New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-02-04

didn't exert myself at once I had but little
chance of escape. crawled to the door of
the shed; it was locked. If it had been
open do not know how could have es-
capped across the yard without being seen:
| examined the outside wall of the shed. l
found a place where the boards had been
mended, about three feet from the ground,
Fortunately had with me large pocket
knife, containing, among other things, a
the boards as quietly as could; it was very
hard work. My head was very bad all the
time, but nv arms were not hurt. started at
every noise; sometime sit was rat running
across: sometimes the horse in the stall; but
no one came to the door. In about half an
hour, near as could reckon. had sawed
through three planks, and loosened them
sufficiently to make an opening TO craw!
out. put the knife in my mouth. and
slowly crept on my hands and knees out
into the open air. It was raining. and the
rain refreshed me very much. could not
walk upright very well, so crawled on till
l got to the wall, which was luckily very low.
managed to pull myself to the top, and
then reeled and dropped in a heap on the
other side. There was a gutter in the land
and it was full, for it had been raining very
hard. I washed my mouth out with the
water, which, dirty as it was. was grateful
to my parched throat. Keeping by the wall
l staggered along till came to a lighted
street. Here l got help; the police were
close by. l got couple Of policemen, then
we got into cab They made me stop to
have nv head dressed; but could not rest,
though the surgeon insisted on my doing so,
till l found what had become OF James
Bavle.
We got to the house. The police got over
the wall and lifted me over. We found the
man and the woman sitting in the kitchen.
When they saw me all pale and bandaged,
she tainted away and he was paralyzed
with terror He made no resistance. We
went I'D stairs. and l showed them the
place where was struck.
The little room or closet at the door of
which fell had been fitted up as labora-
tory. An old retOrt, on spirit lamp, stood
IN the corner
The window was blocked up: there was
no chimney. The strange smell was still
very strong and the poisonous vapor had
not vet all dispersed. We searched the
rooms, and found some clothes and other
articles which identified as belonging to
James Bayle, and which he had on or about
him when he left my house. The man de-
MED all knowledge of Bayle. and swore the
things had been given him. But We had no
doubt as to his fate.
Both the man and the woman werestaken
to the police station at once. had tainted,
aud they took me home. A policeman was
left in charge of the place. The next day,
on examining the garden, his attention was
directed to the spot where l had noticed
how rank the grass was. He got spade,
and about two feet under the ground he
found body. When the sergeant came
they worked together and dug out three
corpses, two In q very advanced state of
decay the other was still recognizable as
the body of James Bayle.
was very ill for some time. l owed my
life to an accident. Almost Immediately
after was knocked down ring at the bell
came. They thought l was dead. and hasti-
~ throwing coat over me carried me into
the shed. They hid my body in the straw.
Meantime the bell had rung twice. 1t was
the landlords agent, who had called upon
some matter of business. He did not stay
long; but almost Immediately after he had
gone a friend Of this respectable couple
came in, bringing with him more welcome
guest in the shape Of bottle of gin. To
this happy arrival owe my escape.
The murderer and his accOmplice. as you
know, both committed suicide. He had
been chemist. and by birth an Italian.
The two other bodies were never identified.
but there is little doubt that they were muir
dered in the same way.