity in the neighborhooc, aad
even suspicious not altogether favorable TO
them.
Yesterday morning these two men and
third, were observed 10 be in the house, and
between 9 and 10 o'clock Mrs. Lester, Ie-
siding in an adjacent tenement, was alarm
ed by sudden cry, which seemed to be the
cry of u.urdsr!' Some time after, two OF
the men left the house. Mrs. Lester under
the conviction that there was something
amiss goi:.g on in the house, related the cir
cumstance to constable, who entered the
house, and discovered spectacle truly
horrible and revolving TO every feeling OF
humanity. In chamber Of the second sto-
~ was extended on the floor the naked
trunk of human being, Invested OF its head
and limbs, and in the fire place lay the
head, feet and hands, burnt almost TO Gin
ders! The arms were separated from the
body at the shoulder joints, and again divi-
ded at the elbows, and the legs cut apart
al the Joints Of the knees-indeed the whole
Internal operation appeared TO have been
performed with the dexterity of skiltul sur
geon. The limbs thus separated were
thrown together in bucket.-On the floor
lay all axe, besmeared with blood, with
which The dabolical authors Of this foul
massacre had dispatched their victim, and
two butcher knives, which had served the
Office Of dissection.
A COroneE's Inquest was Immediately
summoned, but no evidence appeared which
could IN the slightest degree criminate any
kaown individual Neither The name of the
deceased nor that Of his companion could be
ascellained with certainty, and all the &C
count thai could be given OF them amounted
10 no more than what we have before stated,
except that they had been seen the night
before at house Of no good repu'e III
Church street, and the verdict of the jury
was, as matter of course, "WIltul murder
by some person or persons unknown"
There was no furniture OF any kind in the
house, save a few articles of bedding, and
two trunks What then could have been
the purpose Of these people in taking the
house?
In one of the trunks were a number of ar
tces of valuable clothing; in the other
number of valuable watches, watch chains,
and sundyy articles Of jewelery-on the
floor, too, was an elegant gold patent lever
watch. The object in committing the muir
der could not have been plumber, or the
murderers would have secured these valua
bles. What then could have been the mo-
tive' We can imagine no other but revenge.
Another idea suggests itself however which
does away this superstition Their intention
evidently was 10 cut the whole body in pie
ces & burn it at their leisure; and their leaV-
lug the house was probably only for time,
when they would return, complete their he'll
hsb work and carry of the property without
exciting su>p ,cion.
In one OF tie TRUNKS was found masonic
diploma, from he Grand Lodge Of Mary
land, filled up in the name of Peter Lagoar-
6et,e, aud dated, City of Baltimore, 2lst
December. 1920. But whether that was the
name of the deceased, or OF his companion.
or. indeed of either of them, is a matter OF
uncertainty. 1t was stated by Freuchman.
who said he was acquainted with the person
whom he supposed the deceased to be, that |
his name mas Dade.
An examination into this mysterious case !
was subsequently, instituted by the Mayor,
but after examining number Of persons, the
Enquiry resulted in nothing satisfactory.
Il was stated that the deceased & his com
osnion had frequently been seen in compa-
ny " ith twossSpaniards who had lately arriv-
Cd in town from Baltimore, and about
" hon there were some suspicious indica-
tious.
snould we be too hasty IN surnssing the