Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-08-22
The Stptw Teller.
FEDI'S BLOOD PATH.

Wv ~
FEDI'S BLOOD PATH.
On the evening of July II, 1866, Martin
Fedi, released convict, journeying on
foot from Toulon to his home in the
Vosges, France, reached the village OF
Balliere. He exhibited his papers to the
eendarme, and was permitted to enter the
Village tavern, where he procured food
and bottle of wine. The landlord, how
ever. learned that he was an ex-convict,
and refused TO give him bed. Fedi was
indignant, and fight between him and
the host was imminent, when the; latter's
friends came to his aid and hustled the
galley slave into the street. He purchased
a flask of brandy at shop near by, and
wentoff muttering profane threats of ven-
geance. which were heard by many.
An hour later, that is to say, at 7o'clock,
the landlord went out, saying that ne had
important business with the village law
ver. He did not return. His wife went
at tiaylig1t ofhe lawyers house. He was
greatly SURPRISED to learn of her husbands
absence. He had not seen him, ne said,
for two days. His housekeeper informed
him that he had called last evening, but
found him, the speaker, absent, and had
gone away promising to return, but had
not done so. What the business of impor-
tance could be the lawyer could not con-
lecture.
Several other villagers. had seen him,
butnone could suggest cleW to his present
whereabouts.
The frightened woman now caused a
thorough search to be made. The search
ing party found asleep against the wall OF
the church, which stood on the outskirts
of the village, man. His face and hands
were besmeared with blood, and there
were traces of it on his clothing. The
heavy knobbed end of a knotted stick be-
side him was also stained with gore. In
the grass near by was an empty flask
which had contained brandy. When
aroused, the sleeper exhibited every token
of having been on vast debauch. he
could give no coherent account of himself,
but he was recognized as the belligerente ex-
convict. His appearance and the recolicc-
tions of his savage threats against the mis-
sing man were considered quite sufficient
causes to authorize his arrest.
left of the belfry, where lot Of pigeons
had taken up their quarters, the corpse OF
the landlord with his brains beaten out,
and his throat cut. The bell room below
bore traces of desperate struggle, ana the
floor had been deluged and the walls be-
spattered with blood.
Martin Fedi was put on trial for the
murder of Jean Jacques Lassier, publican:
He declared himself innocent, and told
az nearly as he could recall them, his ad-
ventures of the fatal night. He had, he
said, set out after purchasing the brandy,
intending to walk to the next village and
get bed there. But he was weary from
his Journey of the day, and the night being
pleasant he concluded to spend it in the
church yard. He had emptied his bottle
and gone to sleep near where he was found:
During the night he had been awakened
by stream Of water, deluging his lace:
He was too drunk to bother himself about
it, but wiped his face dry, and shlfting
his position went to sleep again:
This explanation was regarded as so pre-
posterous that the judges laughed at it.
Martin Fedi was sentenced to death, with
the recommendation to mercy usual in
French criminal trials. He was accorded
it, and sent back to the Jail he had lett
week before to remain there for life.
In the middle of the year 1869 the widow
of Jean jacques Lassier was amazed to re-
ceive the following, to her, Incompetent
sible letter:
"Dear Sister-The newspapers we occasionally
receive even in this section of the world nave
conveyed to me the Information OF your tesfit T.
BILE bereavement. My poor brother; would IL
had been in my power to have lain hands on
his butchery assassin! The law would have
been spared most unnecessary trouble. lt1s
the more painful to think that death overlook
him at the very time it fell in my power 10
return to him a portion Of the favor he so gen.
erously extended to me ten years ago. com
plete the restoration by forwarding to the same
mail as carries this letter the remaining !o,ooo
francs of the 10000 which fell to Jeans share;
The mine is prosperlng, ana there Will pe sllli
further returns from it."
This puzzling epistle was signed "Hector
3ouchet," and dated from Gimpie Creek,
Australia.
The Widow Lassier in her perpleXity
went to Monster Castine, the lawyer, 1or
advice. All she could tell was that her
husband had once spoken to her casually
of q half brother to whom, on his father's
death, he had given up his own share OF
the small fortune the latter left to start
him in business in Australia, whittier ne
emigrated. She had never heard Lassler
allude to the matter again, and as to his
having received any such sum as the let
ter alluded to, he had, on the contrary,
died, leaving no assets but the INN.
Madame Lassier acquiesced in this very
reasonable suggestion. On her return
home it struck her, however, that 1t
would be lust as we'll to write to Hector
Bouchet for the name of his agent in
France. She accordingly did so, and
mailed the letter herself, telling her law
yer nothing about it.
Monsieur Castine undertook, if possible,
to discover the mysterious agent spoken
of in the letter, and he advised his client
meantime to keep her own counse! IN the
matter. Her husband had probably died
without receiving the money from his
brother, and the agent finding no call made
upon him for the sum, had quietly devot-
ed it to his own use. The only way TO
capture him and recover the money was
to remain silent, and to give him no warn
ing that his crime was discovered.
Three months had passed. Monsieur
Castine, who was constantly on the eve of
the culprit, never got further.
At last q reply arrived from Australia to
the widows letter.
The name of Hector Bouchet's agent, to
whom $4,000 francs had been sent for
Jean JACQUES Lassier, was Monsieur Vic
tor Castine, advocate, at Balliere. The
lawyer who was assisting Madame Lassler
to discover the thief, was the crlmlnal
himself
Madame LaSsier was a woman OF some
education and great resolution. She LOCK
ed the letter up and carried copy OF II 10
the lawyer in person. Castlne at nrst
laughed at her charge, but when she
threatened to place the case in the hands
of the police, he lost his nerve and propos-
ed a settlement. The money, he acknoW-
lodged, had reached him on the very day
Jean Jacques Lassier had been tound
dead. :.
The latter had probably received a noti-