The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-11-28
An Extraordinary Murder Case.

Some years ago was attending college
in Paris, and course of lectures on juris-
prudence, with view of preparing myself to
enter the office of an advocate, Frenchman
who had married my mothers sister. There
were several English lads there besides my
self, and very hard We worked, though many
of US had 70 one to compel US to do so if We
had felt disposed to shirk. TIE letters re-
ceived from my uncle seldom contained any
thing beside exhortations to work hard; and
in the holidays, instead of inviting me to
spend them with him and my aunt, he always
encouraged the idea Of my going to Eng
land, so that | was very much astonished
when received letter quite Unexpectedly,
requesting me to start with the least possible
delay for the department of Ain. The letter
merely told me there was nothing the mat
ter with any of the family, and that he want
ed me on account Of case in which he was
concerned.
This case was the prosecution of French
man named Boiteler man of considerable
standing in his province, who was in custody
on charge Of numbering his wife ard man
servant. The lady was an Englshwoman of
good family, to whom he had been married
four years, and who was commonly termed
in the department L'anye dn JoiS, on ac-
count of her extreme beauty, and the fact that
her husbands house being surrounded by a
snal! but very dense wood, which he allow
ed no one to meddle with, so that it was
completely choked with brambles. She was
his second wife, his first having died during
a short visit he had made to Paris, within a
year of their marriage.
Criminal prosecutions in France being
conducted by public prosecutor, it was on
ly in compliance with the wishes of the rela-
tives of the murdered lady, strenuously sup
ported by his own wife, that my uucie had
undertaken to assist in obtaining evidence to
throw light upon what was felt to be an ex-
ceedingly intricate case, and one which it
would be almost impossible for the jury to
decide upon in satisfactory manner, unless
additional evidence could be got in favor OF
or against the prisoner.
The evidence on which Boteler was com
mitted to prison was not inconsistent with
I the statement made by him on his apprehen
sion; and if the affair had taken place in an.
other country than France, wheIe it is mucf
the custom of officials intrusted will. ths
care Of the public safety to assume ever!
man involved in a crImina! offence 10 b,
guilty until proved innocent, | doubt wheth
er he would nave been retained in custody
! He had left his no lse on the day of the mur
der in small open carriage, accompanied b.
his wife and attended by GA man who ha'
been in his service for several years, fDr th'
purpose of going to Bourg, to see an asen
concerning the sale of an estate only separa
ted from his own hy a river. Inc matte
had been so far arranged that it only renal
ed for him to pay certain portion of IN
purchase money. and he was then to enc
into possession. The sum- forget nos
much it was, bat ii was large one-~a> IL
the carriage, fact with which all the servant
were familiar, including, OF course, the coacE
man also. Shortly after midday. Bolteie
drove Vi. to the barrier at Bourg, with tn
dead body of his wife in the carriage an
told the officer on duty there that his vii
had been murdered by his servant, and th:
he had shot his servant, who was lying Iii
lane whith he named, and whence he wa
shortly afterwards brought into town by som
{, laborers, under the direction of torestefs en-
ployed by the commune. Boiteer was IT
mediately taken into custoday as i preca'
: tionary measure; aud the following is til
substance of tie statement made by him
cXpialiitlUn Ol tle dll'ui.
His servant had suddenly stopped Ii
: horse in the lane, got down, and cane to tt
l side of the carriage with pistol in his ham
| which he fired, but the ball missed him, a
whom it was aimed, and entered his wife
side. The pistol was a large one with
< brass butt, and his servant had attempted
: strike him with it on the head, but
f caught hin by the wrist with his left han
:, and he held him for an instant, while he g
: hold of pistol whi-h he always kept in tt
j. carriage and which he had himself loadt
that morning, on account Of the money
: had with him. Having got hold of the pi
|, tol, he put the barrel between his knees, ar
l. held it there while he lifted the hammer al
|. capped it he then leaned over the side
If the carriage, put the muzzle to his assailan
!, neck, and shot him dead.
There was no living eyewitness to del
that things had passed in the manner desc
y, bed, and the apparent absence of motive, t
gether with the appearance of grief he d
played, excited very general feeling that
N had told the truth. This feeling, was ho
It ever, modified when it came to be know
that reason for his commission of the crir
Of might be found in the circumstance that t
d. whole of the money to be paid for the ests
BE had been advanced by his wife's truste
r with the stipulation, that it was to be at /
It, sole disposa! as long as she lived, and that
her death. if her husband survived her,
=: :l..;+ opo f,urth apl tho o+l