The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-09
The Career Of Crime Of "Brother
Eugene" Under Sentence
Of Death.
Becoming Novice for the Sake
Only Of Murder and
Robbery.
A Man Who Had Served Terms In Many
Countries for Various Ohenses
Against the Law.

+. +
Eugene" who has Just bson convicted and
sentenced to death for the murder Of Father
Ildefonae, il one Of the most extraordinary
on record, and presents many remarkable
inoidents especially In the career OF the
condemned man, who was going through
his probationary term a. novice at the
AiQusbelle sonvent at the time the deed was
done. The career Of tho murderer has been
traced, and his many Grimes make him al
most prototype Of Deeming. Briefly the
circumstances Of tho case are that early on
the morning OF Oct. 28 last Father Ildefonse
was found stretched on tho floor OF his cell
in the convent dead. That hs had been
murdered WAS evident, AZ was also the
motive, for the bunch Of keys belong gine to
the victim had disappeared and tho strong
boz in his cell had been ransaoked. Two
hundred thousand francs in money and
other things had been taken, including
Russian bonds. two gold watches and
chains. four wedding rings and other
.trifies.
Suspicion fell upon gome workmen who
were employed about the convent, but on
Oct. 80 the policemen learned that Brother
Eugene, the novice, had disappeared that
morning. This coll WAS searshed and a pair
Of slippers still damp from recent use was
found. He was arrested at PiOrrelatts. a
village in the same department, where ho
arrived at two o'alook in the morning and
asked for room at tho Hotel Brugler. He
was bareheaded and explained that he was
going to Avianon by rail. but having lost
his hat and feeling tired he determined to
stop at Pierrelatte for little rest. He re-
manned indeora the entire day, sending a
servant to buy him hat. He subsequently
went to the tailor's and bought q suit Of
clothes and afterward visited hair dresser
who had read an account Of the Aiquebelle
murder. The hair dresser noticed with
amazement that his customer wore the
shoes and stockings of Trappist monk and
hRstepad to inform the police. On being ar
rested and searched Trappist GROSS was
were discovered under his bed at the hotel
containing all the stolen property. He
then confessed that he had murdered
Father Ildefonse.
The aelf-styled brother. Eugene, was in
dioted under tho name Of Matthias Hadeld.
found that his life had been remarkable
one, he having been sentenced in Switzer-
land, Italy, Germany and Bosnia under
different aliases. Monasteries seem to
form his favorite field of operations. he
seeking admission to tho several orders
and had even been charged with murder.
In 1871 he was novloo ut the Chartreuso
convent at Bosservills, near Nancy. A few
months later he had enlisted rs u Boldior in
the 5eventyfourth regiment of Prussian
infantry, but deserted in 1872, taking the
money of the mess. He was found guilty
and sentenced to ak months' imprlson-
ment, together with military degradation.
In 1874 he escaped from the fortress at
Mayenee whers he had been imprisoned,
and sought refuge in Luxembourg, where
he lived four years as 4 cobblsr. In
1879 he Joined tbs Lazarlat order in Paris
as novice, but disappeared the
that time until 1881 are unknown,
but in that year he became
valet to tho Count Won Spec at Aix-la-
Chapelle. At the end of 1881 he entered the
Trappixt convent at Mariastsrn, near Ban
jaluka, in Bosnia. where he pretended that
Won Spec. In 1882 he disappeared, having
robbed the abbot. On being arrested he
foigned insanity and was released for lack
of evidence. His next exploit WAS in 1885,
where he posed as a hermit near Lucerne,
in Switzerland. Having acquired an un-
spotted reputation for holiness he left the
republic, after years residence, but not
before he had embezzled money from the
contiding in all directions.
From Switzerland he went to Alsace.
where he assumed the title of his former
master. Count Won Spec, and lived for
time in grand Style. Subsequently he was
arrested, and served out sentence of six
months for defrsudinR his own servants.
On reenining his freedom he joined the
Trsppists at Ohambleud, inLorraine, but
was expelled. He then became Dominican
brother at Dusseldo,f, but was there sen
fenced to two years for theft. 1t was not
until 1880 that he entered tho monastery At
Aiquebslls. whore his latest crime was COM
mitted.