Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-03-11
LYEVENING STAR,
THE ASSASSIN OF The PAS BE CALAIS.
n Remarl<a bic series Of Criw,e. a

THE assassin OF The PAS BE CALAIS
n Remarkable Series OF Crime.
. Abouttwenty years ago, much excite
ment was caused throughout larg
district of the northeast Of France, by
series OF remarkable crimes, which were
committed upon the high road which run,
from Calais, through st. Omer, to Arras
The first of the outrsges which attrac
ted so much public attention was attendet
with singular circumstances AT fiy,
o'clock one morning some early ris;n.
inhabitants of St. Omer were surprised q
see well known and highly esteemed
neighbor riding into town in his toupie
or gig, as if he had been riding all night
and were Just returning home. Tt wa.
Alexis Bribault, the notary. His hors.
seemed jaded and tired, and was Jogging
doggedly along with his head low down
his ears Tapping forwards, and his lone
tail dropping listlessly betwixt his weary
legs. There was something very strange
in the appearance of NJ. Bribault, which
caused every one to turn and look at INN
as he rode steadily and slowly on. He
was deadly pale, his mouth rigidly shut.
and his. eyes wide open, with a fixed
stare, which either denoted intense alb
Straction of mind, or mental alienation.
The hand which held the reins had drop
ped carelessly upoc his knee he secured
to have completely forgotten that he was
riding in his toupie, and that there was a
horse before him. His hat, which had
evidently fallen in the dirt, was slouched
upon his head, but in such manner as
not to interfere with full view of his
counteBance. Although it was summer j.,
a large neckerchief was tied in wide
fold over his throat and chin, and the
great travelling cape, which, in fine
weather, was always strapped up in front
OF the gig, was now thrown over his
shoulders. 1t was strange; but perhaps
M. Bribaalt had found it cold during the
night, or had been seized with indisposi.
tion on the road. His appearance alto
gether wasr certainly remarkable and
alarming. .Lf - 90 3m.t sFs.
As the gig passed along before the
great cage of shop of Perrin, the bird
some half dozen earrion crows
which he kept began to croak. and mani
tested such sudden and unanimous ex-
citement, that Perrin himself was
- ,-H
!" Hola :" exclaimed Perrin, with seri-
GUS wonder, as he looked up and down
the street and all around. .s There is
fresh blood split somewhere near" 9
Lis. knowledge of the instincts and
habits of the birds was correct. 1t was
quickly observed that the slowly-movine
gig left behind it trail of dropsof blood
This discovery was no sooner;made than
several townspeople ran after the vehicle,
stopped the horse, and demanded of NJ
Bribault what had happened. He d;a
aot speak, but still stared fixedly before
him. lie looked as if he had been
to death-as if he were sitting
up in a state of immovable torpidity.
They prepared to carry him into the house
Of a physician. but found that he was
firmly1 tied to to the gig. They opened
he cape, and saw with horror that blood
was streaming, fast and thick, down his
breast. A short, broad piece of wood
iad been ingeniously fastened, in an up
light position, to the back of the gig, and
70 this the unfortunate man had been
irmly tied with strong cord, which was
wound round his body and the stake in
certain doubly spiral manner, curiously
ingenious and effectual, for the purpose
Of keeping him upright upon his seat,
Notwithstanding the motion of the gig.
Over all, the cape had been thrown
They united the widely folded handker-
chief which concealed his throat and chin.
IN this, on either side, small piece Of wood
lad been inserted, which had kept his
lead in position. AS they. removed the
veil -contiived bandage, the head fell back
With appalling listlessness, and fright
ully torn, mangled throat was exposed
o view. NJ. Bribault was dead. He had
gone the preceding day to collect the
'ents of certain property, of which be
ladthe superintendent, and was expected
o return the same evening. On his way
home he had been wayiaid, murdered.
'oDbed of every farthing, and sent home
n the mann er above described, his trusty
lorse guiding the way to his masters
lwelling. 1t was found, by the sums
which NJ. Bribault had received, that The
'obber or robbers had made booty OF
our thousand francs, all in specie. Ac-
,ording to the evidence of physician,
he decorations in the throat of the un
ortunate man had been inflicted by the
eeth of some animal, most probably
hose of dog Such was the fret nt
his series of crimes. Instant measures
we're taken for the detection and appre-
tensions of the criminal or criminals, but
without any result. sd
The second outrage was also distin-
suished by remarkable circumstances
lolin Festin was the proprietor of larg,
arm, some twelve miles from st. 0mer,
owards Arras, and was. a man of con.
,ideT bile wealth. One morning, about
wo months after the murder of NJ. Bri-
,ault, peasant who was going to " ork |
N NJ. Festin's farm, observed his master
eated upo1 bank at some distance Fl IN
he side of the road, leaning his back |
lgainst tree, and smoking with an air |
# profound abstraction. As M. Festin |
lad always been an early riser, and was |
Inown to be fondly attached to his pipe, |
he peasant took no especial notice OF
lim, but went on towards the farm, to |
proceed with his work. He found that |
Madame Festin was already up and
lbout. She asked him, with some ankle |
y, if he had seen his master. He told |
7ar bo hal. apd po;,ta1 70 xrbara NJ Il