Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-01-27

u
al before the Assize Court of Versailles
a man, or rather demon, named Lsger
accused of having violated and muir
dered, with circumstances ofthe most
foul and attrocious nature, girl aged
twelve years and half. The princi-
pal facts of the case which will bear
telling are as follows: On the tenth OF
last August, Anne Constance dc Bully
a girl, aged twelve years and hall,
residing in the Commune OF Esteyille,
went to work at four o. clock in the
evening in vineyard belonging to her
father, about quarter ola league from
the village, on the borders ofthe Wood
of Bardiou. On her not returning at
the usual hour her family became a.
Harmed, and made long and useless
search in the vineyard and neighbour
ing wood during the night. On the
circumstance being made known to the
police next day, general search was
ordered to be made in the enyirons, but
which produced nothing, unless the
finding Of a blue and white striped hand
kerchief near the place where the unfor-
tunate girl had been working in the
VINEYARD, but which handkerchief was
recognized not to have belonged to her.
At length on the 10th Of Aug. during a
further search. there was discovered
in a rock called de la Charbonniere, a
cavern, the mouth of which was con-
cealed with straw, and branches and
leaves oftrees.
On descending into the cavern, there
were found fragments of srtichokes,
onions, pea-pods, and ears OF wheat,
which proved that it had served as a
habitation to some human being. A
strong smell Of putrefaction which
struck those who first entered, induced
a further search. Lights were pro-
cured, and on proceeding to the further
extremity Of the cavern, there was
found buried under two feet of sand a
large and heavy bundle, which being
brought out and opened, was found to
contain the body Of young girl alrea-
DIV in a state of dissolution, the legs
doubled upon the trunk, which was
most shockingly mutilated; the whole
was enveloped in shift and petticoat,
and firmly kept together by handker-
chief and an oaken twig. The body
was instantly recognized by the parents
as that of their ill-fated daughter. On
the body being examined by surgeon,
it was found that it had been laid open
BY means Of some very sharp instru-
ment, from the waist to the chest; por-
tons of the body had been entirely cut
away; numerous and deep wounds in
ficted; the head and neck gorged with
blood, but the heart and blood vessel
completely dry. Shortly after the find
ing Of the body, wood ranger saw a
man, to him unknown, Of rather ex-
traordinary face and appearance, and
who fed on his approaching him. His
suspicious were awakened, and the next
day being on the lookout again, he
succeeded in Selling him as he was
drinking at fountain. Not being able
to give a satisfactory account Of HIM
self, and having no passport, he was
committed to prison. He had not been
long in confinement when he told two
of his fellow-prisoners that he had been
wandering for the last Is days in the
woods; that he had slept in cavern,
and lived upon artichokes, onions and
wheat, which he stole from the neigh
boring fields and gardens. This was
an important avowal, when it was re-
collected that the fragments of these
catables were found in the cavern where
the body was discovered. The blue
and white handkerchief also, which
was found in the vineyard, on being
compared with the one which the pri-
soner named Leger wore, proved to
be of exactly the same pattern and tex
ture. Two knives were found on his
person, one Of which, with wooden
handle, was exceedingly sharp, and
which, on being applied to the wounds
on the body of the girl (exhumed for
the purpose) correspondent so exactly
with them, as to leave little doubt Of
this being the instrument with which
they were inflicted. Leger, who had
hitherto denied all knowledge Of the
murder, could no longer resist the force
of these circumstances, and on being
led to the spot where the body was
found, and which latter was placed be-
fore him, he confessed himself the per-
petrator, and entered into all the hor-
rible details of the crime. According
to his confession he had been from his
infancy of a sombre and savage dispo-
sition, hating the society Of women and
persons of his own age. Wishing to
hive in complete solitude, he had, on St.
Johns day, quilted his fathers house
under pretence of going to service
He brought away with him only so
francs and the clothes which he wore.
He took up his residence in the wood
of Montmiraux, where he lived for Sc
x,orol dave unop Will $3.50. .l IL