Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-01
MOreester Daily Spy.
From "All the Year Round"
LACENAIRE.


Scribe, the fertile dramatic author with the
intention Of putting his literally TO the test,
and in case of refusal, of mailing him with
dagger to his desk and then making off with
anything he could lay hands on. NJ. Scribe,
without allowing him TO finish his story, took
couple OF Louis dor out of his drawer, and
said
ACCEPT this, you are in distress l have
no occasion to learn any further particulars"
Lacenaire, touched by his generosity, SIAM
mered out his thanks, and retired
Mote the effect of benevolence I" he alter
ward said. 81 went to NJ Scribe with the in.
tention of numbering him but ever since that
day, remember him with gratitude"
The adventure which led 10 the final catas.
uophe was this In 1922 at Possy, Lacen-
ARE became acquainted with one Chardon. a
thief Chardon tried to hide his vices under
the mask of religion, and sold devotional en-
olemS made of spun glass. He tackled to his
name the title OF Brother of the Charity of
oainte Camille, and in petition addressed to
the Queen Marie Amelie he prayed for ii e es.
adjustment of conventua hospital for men.
lie lodged with his aged mother, the widow of
ChardOn, on the first floor of the Passage of
Cheval Rouge, between Rue St. Martin and
Rue de PUnceau. Lacenare had deadly
quarrel IN prison with Chardon about money
matters, and eve" since their liberation had
carefully avoided each other.
One German, also an eX-prisoner of PosSy,
called Unexpectedly on Baton, his friend, and
found him busy writing with Lacenare lie
Immediately reported the circumstance to
Chardon, whom he constantly visited, bitterly
hating him all the while.
''Fhey are up to forgery" said the pretend
ell brother OF charity, with that instructive GER
tainty peculiar TO old offenders, and he WAS
right. "But Laccnaire had better take care
will get him arrested p
German, who was the most perfdious and
active of mischief makers, lost no time in ae.
quainting Lacenaire with the temper Of his old
companion in captivity assuring him, besides
that Chardon kept in closet quantity of sill
yer plate and OF large gold pieces with the eff
gy OF Henri the fifth, and, among other sums
OF money, a donation of l0,000f from Queen
Marie Amelie. destined to the building OF the
conventual hospital invented by the false beg
ging friar.
"Chardon is easy enough to cleanoul," add.
ed German, in Baton's presence. "All you
want is false keys, which L eau get you, as
well as rendering other services. What say
you to the job 2"
THAT III not have anything to do with it, +"
replied Lacenaire mistrusting both Of the
parties present. 81 have no faith in ChardOn's
money, and, in any case, am the last man to
do him any injury" He had conceived
surer plan than that. "If lob him with false
htJS, lie thought, ne KNOWS very well VINO
TO suspect but if | silence him"
So he spoke to Avril of the closet in quest
ion, as if it had been gold mine infamIng his
imag nation, but giving no hint OF intended
murder all the while, he insisted strongly on
the risk they run, from Chardon and his
mother, after the robbery. Avril then propos-
ed to make an end of the mother and son it
was what Lacenaire wanted. The bargin was
made.
But next day Avril had considered the mat.
ter.
81 can't make up my mind" he said 81
know what you are as soon as you have got
me under your thumb, you will"
"Those who are not first to betray me never
need fear any thing
81 don't care. [ can't make up my mind
to-day
VERY well. Let's say no more aboutit."
For a whole week the subject was not once
mentioned, though it was never once out of
Lacenaire's thoughts. He knew what would
happen when the screw began to pinch.
Money became scarce. The partners lived in
an i-famed lodging, kept by an old woman,
the Widow Dutorest. Avril grew thirstier
and thrstier the widow began to refuse
wine and brandy. Avrl was thoughttul-a
bad sign. His depression increased-whch
was what his horrible companion wanted. lie
made illusions to Chardon's famous closet
nails circumstances. Lacenaire, observing
that he was coming round, dropped the sub
ject and left AvriI to his own reflections. The
one, cool and maevolent as a serpent coed i'll
the midst of a thicket, was in no hurry to act,
being sure of the effects OF his poison the 9th
er, whose brain already boiled with murder,
was the tiger spurred on by hunger, ready to
spring on lis prey.
On Sunday morning, the 18th of December,
1884, Lacenaire cast a cold and sidelong glance
on his comrade, who, halt slumbering, halt
awake, was agitated by the Authorizations OF
anticipated crime. The morning was dull
and toggy the sky heavy and lowering
"If you like" said Avril, stretching him
self, eve will go and see Chardon to-day.
have made up my mind at last"
Every well but let us breakfast before we
CO." replied Lacenare, with the utmost COM
posture.
So they went and had their meal outside the
Barriere. The greasy and edstained table
cloth suggested jokes about the work in hand,
and they drank an extra bottle or two in ear
nest OF the expected devil-send. When they
reached the passage OF the Cheval Rouge, the
clock of st. Nicholas-des. Champs struck one
in the afternoon. They inquired OF the porter
Tor Chardon, the son; he was out. Doubling
the porters veracity, they went up stairs and
knocked at the door. No answer. They
went down again, and were going away, when
Chardon stepping out of a register office in
the passage, met them.
eve were going to see you," said Lecen.
aire.
Come along, them" answered Chardon.
Never was there-not even Burke's-a bet
ter den for butchery. A dark corkscrew
staircase with narrow, muddy stairs, and
greasy rope by way OF balustrade conducted
to an isolated apartment, where, after few
commonplace sentences, Avril seized Char.
don by the throat, Lacenaire drew out of his
pocket long packing. needle fixed in cork
as a handle, and with it struck him first be-
hind and then in front. Chardon was in is
shirtsleeves, and was, besides, exhausted
with enervating debauchery. lie tried to call
for help; his voice was stitled. lie attempted
to escape impossible. lie fell and his legs
convulsvely kicked against and opened lit
tie buffet full OF plate.
Lacenaire then lett them, and went into the
next ROOM The old mother was last asleep.
He murdered her with the same instrument
that had slain the son. lie used such violence
that the packing needle pierced through its
handle of cork and wounded the assassin in
the hand They covered the old w0mans
corpse with the mattress and blankets, and
then set to rob. In the widows closet they
found 500 francs, four or five silver forks and
spoons, and a soup ladIe. Anvil took posses
sion OF the plate; Lacenaire took the money,
and ivory Virgin, and Chardon's own cloak,
which he put on with laugh. They left the
house at last, with blood.stained hands and