Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-10-30
ALEX ANDRIA GAZETTE
A REMARKABLE INCIDENT.
From Zerah CoLburn's Memoirs.

In the beginning Of 1915, . circumstance
| took place that excited much interest in Paris.
| A surgeon in the army, named Dautun, was ar.
rested at gambling house in the Palais Roy.
al, on the testimony OF q scar on his wrist
Some time previous. the officers Of the night had
found while passing their rounds, in the differ.
ent parts Of the city, four parcels tied up. One
contained the head, another the trunk, third
the thighs, and fourth the legs and arms of a
man. In the teeth, tightly com pressed, was a
piece Of human flesh, apparently torn out in the
dying struggle. The parts we're collected. and
put together in their regular order. and eyhibi-
ted for number of days at the Morgue. The
mystery which involved this dark transaction ex-
cited quite an interest, and numbers went to
behold the corpse. The general and only con-
vctlop was, that he must have been murdered;
but ftra number Of weeks no clue was oblainedto
elicit nicr nation on the subject. When it be-
came improper to keep the body longer above
ground, cast in plaster was taken, fully repre-
senting the murdered victim, and this remained
much longer time for the public to see.
Al length Datum happened to be engaged in
gambling at the Palais Royal; he played high aud
lost: csj.,us FOR liquor to drink, and angry be.
cause ,he wsi,er was somewhat tardy, when he
cane with II. Dautun emptied the glass, and
thousand pieces. and fla :ment was carried in
10 Dauiun's wri-, under the cuff OF his coat
The spectators gathered around, aud learning the
accident, wished 20 see the cash; he drew down
his sleeve, aad i?mIv pressed 1t round his wrist;
tiny assisted oh seeing ii, he obstinatelv refused.
By this course the by--,anders we're at length led
10 suppose that something mysterious was involv-
ed ia MS conduct, and determined at all events
Ia see his wrist. b. force they pushed up his
sleeve, and behold i scar, recently healed, as II
made BY tearing ont Of flesh, appeared. The
landlord had been at the Morgue, had seen the
murdered ,nan with the flesh between his teeth,
aud n struck nm in HOment that the flesh
lurn f.om inis nau's wrist Charging iheu 20
keep HIN safe, he FASTENED to call IN the legal au-
thorl,ies, and had him arrested.
la the event, Dautun confessed, that being
auartered at Sedan, and out Of money, he came
to Paris to try some adventure. Knowing that
his brother had large sum BY him, directly on
his arrival, he went to his lodgings in retired
part Of the city, about eight in the evening. lie
entered the house unnoticed BY the purter, aud
passing to his apartment, found his brother
asleep. He Immediately commenced his work OF
death; his brother waking up, defended himself,
but iu addition to the surprise and horror OF the
moment, being in feeble state Of health, oil the
desperation Of his struggle Vas overpo"ered. In
the scuffle he tore out the flesh Being killed,
the surgeon cut up the body. tied it up in four
parcels, as before mentioned, secured the money,
and retired.
He also confessed that eleven months previous
he had murdered an aunt, who was living win
second husband. to obtain money. Her husband
was arrested and imprisoned for number OF
months. but az nothing appeared to crmnate him
he had been discharged. The writer saw the uu.
happy frarricide on his way from prison to the
Mace Of execution