M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1859-08-04
From the Records ola French Detective.
The Mysterious Deaths at Castel-
lane,


within the confines of the Departments of
the Lower Alps; and though served under
the Sub-Prelert Of the Third ACCOMPLISHMENT,
vet the Prelect of the Department called up
on me when he chose. One morung-it
was in the latter part Of May-l received a
note from the Prelec;, ordering me 10 come
to Dgne, and to see him with all possible
despatch. The missive came through the
office of our Sub. Prefect, so had nothing to
do but to start. | took an early dinner; as
sumed the dress of peasant; Drowned my
lace and shRnds, anf sot fonbs e reached
| Digne just at nightfall, and as soon as it was
dark waited upon the Prelect. He seemed
TO be relieved when he saw me, and took me
to his private closet.
Now said |, 'have you got work for me!
'Ecs,' he replied. 'Sl down and listen,
We sat down. and he proceeded: with
in few months past, there have been some
| of the most mysterious murders committed
| in this Department, and in the Department
| of Var. that have ever come under my notice.
They are done mostly on the road from Cas-
lellane to AGps.. The first victim was a
Marselles merchant, who had come up TO
COstelane to purchase preserved fruits. His
body wos found by the roadside, near the
line between the Departments; and at first
it was supposed that he must have lallen
there aud died in fit, as 10 mark OF vlo-
lence could be found upon hun. His pock-
cts had been rifled, however. The next one
was found near Annot, and under the same
circumstances. He was merchant, also,
and from Nice. Since then five or six more
have died upon the road in the same myste-
rious way, and no marks Of ilI-usdge have
been found upon any of them; but they have
all been robbed
Have most ofthem stcppedin Castellaner
| asked
The Project told me that they had.
'And | suppose they must have put up at
some inn, there! remarked.
Yes said the Prolect.
! then supposed that some Of the landlords
must be concerned. But my companion in
formed me that they had been narrowly
watched and that no SHADOW of evidence
rested against them
But, said |, is there not some poison in
this matter !! some keeper may admins
ter the potion, and then send al accompice
after the viCtim.'
NO. returned the Prerect, with shake of
the head, Experienced physicians have ex-
amined the stonaChs Of several OF the dead
men, but no trace of poison has been found.
1t is a mysterious affair The Sub PreIect
has done all he could, but without effect; and
now we mean to give the whole thing into
your hands. You must 90 to CasteIOne al
once. aud there YOU can get such further in
formation as lhG Sub.PrCtect can give you.
After conferng a while longer with the
Prcfect, he let me have a suit Of ordinary
tradesman's clothing, and thus habited
went to hotel and put mp for the night In
the morning | procured horse and set out
reaching Castell4ne before noon. During
the day pretended TO be doing business
went to wooden factory and examined q
10, of stuff and also visited several Other
places where preserved fruits were put up
learned that most of the people who came
there on business put up at an inn kept BY d
man namel Juan FOntaix; so left my horst
there and engaged lodgings.
After dark called upon the Sub Prefect
lie told NE that he had used all the mean
within his power, but had been able TO gair
no clue to the guilty party. Most of thu
victims had been from Marseilles, and tn,
= excitement in the city was intense.
, Gendarmes had been sent cut upon all thu
, roads, and secret police had also been upol
the watch The last victim had fallen only
four or five days before, aud the deed wa
| done only fifteen minutes after the police
: men had plss2d .he spot.
asked the Sub-Prelectif he had any sns
picions. He answered that all the suspcio:
) he had held was fastened upon Juan fontaiE
the inn keeper. Nearly all the men mur
dered had stopped at his house, and he mus
have known something of their business.
, bade the officer keep perfectly quiet. ant
q not even let one Of his own men know of m,
presence. Then | retained to the inn, an
finally entered into conversation with my
hostupon the ject OF the mysterious deaths
: lie pronounced it wonderful, and assured MI
$ that it had injured him more than he coul
+ tell
'Parbleu ! he muttered, they'll be suspect
= ing me next, if they have not done SO alreO
dy!
was soon satisfied that John Fontai
u knew nothing of the guilty party. lie wa
q very fearful, and at times blanchvd aud tren
Il bIel at the thought OF being apprehended lC
G the crime. Most people would h ave seen
e this signs of guilt; but thought differently
d Ispent all Ofthe next day in the town, o.
y tensbly engaged in business with the fact'
t. ries but in reality hunting after some clue
% the object oimy mission. Night came agai
: but had found nothing new, was perfect
IT satisfied the murderer had laid his plans s
ID deeply that no cireumslantial clue could
s. found If ] would fad him, must cate
10 him with the proof upon him.
ID had given an assumed name at the I'M
Sc and stated that belonged TO Toulon. On Il
l. next morning called for my bill, and il
y formed my host that was off for home.
Is Then went to the fruit preservers, and to
l. him the same, stating that must confer vii
q nv partner before concluded my bargain
re After this went TO the woolen factory, al
r saw the business agent. His name was Lou
l. Cazlubon, and he had come to CASTELAR,
ig about wear before. He seemed to be
'n straightforward, business man, and yet
oil was the only one had seenwhom had the
IT. of suspecting In conyersing upon the mu
ders. he had been little too free and Of
handed, treating the subject more coolly tina
cy man with heart would be apt to do 81
u still / had, thus far. been able to lind not
e. ing against him. On the present occasion
al told him. as told the others, that must