Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-04-20
THE MYSTERIOUS DEATHS AT CAS-.
TEIIANE
From the Records of 4 French

Alps; and though served under the Sub-
Prefect Of the Third ACCOMPLISHMENT, vet the
Prefect of the Department called upon me
when he chose. One mOrning-it was in the
latter part of May-I received q note from the
Prefect. ordering me 20 come to Digne and see
him with all possible dispatch The missiye
came through the Office of our Sub-Prefect. So
had nothing to do but get ready and start |
took an early dinner; assumed the dress of a
peasant; Drowned my face and hands and set
forth. L reached Digne just ut nightfalI, and
rs soon as it was dark waited upon the Pre-
feet. He seemed to be relieved when he saw
me, and at once took mo to his private closet
Now, said L, "haye You got work for Inc ~
''Ges," he replied, ''sit down and listen''
We sat down. and having tasted a glass Of
wine. he proceeded:
Within few months past, there have
been some Of the most mysterious murders
committed i'll this Department, and the De-
partmcnt Of Var, that have ever come under
my notice. They are DONE mostly on the
road from Castellane TO Aups The first vie
tim was Marseilles merchant, who had come
up to Castellane to purchase preserved fruits
His body was found on the roadside near the
line between the two Departments; and at first
II was supposed that he must have fallen there
and died in fit, as no mark of violence could
be found upon him. His pockets had boen
rihed. however. Tho next one was found near
AnnOt. and under the same circumstances Ho
WAS merchant also. and from Nice Since
then five or six moro have died upon the road
In the same mysterious way; and no marks of
ill-usdgc have b9en found upon any of them
but they have all been robbed"
Have most OF them stopped at Castellane!"
asked.
The Prefect told me that they had.
And suppose they must have put up at
some inn there ,'' / remarked
Yes" said the Project.
then supposed that some Of the landlord.
must be concerned But my companion in
formed me that they had been narrowly watch
ed. and that no shadow of evidence rested
against them.
But" said l. is there not some poison in
this matter Some innkeeper may administer
the potion, and then send an accOmpIice after
the victim
No returned the Project with shake of
the head ." Experienced physicians have ex-
amined the StOmachs of several of the dead
men. bu. no trace Of poison has been found. 1t
is mysterious affair. The Sub-Prefeet has
dOae all he could. but without effect; and now
We mean To give the whole thing into your
hands You must go to Castellane ut once
and there you can get such further information
a the Sub-Prefect can give you
After comforting while longer with the
Prefect. he let me have a suit of ordinary
tradesman's clothing; and thus habited, L
went to hotel and put up for the night In
the morning procured n horse and set out
reaching Castellane before noon. During the
day pretended to he doing business went
to the wOOlen factory and examined n lot of
stuff; and also visited several places where
preserved fruits were put up. learned that
most Of the people who came there on business
stopped ut an inn kept by a man named Juan
Fontaix; 50 L left my horse there, and engaged
lodgings.
After dark carlcd upon the Sub-Prefect.
He told me that he had used all the means
within his power, but had been able to gain no
clue to the guilty party. Most of the muir
dered victims EHd been from Marseilles and
the excitement in that city was intense Gen
darmeS had been sent out upon all the roads
and secret police had also been upon the watch
The last victim had fallen only four DAYS be-
fore, and the deed was done fifteen minutes
after the policemen hsd passed the spot
L asked the Sub-Prefget If he had any sus-
pi.ions lie answered that all the suspicious
he had held was fastened upon Juan Fontaix.
the innkeeper- Nearly all the murdered men
hsd stopped at his house. and ne must have
known something of their business
babe the officer keep perfectly quiet and
not even 10 let one of his men know Of nv pre-
sence. Then retained to the inn and finally
entered into conversation with my host upon
the subject of the mysterious deaths lie pro-
nOunced IL wonderful. and assured me that IL
had injured him more than he could tell
''Parbleu" he exclaimed, they'll be sus-
pecting me next, if they have not done SO al
ready
was soon satisfied that Juan Fontaix knew
nothing of the guilty party. lie was very fear
full and at time. blanched and trembled at the
thought of being apprchcnded for the crime
Most people would have seen in this signs of
guilt; but thought differently.
| spent all of the next day in the town, os-
ten>ibly engaged in business with the factories
but in reality hunting some clue to the object
Of my mission. Night came again. but had
found nothing new. l was perfectly satisfied
that the murderer had laid his plans SO deeply
that no eircumstantal clue could be found If
L would find him | must catch him with the
proof upon him.
had given an assumed name at the inn and
stated that 1 belonged to Toulon. On the next
morning called for my bill, and informed my
host that | off for home Then went to
the fruit PreserVers, and told him the same,
stating that | mus; confer with uy partner be-
fore I concluded my bargain. After this. |
went 70 the wOOllen factory and saw the busi-
ness agent. His name Louis CaEaubOn,
and he had come To Castellsne about a year be-
fore. He seemed to be n stra shtfOrward busi-
hess man, and yet he the only one had
seen whom really wished to suspect In con-
Nersing upon the murders he had been little
TOD free and Of-hanied. treating the subject
more eOOlly than man with a heart would be
apt u DO Bat still l hsi, thus far been able
10 ind nothing against him. On the present
occasion told hiH. az had told the others
that / must return To ToulOn.
d" If you have not the ready money with you
We can give you credit he said
told him ! had plenty Of money. but was
not fully prepared to pay tho prices he had de-
manded. lie said Very WE'LL and added
that he should be happy TO sell TO ne when |
came again. L babe him good day, and then
departed As soon as | was alone | began To
suspect Monsieur Louis Cazqubon i'm earnest
Whom | told him that ] had money but did not
purchase because he charged Inc too much WHY
didn't he banter me! Simply because he
wished me 70 leave town with my money in INV
pocket At least 80 it appeared 10 me. This
was sufficient ground for me tO work upon, and
resolved to watch the man = little while So
1 rode to an Out-of- the-way place, and left my
horse. and then returned and concealed myself
IN position where I could see the movements
Of Louis CazaubOn. In few minutes he came
cut IRON his factory and walked away. His
step was hurried and eager. felt sure that
he Was not the man who did the direct work of
death The plot was deeper than that or he
would have been discovered ere this 80 re-
solved 10 wait a while and see If he returned
/ would have followed him il couId have done
so with safety; but he might have detected me.