The Minnesota pioneer. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn. Territory) 1849-1855, 1850-02-27
strange Discovery of a Mnrderer.


Almost the last case OF nota in which The
torture was used 10 France before tn revo-
luton, was one of a very extraordinary ma
ture. An English Catholic lady tanned
Burton, when travelling in Bagneres, stop
ped at an inn where she had lodged bet1fe
There was bur one 'ssonblc. bedeird room I'm
occupied and Mrs. Burton was Obliged to
put up with rhat,as the Gully aeconns.latjon
which could be obtained for herself
and waitng-mai,l The latter, al!ef he
had Attended her mistress, prepared 10 +.
tire herself, but when nearly nndresss4.
caught a glimpse of her figure in large
cl,ned mirror which stood opposite taa-s.1
Charmed with her own appearance, the
wor,is "Ah, la peas blancheI alb, .e Joli
bras ~ {what fair skin what pretty
arm J escaped her, with other expressiosis
Of vanity natural To a French girl Uf nef
age AT last, pleased and satisfied win
herself she retired TO rest, and soon fell in
to profound sleep.
When she awoke in the morning, she ap.
preached the bed of her mistress, AM drew
aside the curtains for the purpose of ava
kening her. Judge what was her horror ON
beholding her mistress swimming il hEeod.
She uttered piercing cry, and fel back
wards, senseless. The landlord, on hearing
the shrek, ran up stairs, burst open the door,
and beheld a sight which, for a rnoment ftoze
him with terror. He called up his servants,
to whose care be consigned the unhappy
waiting maid, and directed them 10 attend
her whilst he went to make the matter
known to a magistrate. The later pro-
ceeded to the place, and ordered the servant
to he detained until further information
could be procured.
The proceedings were long: the maid was
subjected to examination, and as nothing APP
peared to cri,ninate her she was ser at lib
erty. But this was not sufficient for her;
she possessed one of those proud delicate
spirits, to whom irreproachable innocence
appeared an absolute want.
She therefore considered that by mere
legal discharge from the accusation, she had
not been completely exonerated, ana she &c
ternined to reside for some time longer in
the town, to obtain from the tribunal Of
public opinion the fullest possible ins,iica-
zion. For this purpose she took lodgings
at miiliner's. who supplied her wiz work,
and enabled her to live without exbausting
the little sum she had saved from he earn
ings whilst with Mrs. Burton.
After being thus employed for near two
months, she had occasion one day to 60 10
truterer'S shop, near a cabinet maker.
One Of the men, who was amusing himself
in singing. suddenly stopped, and after oh
serving her for moment, said, oh, Ia DeGu
blanche! ah, ie joi bras! Recollection fash
ed across her mind; it became evident tbat
these expressions directed to her, could on
ly have been learned from her own mouth,
when she used them under the circln:slan-
ces described.
A suspicion arose in her mind about the
man. She related the circumstance to u
magistrate, and he was apprehended. The
usual forms of criminal proceeding were
gone through, but without producine any
thing further against the accused, Tbs
case was considered 10 be one for tye appli-
cation OF torture. The man confessed ihat
he was hidden under bed, in the rooss1
where Mrs. Burton and her maid Slept thal
he had remarked the conduct Of The ialler,
notwithstanding his constrained position,
from which be did not move until the PEG
pie in the house had retired to bed: and
then, with gag and poniard, he committed
the murder in silence. and escaped wi.h the
purse he found under the la,Iy's pillow
The maid owed her safety to her profound
sleep. and the hope he entertained shat all
suspicion of the murder would fali upon
her.