The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-12-11


up in the bed, and almost dead with alright.
A window was open, and on going to it the
farmer saw by the bright moonlight
THE FIGURE OF MAN,
AS he bounded over the garden wall On
the floor was found q vesr, in the pocket of
which was knife bearing the name of
young Samson.
The half dead girl admitted that Gilbert
had seduced her, and that they had been &C
customed for some time to pass the hours of
darkness in each others society. Migaud
was in terrible condition of excitement,
and, vowing vengeance on the man who had
ruined bis only child, he rushed from the
house. He was seen no more that night, and
after day had far advanced he was still alb
sent. As the morning passed away the
housekeeper thought it right to let tho eu-
thorities know OF his disappearance. A
search was made. but nothing could be
learned of his whereabouts.
Two or three days went on and the mys
terry appeared inexplicsble. At length, on
April "a, the children of a carter were play
ing with pet rabbit, when il escaped from
them into the village street A dog barked
and ran after the animal, which, scared and
bewildered, ran into hole In the trap door
leading into Sanson's wine cellar. Samson
refused to let the people raise the door and
look for the rabbit declaring that il was
better off there than in the clutches of the
| tormenuDg Children, and that, moreover,
there were SO many barrels and cases in the
| cellar it would be impossible to catch it.
Later in the day, however, when Samson was
| away in the neighboring town, his wife good
| naturally let the neighbors lift the door to
search for the rabbit They did not find the
rabbit, but they found corpse instead.
Half covered with pile of wood lay the
| body of the missing farmer, Jean Nigaud,
with stab In the back. His pocket book,
which contained large sum of money, was
| missing. There was little or no blood on the
| body.
| 1t ought to have been stated that when
| attention was called to the disappearance of
| Mgaud nothing was said of what had hap
pened at his house the night before. The
| housekeeper resolved to do her best to keep
the disgraceful discovery Of CLOSES shame
| from the public ear. There was, conse-
quently, nothing known of the clrcum-
stance, and
THE FINDING OF THE FARMERS BODY
IN Sanson's cellar was not, therefore, sought
to be connected with the occurrence But
il was very well known that Migaud had ex-
| PEELED young Samson from his house, and
that the elder Samson had uttered threats
! against the farmer. These threats at once
began 10 assume importance and at the ln-
quest which followed the findingo MgAud's
body. testimony was gwen which showed
that Samson had vowed TO get even with the
farmer. This, in connection with the find
ing of the body, seemed to justify the arrest
Of Samson. Then came out the fact that he
had refused to allow search TO be made in
the cellar for the rabbit. This was consid-
cred very suspicious fact, and altogether it
was thought that good case could be made
oat against the wlne-seller. It so turned
out, aAd Samson was sentenced to the gal
leys for life. All this time young Samson
never mentioned to his father or any one
| his having been discovered in the farmer
| h,,,, Elricn for fha trrrth he
believed that the farmer had pursued him
and had naturally gone to his fathers house,
and that the two men had come in contact
and the farmer been killed. Anyhow, SAM
ison went 10 the Bagne
AvERRING HIS INNOCENCE TO THE LAST.
This was in October of 1852. Madame
Samson, who was the wine sellers second
wife, and young and handsome, sold her in.
teresC in the business aud removed to Paris.
There she got a divorce and married a
wealthy lawyer, to whom she bore seven
children.
Young Samson removed to Marseiles, and
managed TO do something to alleviate the
sufferings of his father, although he had q
settled conviction of his guilt In 1865 the
elder Samson was allowed partial liberty but
was not permitted to quit Marseilles. In
and made the acquaintance OF the younger
Samson, who kept wine shop. After q
while the stranger appeared TO be struck
with the name and one DAY said:
Excuse me, monsieur, but are you auy
relation to the Samson who many years ago
was convic, I'd of the killing of one Migaud
a farmer residing near PerigueuxP' +.
, Young Samson was ind gnant at the ques
ton, but the stranger apologiZed aud moth
ing more was said For several DAYS the
stranger did not VISIT the wine shop. Al
length he returned. and asking to see young
, Samson in private informed him that he baC
, bought the premises occupied by the wine
, shop. Then be handed the aston shed young
man a deed of he property and said:
; az have heard OF your devotion 70 your
{ father, and having plenty of money and nc
one To leave it to when die, desire to givt
this place to you because like you and YOU
ways"
: Young Samson accepted the gift after many
pro- estations, and the old man departed. A
, few days afterward orders were received Il
!. allow the elder Samson to beside with hi
500, and to place him In charge of one OF the
/ departments of the Bsgne as overseer. 81
things went on until within the Jast tive
months.
srRANG STORY.
On August Is, 1873, Paul Refe, wealthy
. carriage manufacturer of Paris, died Before
A his death, in the presence OF the proper au
thorties, he made conft ssion or statement
which is given in full
"In 1862, lived with my wife, since dead
9 at the Hill Side, near Perigneux. / wa,
3 very poor, and made meager livelihood b.
l mending the vehicles of the neighborine
farmers. bad had little work for some
time, and had nothing in the house TO eat
My wife, who had young baby at the
, breast, proposed that should go out thai
! night-April 10 1552-and steal some of 9
neighbor's fowls / lived only a couple oil
hundred yards from the place. and when all
) was quiet, about IL o'clock, / went outside
into the street to see that all was clear.
, heard quick step, and the next moment a
| ant 81 Ii a.