New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-12-26
|, MYSTERY IN aLeiERs


Our contemporary Of the Bee publishes the fol
lowing account Of the latest excitement over the
river
A startling discovery was made in Aigers on
Sunday morning, which, taken in connection with
certain facts, only vague rumors of which have
reached the public ear leads to the almost posi-
tive conclusion that fearful and bloody tragedy
has been enacted, which is as yet almost conn
pletely wrapped in a shroud Of mystery. This
affair and the concomtant rumors that commenced
gaining publicity threw the quiet community Of
Aigiers into state of intense excitement and
alarm which might have increased to a disagree
able extent had not the police of the right bank,
with no little shrewdness and tact, disarmed the
general fears, and turned public attention aside
from track which they wished to follow up more
effectively in secret.
The people of Algiers who were going to the
Second District markets. just after daylight Sunday
| morning. made the first discovery OF the blood
stains on the ferry landing. This CORY track was
about fifty yards in extent, and both ends were
untraeeabe, one being lost in the coal pile OF the
ferry yard and the other at the rivers brink The
| outer edge of the ferry float, against which the
ferry boat is moored was stained with blood as if
| body had been dragged up out of q skf or had
slid down into the river. On the float were clouts
of blood big drops and CORY stains, more plentiful
4 here than in any other place. On the foot bridge
| leading from the float to the shore there was a
steady straight track Of blood but after it left the
| bridge, on the ground, it was a zgzag, unsteady
course to the place where it turned OIL l, INTO the
coal yard where it was lost altogether This blood
was not there Saturday night up to rather late
hour, and the men who pull the two ferry skifs
| were unable to give any clue to the affair.
| The story industriously circulated for the pur-
pose of aueting the popular excitement was to the
effect that some rascas had stolen and killed cali
or hog, which they were taking over to the market
in the night time. 1t were well il this could be the
truth but some of the blood which was collected
and examined by medical man has proven to be
that of human being.
Chief of Police Esnard and his special officers
Finn, Taylor and Minot, have been actively but
very quietly at work almost day and night since
this discovery. OF course it weuldnot do to speaE
of what they have already accomplished, or are
on the track Of but Mr.. Esnard is shrewd ant
experienced officer, and he is assisted by active
and brave men, who keep their own counsel il
police Investigations. Ii they are able to reach
successful result in their work, we will Immediately
lay before our readers full report of the atial
| and complete history of the detection. In th'
meantime we will simply relate two rumors whcl
have been circulated in connection with this affair
without vouching for the truth Of either.
One is in regard to tie mysterious Disappearance
of q young man named Allen, who is believed I
| have come from New York. He was joiner, Q
pretended to be one, and made application on til
r Opelousas railroad and elsewhere for work, Q
| though he dressed remarkably well for mt
u ehanic out of work and in need of situation. 1t
: said that he was remarked as being a singula
n character in his conversation and actions, and q
e though he spoke of wanting to get work, he neFe
. made serious efforts in that direction, and it
y believed by some that he had plenty of money, an
spoke Of being joiner merely for purposes of di
o guise. M@ s gssa
The other rumor is that a river pirate was sh
:. on the left bank by the private watchman of son
u ship he had endeayored to rob, and that he 1nmpt
l. into the river and swan to his confederate's ski
l. by whom he was taken across the river and carrie
into the coal pile until other assistance could
=, had and the wounded man removed to secu
IL place of concealment. If any private watchmt
6 or other party has shot thief during Saturdt
l. night and the fellow escaped by the river
:. should Immediately call upon or send note to
= F. Esnard, Chief of Police, Algiers.