The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-11-07
THE PEopLER's DEATH.

farmer, as indeed he was to every one
else tor twenty miles around. ana met
with Il cordial reception from DDth Mas
chez and his wife, q stalWart Cord0Van
woman, who ruled her husband aud her
household with IL rod OF iron. Both, In
deed, professed extreme pleasure IN see
ing him, and with true mountain hospl-
tally made him welcome to the best the
house afforded.
While awaiting the preparation OF sup
per in the great kitchen OF the farm
house, MOrtiOne wniled away the time
by displaying tue contents OF his pack
10 the little daughter OF his host ana
hostess, and tue mother in more thah
one instance neglected her cookery to
feast her eyes, sparkling with cupldity,
upon the gorgeous fabrics, the gau ~
ndkerchIets, hashy jeWery, and most
of ulher attributes OF the peddler5 STOCK
in trade.
When at last supper was announced,
she devoted nerset TO a minute lnspec-
ton Of the pack while its owner satl5neu
tue cravings Oh his appetite with an am
pie meal. That over, he bundled MS
stock together, aud pleading The Wearl,
uess OF IA long days journey, went TO Dea
| on the floor vi the next room. The little
glrl also relireu to her pallet in re-
| mote corner OF the lme apartment.
Shortly alter, MaschrZ, who mad gone
out ~ secure his cattle from the storm
aud split some billets Of hreWoOd, re-
Lurneu. He bore an armul OF wood, anu
a heavy hatchet with whlcu he had Oeeh
cutting IL. He found his wife pacing
| res tlessly up anu down the Kitchen,
every now aud then pauslng at ME door
oi the bedroom TO listen TO the heavy
breathing of the tired peddler, already
fast asleep, with his precious PACK Iot
| pillow. As he threw The wood nolslly
into tAe fireplace, she turned upon MIN
| VITA warning gesture.
| "CdrdDaJU! w lfe, what ails youW he
| aske.., .n ,mazement.
"Pau! Que! Do you hear how
soundly he eleepsT
"Weli, he has had long journey to-
day, and is tired enough to sleep weli.'
"He must never wake from that
sleepW hlssed the wife, close to his ear.
| "HuWv
| "ue must never wake, say. Listen,
| Antonio MascAeZ. That man has enough
| wealth TO make Us ich, and with the
contents of his pack l can dress better
tuun the aloalde's vie, who Will break
ner heart or envy. He must die"'
"Wnat do you mean| cried tue hor-
lrOr-stricken farmer, starting back.
"QMet, You poor, cowardly toOl!' said
his WNe, fastening on has shoulder with
"A grip of iron, ana snAtching The sharp
lnatchet from his haad. "lf you are
afraid to do ii, am not"
| "Dp you mean 10 murder him?'
GAY, and you too, il you give the
alarm."
Stauding in awe OF his wife, as he did,
the farmer dared not utter another
| word OF eXpUaLulaliOu. CllnginE TO the
side of the tre-pl ace for support, The
miserable man atChed the murderes y
slealtnliy approach The bedroom door.
She seL the candle close to the threshold,
SO as to obtain sufficient light for her
purpose without Iunning any risk oi
disturbing her intended victim.
il IA moment more her figure disap.
peared i'll the gloom OF the room where
ner child and her guest were sleeping
At this instant u terrific crash OF thuu
der shook the earth, and The tempes
broke down the narrow pass in which
lie mouse was situated with frantic
nowl. All earthly noises were drowned
in the conflict OF the elementS. A vivid
flash Oi iiguLnlng, however, revealed the
ngure of Madame MascneZ standing i'll
the doorway. sue still held the haLCheI
in her hand, butit was dripping blood.
| In the brief moment which had passed
a human life had been taken for the sake
of lew geWgdws and a couple OF nun
dred francs.
such was the tragedy which occurred
| in the AndOrre pass on tine night of Sep
tembeI 10. 1858, as told at his trial by The
husband OF .ne murGeresS himself. 81
I duck and nOlselGss had the crime beel
.uat the little chil4, who had beel
awakened by the crash of the storm
had heard no other sound than tina
winch had disturbed her slumbers, an(
wenL 10 sleep again.
! The female tIgress compelled he
! crlnglng spouse, ny furious threats, II
assist her i'll dragging the body int
the kitchen. Unuer cover OF the storm
, this was done without detection. ant
, tne pack was likewise transported t,
the common room. The sheepskin owe
wuicn the murdered man had been lyin,
was soaked with MS blood, and togethe
with his clothing, was thrown into th
fire. 1he pools Of blood ON the earlheri
J floor were speedily soaked up by tn
, grOund.
, The only evidences of the murder LET
] were the pack, the hatcnet and tn
corpse itself. This latter was Quickl
disposed Of. In shed at the Dack U
the house We're halt Il dozen wine casks
J most OF them en- .,ty. lnLO one OF thes
the body ~ as thrown, ana at dayIign
Madame Maschez headed it up with ne
own hands and ran it lull of water.
= Several days passed, and the Maschei
house was always 50 beset with visit
ors that no opportunity for burial o
. tue body occurred. No one had seen tn
. peddler enter Lle mouse, and Els aDsenc
, was not noticed.
. On September IS, the little girl, Will
, at The village school OF ST. PUI de Leon
: exhibited IL very fine silk haudkercnleI
one of a NUMBER contained i'll the ped
dleps pack. The handkerchief attracte,
tue atlention of the village p lest VIII
; taught the school, ana he askeJ:
! Where did you get this hle kerchief
little one?'
Mother has plenty OF them," was tn
innocent reply. "rhe strange man wit
a bundle who slept at our house on
nigut, and never went away again, hat
. Lhem.V
Tue child had unwittingly betrayed
her guilty parent. Suspecting some
thing from her remark, the priest a
once dispatched messenger for the al
calde. He came accompanied by
mueteer from Ahdorre, who, that Verl
Emorning, had called at his house to in
Iqulre 1or the missing peddler, to whom
le wished to deliver some goods. Within
an hour the school was dismissed and
, strong party OF villagers assembled, and
I,,n dan fI,,r. l,tn ~