The silver blade. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1895-1903, 1896-04-04
xsPUTE OVER THE IDENTITY or
THE MYSTERIOUS BODY.
FORMATION of AdepOcere, Physician.
Say. Proved 1t to BE Chaxel
Beyond Doubt.


identified as that or Prosper Chazel, the
identified ton being made possible by a
phenomenon so rare in medical annals
that it's occurrence under the present
circumstances is looked upon by physi
clans as almost a miracle.
The phenomenon referred to is the
formation OF adipocere. corpse wax.
which in this instance has formed in
large quantities and has partially pre-
served the body to such an extent that
what under ordinary conditions would
have been formless mass of decay can
be recognized by Well known marks as
the body of Joanes Prosper Chazel
murdered in Salt Lake City three years
ago, it is claimed, by man known to
the French popula ton of that city as
Jules, the assassin.
The fOrma ton Of corpse wax is rare
under any circumstances, and science
affords little or no explanation of it's
cause. In the case of the body in the
trunk, natures forces have operated
under conditions which seemed to make
its occurrence impossible.
The body was Enclosed in zinc box,
placed in a trunk, and the trunk in turn
was packed in dry goods case, being
completely surrounded by sawdust.
which must have absorbed any moist
ure which came near it. The case with
its contents, after arriving in Chicago
was deposited in dry and airy ware
house, where it has remained undis-
turbed for three years Nevertheless
there is no longer any room for much
M TO- r-N,;,
Eel met his death.
Henry Devere and Bias Mariol, two of
his Salt Lake friends, now in this city,
told this afternoon what they believe is
the whole story. According to them,
Chazel was the victim of cold-blooded,
deliberate plot to rob and murder him.
he was decoyed and murdered by
jules the assassin" and his French
woman. Jules was Frenchman and
mad earned his title before he came to
America. He and his paramount disap-
peared shortly after Chazel's disappear
ance and the last heard of them they
We're i'll Caracas, Venezuela
Chazel disappeared in February, 1898
he left the house to go to the Safety
deposit vault and get his diamonds.
These were quite valuable and he re.
marked as he went out that he had
unexpectedly learned Of purchaser
VINO would pay him a good price fol
'ne gems. He never returned A frien6
VI Mar1ol was sent a few days ago t.
GAIT Lake and the Safety Deposit vaul
where the diamonds were known t
nave been kept was opened. The jew
els We're gone but there remained {
LOUIS Dor souvenir piece, which ha(
oeen presented to Chazel by Mariol
apparently the Frenchman had gone
~ the vault and secured his diamonds
ne went to the address of his prospec
1--WE purchaser. He fell into the traI
"nlch had been carefully laid and wa
auued to the victims of Jules L'Assas
sin.
when the fatal trunk was once des
patcned the murderer and his mistress
=, no time in fleeing from the country
o trace of them was found, excep
=, ,ne far away report from Caracas
venezuela.
GRADUALLY the details and circumstan
ai evidence has been piecing out tn
oiy' The last step in completing tn
n, ",h was taken yesterday when
Tesram was sent to the mother 0
"a. oanes Chazel in Paris, inquiring Of
mn.cn side of the body the hernia TO
m ~n.cn the truss was worn was located
,, ns information is in the hands Of tn
MUSICIANS here and all that is neede
20 me confederation of the mother. B.
,. e wonderful preservation Of the mus
tI Slar lnteguments, made possible b.
one. formation Of the adipocere. the ''
NJ, .ion OF the rupture has been deter
H., tined with an exactness extending t
e smallest anatomical detail, notwith
..onQlng that the body had lain dead 70