Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian., 1859-06-11
Mysterious Deaths at AastelIane.


fhoM THE RECORDS OF FRENCH DETECTIVE.
had some renown as successful rogue
catcher; and had some experience, too-
My field of operations, as usual thing, lay
within the confines of the Department of the
Lower Alps and though served under the
Sub Prefect of the Third ACCOMPLISHMENTS, vet
the Prefect of the Department called upon me
when he chose. One mOrning-it was in the
latter part of May received a note from
the Project, ordering me to come to Digne,
and see him with all possible dispatch The
missive came through the office of our Sub
Prefect, so l had nothing to do but get ready
and start. took an early dinner assumed
the dress of peasant; Drowned my face
and hands, and set forth. l reached Digne
Just at night fall, and as soon as it was dark
waited upon the Prefect. He seemed to be
relieved when he saw me, and at once took
me to his private closet.
Now" said ], shave you got work for
me?"
Yes" he replied. "Sit down and listen"
Within few months past there have
been some of the most mysterious murders
committed in this Department of Var that ey-
er come under my notice. They are done,
mostly, on the road from Castellane of Aups.
| The first victim was Marseilles merchant
|
preserved fruits His body was found by the
roadside, near the line between the two De-
partments and at first it was supposed that
he must have fallen there and died in a fit
as no mark of violence could be found upon
him. His pockets had been rifled however.
| The next one was found near AnnOt, and un-
der the same circumstances. tie was mer-
: cnant also, and from Nice. Since then five
or six more have died upon the road in the
same circumstances. He was merchant al
so, and found on the road in the same mys-
terous manner, and no marks of ill-usage
have been found upon any OF them; but they
have all been robbed"
| 4" 1avu rn~~t =" =
-. Vi them stopped in Castel-
lane?" asked.
The Prefect told me that they had.
And suppose they must have put upat
some inn there p l remarked
Yes, said the Prefect,
then suppose that some ofthe landlords
must be concerned. But my companion in
formed me that they had been narrowly
watched, and that no shadow of evidence rest
ed against them.
" But said |, "is there not some poison in
this matter? Some innkeeper may admins
ter the potion, and then send an accomplice
after the victim"
| No; returned the Prefect, with q shake of
! the head" Experienced physicians have
examined the stomachs of several Of the
dead men, but no trace Of poison has been
found 1t is mysterious affair. The Sub
Project has done all he possibly could, but
without effect; and now we mean to give
the whole thing into your hands. You must
go to Castellane 1T once, and there you can
get such farther information at the Sub-Prc-
feet can give you.
After comforting a while longer with the
Project, he let me have g. suit Ct ordinary
traGesnar's clothing, and thus habited, [
went to the hotel and put up for the night
In the morning procured horse, set out
and reaching Castellanc before noon.
went TO the wollen factory and examined lot
Of stuff and also visited several places
where preserved fruits were put up [ learn
ed that most of the people who came there on
business stopped at an inn kept by man
named John Fontaix ; and left my horse there
and engaged lodgings.
After dark L called upon the Snb-Prefect.
lie tcd me he had used all the means with
in his power, Lut had been able to gain no
clue TO the guilty party. Most Of the muir
dercd victims had been from Marscillcs, and
| the excitement in that city was intense
Gendarmes had been sent out upon all the
roads, and secret police had also been sent on
the watch The last victim had fallen only
four days before, and the deed was done iiE
teen minutes after the policemen had passed
the post.
asked the Sub-Prclect if he had any sus-
picions lie answered that all the suspicion
he had hcld, was fastened upon John FOntaiX,
the inn-keeper. Nearly all the murdered
men had stopped at his house, and he must
have known something of their business.
bade the officer keep perfectly quiet, and
not even let one of his own men know Of my
presence. Then | returned to the inn, and
finally entered into conversation with my
host upon the subject of the my sterious
deaths. He pronounced it wonderful, and
assured me that it injured him more than lie
could tell.
Parbleu! " he muttered, "they'll be sus-
pecting me next, if they have not done so al
ready r'
was soon satisfied that Juan FOntaiX
knew nothing of the guilty party. He was
very fearful, and at times banched and trem-
bled at the thought Of being apprehended for
the crime. Most people would have seen in
this signs of guilt but thought different
ly.
| spent all of the next day in town, osten.
sibly engaged in business with the factories
but in reality hunting after some clue to the
object of my mission. Night came again -
but found nothing new. | was perfectly
satisfied that the murderer had laid his plans
so deeply that no circumstantial clue could bt
found If | would find him, | must catcl
him, with the proof upon him.
had given an assumed name at the inn
and stated that belonged to Toulon. On thu
next morning called for my bill, and inform
ed my host that was off for nome Then
went to the fruit preservers and told him tn,
same, stated that must confer with my
partner before concluded by bargain. AT
ter this went to the wOolen factory, ant
saw Louis Cazaubon, and he had come tt
Casteane about year before. He seemed
to be a straightforward, business man, an,
yet he was the only one had seen whom
really wished to suspect. In conversing upoE
the murders, he had been a little too fire.
and off handed, treating the subject NOR
coolly than a man with a heart would be ap
to do. But still | had thus far, been able to fin
nothing against him. On the present occa
sion told him,a had told the others, that
must return to Toulon.
If you have not the ready money wit
You, we can give you credit" he said.
told him had plenty of money, but
was not fully prepared to pay the prices h
had demanded. He said, livery we'll y an
added, that he should be happy to sell to m
when came again. babe him good day AN
then parted. AS soon as | was alone, / be
gan to suspect Monsieur Louis Cazaubon il
earnest. When told him had money, bu
did not purchase, because he charged me to
much, why didn't he he banter me- Simr
, lv hecarlse he wished me tO lo.vo +o,,-> -.
~ my money in my pocket. At least so it ar
peared to me- This was sufficient groun
for me to work upon, and resolved to waite
l. the man little so rode to an out-of-th,
- way place, and left my horse, and then II
turned and concealed myself in a positio
y where | could see the movements of Lou
~ Caxa..l.ox, In, fo,1. minutes he q