The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1882-02-03

| TIE ERRoR THAT LED lO TIE CoNN lCIlON
OF A sCoUNDREI.
On the afternoon of June Is, 1870, the
Rue Lecluse was startled by the report
that murder had been committed at
No. 80. AT this number a retired hair
dresser had been occupying apartments,
and had lived in very eccentric man.
ner some eight years. He was reported
to be very rich, and to have only one
relative, who had married, and who kept
an imitation jewelry shop in the Rue
Vivienne.
On the day mentioned the servant on en-
tering the room of the old gentleman
found his lifeless form on the floor in pool
of his own blood. The police were imme-
diately notified, and the authorities soon
arrived to make necessary examinations.
Shortly after the detective, Guilot, arri-
we'd, to whom the Commissioner of Po
lice remarked:
"Your services will be needed. Guilot.
The criminal is known, and known in a
very positive fashion. The crime hav-
ing been committed, the assassin fled,
believing that the victim had expired.
He was mistaken. The unfortunate man
still lived Summoning all his strength,
he dipped one of his fingers in the blood
that was flowing from his wound, and
wrote on the floor his murderer's name.
Look"
On the floor IN large scrawling letters
was written with blood: "Aguep."
"That," said the Commissary, sis
the beginning of the name of the old
mans nephew, of whom he was very
fond, and who is named Aguepont."
"The devil !" replied the detective.
81 don't suppose he will try to deny
it," continued the Magistrate. "The five
letters are an overwhelming charge
against him. Besides who profits by
the crime except the nephew! See, moth.
ing has been disturbed to throw justice
ON the wrong scent, and the concierge
says that he was the only person who
visited the apartments of the old man
last evening, he having recognized him
by the fact that his dog,a great favorite,
was with him.
"That's plain" said Gullot "the fel
low is fool
While the Magistrate turned to give
further directions TO his clerk, the detec.
tive proceeded to make an examination
of the surroundings. Everything about
the room was in its place no sign OF a
scutfle was apparent. Under chair a
cork covered with green wax was found
1t had been used, and the wax portion
still showed marks of the corkscrew
but on the other end was deep notch,
evidently made by some sharp instru-
ment. This, Guilot considering the basis
of a clew, carefully placed in his pocket
| Approaching the corpse as it lay on
the floor, he commenced minute exam
ination. The instrument of the crime
must have been aponiard or;a sharp
knife. The poor old man had been
struck in the throat and the neck cut
from ear to ear. Then, looking at the
hand, besmeared with blood, the detec
tive, starting back exclaimed
"Great heaven Look The right hand
is perfectly clean-the fingers of the left
hand only are stained with blood! Il
was not the old man who traced thes,
letters"
Sand to think | didn't notice it," sale
the Magistrate, mournfully.
snow" replied Guilot, "can we imag
inc a murderer stupid enough to de
nouncc himself by writing his name by
, the side of his viclimi"
''It is plain, said the Magistrate, ''tha
Aguepont is not the criminal Who,thel
is het 1t is your duty, Guilot, to fine
out"
lie paused. An officer entered, VIII,
addressing the Magistrate, said
"YOur orders are executed, Monsieur
The arrest has been made. Aguepont ha
confessed everything"
"What {" exclaimed Guilot, ''whle W
are endeavoring to prove Aguepont's in
nocence he is conftssing his guilt"
The Commissary having gone througl
the necessary forms required by law
retired.
Then Guilot, calling the concierge be
fore him, elicted from him the following
!" story. The old gentleman's name wa
Louis Bigot. He was peculiar oil
> man, of very regular habits, lie ha
very few visitors-in fact, hardly any eN
cept his nephew, M, Aguepont, VIII
dined with him every Sunday at tn
neighboring restaurant They wer
never known to have even a dispute, ca
cept an occasional squabble abou
= Madame Marie, She being the wife c
NJ Aguepont, and a very magnifcer
creature, who, NJ, Bigot said, led he
husband by the nose, NJ lame Mari
e. aud her uncle had been at loggerheaC
for about year, She had wanted \
Bigot to lend Aguepont a thousau
francs to buy stock of a jeweler in Il
e e Palais Royal, but he had refused, sayin
u that they might do as they pleased wi
his fortune after his death. She furth