The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1896-04-04
IS IT PIKE OR CHAZELp
DISPUTE OVER THE IDENTITY OF
THE MYSTERIOUS BODY.
Formation of Adepocere. Physicians
Say, Proved 1t tn he ChazcI
Beyond Doubt.

Chicago, March 31.-The mysterious
body in the box has been positively
identified as that of Prosper Chazel, the
Identification being made possible by
phenomenon SO rare in medical annals
that it's occurrence under the present
circumstances is looked upon by physi-
clans as almost miracle.
The phenomenon referred to is the
formation of adipocere. a 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 a formless mass of decay can
be recognized by we'll known marks as
the body Of Joanes Prosper Chazel
murdered in Salt Lake City three years
ago. it is claimed. by a man known to
the French population of that city as
Jules, the assassin.
The formation 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
The body was inclosed in a zinc box,
placed in a trunk, and the trunk in turn
was packed in a dry goods case, being
completely surrounded by sawdust,
which must have absorbed any moist
ure which came near it, The case with
it's contents, after arriving in Chicago,
was deposited in dry and airy ware
house, where it has remained undis-
Co..
there Is no longer any room for much
doubt as to the manner in which Cha
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 a cold-blooded
deliberate plot to rob and murder him
He was decOyed and murdered by
Jules, the assassin" and his French
woman. Jules was a Frenchman and
had earned his title before he came &c
America. He and his paramount disap-
peared shortly after Chazers disappear
ance, and the last heard of them they
We're in Caracas, Venezuela.
Chazel disappeared in February, 1893
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 haC
unexpectedly learned of q purchase
who would pay him a good price 70
the gems. He never returned. A fpienC
of Mariol was sent few days ago t
Salt Lake and the Safety Deposit vaul
where the diamonds were known t
have been kept was opened. The jew
fna 9
Louis Dor souvenir piece. which haC
been presented to Chazel by Mariol
Apparently the Frenchman had gon'
to the vault and secured his diamonds
He went to the address of his prospec
tive purchaser. He fell into the traJ
which had been carefully laid and wa
added to the victims of Jules L'Assas
, sin.
When the fatal trunk was once des
patched the murderer and his mistress
lost no time in fleeing from the country
No trace of them was found, eXcep
the far away report from Caracas
Venezuela.
Gradually the details and circumstan
tial evidence has been piecing out tn
story. The last step In completing tn
chain was taken yesterday when
cablegram was sent to the mother o
JOanes Chazel in Paris, inquiring OF
which side of the body the hernia 70
which the truss was worn was located
This information is in the hands of tn
physicians here and all that is needed
is the confederation of the mother. b!
the wonderful preservation of the mus
cular integuments. made possible b.
the forma ton Of the adipOcere the J."
cation of the rupture has been deJer
mined with an eXactness extending e
the smallest anatomical detail. notwith
standing that the body had lain dead 70
three years In addition there are tn
small regular. perfect teeth. the un
usually long legs. the long arms, tn
noticeably large hands and feet ant
over the whole body the symmetrical
muscular development of Chazel, whom
his friends now here had first known
in France and later in Salt Lake city
Now the police are asking themselve
IL the second box addressed to G. M
Morgan at No. 166 jefferson Court ais
, contained the body of a murdered maj
and If his assassin returned iron
Caracas to add another to his list o
victims.