Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1867-12-20
A Murderer Self-Betrayed.

is based on tragical events which occurred
in France nearly one hundred and seven
ty years ago. These facts are thus con-
densed from the court records by Paris
paper:
At the beginning Of the last century
there was 10 be seen in the town of Lille
a very quiet house. 1t was large build
ing, but it contained only small family
Ia husband and wife and one servant
girl. The Curiosities Judiciaries add that |
the couple we're advanced in years, that
they lived quietly on their income, and
saw very few visitors, and admitted no
one to the house except the people who
furnished them with provisions, or other
wise ministered to their wants.
One night this couple, man and wife,
were robbed and murdered in their bed.
The servant girl had heard nothing of
all this, and knew not what was going on.
The night was hot, the air dense and OPP
pressively sultry, SO much so that she had
taken refuge in her room, and sat for the
sake of GOODNESS, divested of her garments,
before large mirror. While there, catch
ing sight of herself, she suddenly cried,
How hateful one looks when nakedl
Having said this, she retired and slept
till morning, and rose as usual, without
suspecting what had happened.
She prepared breakfast as usual for her
master and mistress; but they did not
come down. She was amazed, and waited
for long time.
They did not appear.
Tired of waiting, she sought their room.
A horrible sight met her eyes. Blood
was smeared everywhere, and.on the bed
lay the poor old couple, cruelty, horribly,
vilely butchered-mangled as only beast
or fiend could find it in his heart to mutt.
late victims after numbering them.
The girl raised an alarm, and the null
titude came rushing in. Of course jus
tice came rushing after in the form of tn
police, with judicial investigation. Th
criminal was sought for, and as none othe
could be found, suspicion fell on the ur
fortunate servant.
In those days they had a horrible wa
of trying to get at the truth. They calle'
it questioning. The questions were pu
with racks and thumbscrews.
The Lillois servant maid was infamous
ly tortured, even to extreme agony. Yet
notwithstanding her weakness and her sex
she endured the internal torture withou
confessing anything. This was the more
remarkable, as she was entirely innocent
and was, in consequence, kept much long
er under torment to make her confess
As there was no proofs of her having
done anything, they finally let her so, al
soon as she was healed. Unfortunately
the torture had made her wretchet
cripple. She could only hobble along OF
her broken limbs, and her arms were with
cred.
And being no longer able to sew Oh
work, she dragged her helpless form
through the streets and begged. Sh,
begged through the streets of Lille fol
sixteen years. This is all historically tru'
nay, more than historically; for histor,
often lies, while these facts are drawn from
the dry and accurate records of court
The worst part of her srffering was tha
many people believed her guilty ant
scorned her accordingly.
1t appears from records that durini
these long years, while she went abou
with her wiihered arms and bent back, he
whole frame still suffering from the tor
ture, begging copper sou to buy he
bread, that she was always resigned, mil'
and exemplary in her conduct.
One day, after sixteen years of misery
shs stopped TO beg before the door of
baker. She held out through ber rag
her naked and mutilated arm towards tn,
baker, who stood on his door-sill. AS sh
did so he exclaimed in mocking tcne
while observing her want of garments:
Well, Marie Ann, how hateful on
looks when naked-ha!" !"
Now it is remarkable that in all the six
!; teen years which had passed, Marie Ann
had not forgotten those words spoken whe
alone on the night of the murder.
flashed upon her mind that the real muI
derer might have heard them, and that h
stood before her. In brief, we learn tbs
: the journeyman baker, when arrested
/ confessed the truth. He had regularl
supplied the old couple, and knew the way
; of the house. He was hidden there on th
E uight of the murder, and had heard th
$ girl when she made the remark on he
e nakedness.
: And as the criminal is often by the wi
r of Providence his own accuser, so th
o man, following one of those eccentric ar