Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1850-05-02

tific knife had been there but certain parts OF
the human body might be required for anatomi-
cal studies, and the grave .diggers might have
violated the tombs to obtain money by the sale
of them a-.- e. t. -.
The watch was doubled but to no purposes
A young soldier was one night seized in tonb,
| but be declared kaa aiana there meet tbs
sweetheart, and had fallen asleep; and as he
evinced no trepdation, they let hinsgo.
At length these ordinations ceased in Pere
la Chaise, but it was not long before they were
renewed in another quarter. suburban ccnle-
try was the new theatre of operations. A little
| girl, aged seven years, and much loved by her
parents, died. With their own hands they
lald her in her coffin, atlrod in the frock she
delighted to ware on fete days, and with her
J playthings beside her; and accompanied by nu
merous relatives and friends, they saw her laid
in the earth. On the following morning it was
discovered that the grave had been violated, tie
body torn from the cooltiin, frIghtfuy mutilated,
and the heart extracted. There was no rob
berry: the sensation in the neighborhood was
tremendous; and in the general terror and per-
plexity, suspicion fell on the boiken hearted
father, whose innocence, however, was easily
proved. Every means were taken to discover
the criminal; but the only result of the increas-
ed surveillance was, that the scene Of 2rofana-
tlon was removed to the cemetery Of Mont
Parnasse. where the examinations were carried
TO such an extent, that the authorities were at
their wits'end. Considering, by the way, that
all these cemeteries are surrounded by walls,
and have iron gates, which are kept close, it
certainly seems very strange that any goul or
vampire Of solid flesh and blood should have
been able to pursue his vocation so long un'
discovered. However, SO it was and it was not
till they bethouglt themselves of laying snare
for this mysterious visiter that he was detect.
ed. Having remarked spot where the wall,
though nine feet high, appeared TO have been
frequently scaled, an old officer contrved sort
Internal machine, with wire attached to it,
which he so arranged that it should explode If
any one attempted to enter the cemetery at that
point. Tis done, and watch being set, they
thought themselves now secure of their purpose.
Accordingly, at mdnigh explosion aroused
the guardiens, who perceived g man already in
the cemetery; but before they could Sc ze him,
he had leaped the wall with an agility that con-
founded them; and although they fired their
pieces at him, he succeeded in makelng his cs-
cape. But his footsteps we're marked by the
blood that had flowed from his wounds, and
several scraps of military attire were picked up
Oh the spot. Nevertheless, they seem to have
been still uncertain where to seek the offender,
till one oil the grave .dggers Of Mont Parnasse,
whilst preparing the last resting place Of two
criminals about 10 be executed, chanced to over.
hear some sappers of the 74th regiment remark
ing that one of their sergeants had returned on
the preceding night cruelty wounded, nobody
knew how, and had been conveyed to the Val d.
Grace, which is military hospital. A little in
qury now soon cleared up the mystery; and it
was ascertained that Sergeant Bertrand was the
author of all these proianations, and OF many
others of the same description previous 10 his
arrival in Paris.
Supported on crutches, Wrapped in a grey
cloak, pale and feeble, Bertrand was now
brought forward for examination; nor was there
anything in the countenance or appearance o
the young man Indicative of the fearful mon
omania of which he is the victim; for the whole
4 tenor of his confession proves that in no Other
light Is his horrible propensity to be considered
In the first place, he freely acknowledged
himself the author of these violations of the
dead both in Paris and elsewhere.
"What object did you propose to yourself il
committing these acts ?" Inquired the President
81 nttell," replied Bertrand; "it was IA hor
riblc impulse. | was driven to it against m,
own will nothing could stop or deter me.
cannot describe nor understand myself what my
sensations were in tearing and rending thes,
bodies"
President And what did you do after one o
these visits to cemetery?
Bertrand-I withdrew, trembling oonvusive
ly, feeling great desire for repose. fell a
sleep, no matter where, and slept for seveIa
hourse; but during this sleep heard every thinl
humed from ten to fifteen bodies IN a night
| dug them up with my hands, which were oheI
torn and bleeding with the labor underwent
hut | minded nothing, so that could get q
them. The guardians fired at me one night an,
wounded me, but that did not prevent my re
turning the next. This desire seized Inc gener
ally about once fortnight.
He added, that he had had no access of tbi
propensity since he was in the hospitul, but tha
he would not be sure it might not return whel
his wounds were healed. Still he hope not.
think am cured" said he. 81 had never see,
any one die; in the hospital have seen seyera
of my comrades expire by my side. belieye
: am cured for now fear the dead"
: The surgeons who attended him were then ex
] amlned, and one of them read a sort Of nlemoi
| he had received from Bertrand, which containe,
: the history of his maady as far as his memor
served him
r From these notes, it appears that there ha,
been something singular and abnormal abou
). him from the time he was seven or eight year
old. 1t was not so much in acts, as in his low,
t OF solitude and his profound melancholy that tn,
t abbberration was exhibited; and it was not til
two years ago that bis frightfu peculiarly fully
: developed itself Passing cemetery one day