The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-14

abundant proof of the fact that the most
atrocious criminals. apparently dead to
feeling as jungle tiger, may be prompted
TO tears at the sufferings of others than
their selected victims. We still talk to-day
in Paris of Lacenaire, the poet murderer,
though IT is sixty years since his head fell
at the Barriere St. Jacques. He was guilty
of many murders Of so deep dye Of turpi-
tude that to mark his adherence of the
man King Louis Philippe, who, by the way,
was a firm adversary Of capital punish
ment wrote his full name at the top OF
Lacencaire's death warrant instead of only
initiating the fatal document, as was his
invariable custom. Well. it was urged on
the prisoners behalf at his trial that he
could not possibly be guilty of the cruel
crimes with which he was charged, that he
had once tainted on seeing kitten drown,
and that after the murder, passing the
evening at a boulevard theater. he had
wept copiously at the .sufferings of the
heroine of the play.
Juries in those days in France were no
doubt made of sterner stuff, for nowadays
such evidence skillfully put forward might
have saved the mans life. A few years
ago a man whom knew very we'll escaped
the richly deserved death penalty on
similar appeal to the sentimentality of the
jury. This was Joseph ALBERT, of notorious
memory. If / refer to his case it is mainly
because his story illustrates the mysterious
power of presentiment, the forebodings of
danger which is given to some persons, and
thanks to which a worthy young man now
living in Paris escaped cruel death He
was the victim originally selected by Joseph
ALBERT to plumber and kill. Like the un-
fortunate Delahaef. whom ALBERT lured into
his house on the Avenue de Versailles and
there treacherously dispatched with an ak,
he was philatelist and possessed valu-
able collection of foreign stamps. ALBERT
had a mania for stamps, but solely for
their commercial value. He knew that
there was money in stamps, and this in
cited him to get possession of them at any
cost of crime. A few days before Delahaef
was murdered ALBERT called on an old
friend of his named Danes at his rooms
and almost at once began to ask him about
his collection. At the same time he in
quired with friendly solicitude about his
friends savings, what amount he had ac-
cumulated and how it was invested. When
Danes had told him that the bonds
which represented his economies were in
the trunk by his bedside, Auburt expostu-
lated with him on the imprudence of keep
ing such valuables as collection of rare
stamps and negotiable securities in so I'M
safe place. Time went on said Danes,
In relating the incident to me, land he kept
on talking. AT last he pulled out his watch
and with a gesture of irritation cried out,
Why, it's nearly midnight. The last omni-
bus has gone and l can't get home. You
must let me sleep here, old fellow. Any
thing will do for me. / can pass the night
very comfortably in your armchair Now,
how 1T was do not know. 1 had no sus-
picion OF Aubert, whom / had known and
looked upon a friend for many years.
but as he spoke an invincible feeling came
over me urging me to get rid of him at any
cost, on no account whatever to yield to
his request to pass the night with me. No.
no. i cried, L can't do that. 1 can't sleep
with another person in my room. You
must go home He protested. argued,
begged, urging that 1T was impossible for
him to walk home that night with so many
bad characters about. To put a stop to
this gave him 3 francs and told him to
take a cab After 1 had locked the door
upon him gave a great sigh of relief The
he broke into my room and stole my trunk,
and some days later, to secure further
plumber. he murdered that unfortunate
young man. have no doubt whatever as
to what my fate would have been had not
been warned of the impending danger in
the mysterious manner which 1 have de-
scribed." This affair created great SEN
sation in France because of the means
which ALBERT took to dispose of his victim
He packed the body in trunk, travelled
| down to a station on the Cherbourg line
and left his sinister luggage at the cloak
| room there. Naturally enough, when a
week later he came to claim IT he found the
| gendarmes waiting for him, for in the
| meanwhile the body had revealed it's pres
ence. Criminal psychologists pointed to his
amazing folly in returning to throw him
| self into the lions mouth as striking IN
| stance of the irresistible force which drives
| murderers back to where their victims are
| inferred. He was ably defended and es-
| capped with transportation for life but died
| shortly after being landed at the lies du
Salut.
MYSTERIES IN CRIME.
| In removing the body in trunk he was
! initiating the exploit of Eyraud, the muir
derer of Gouffe. the tipstaff, one of the
most sensational cases which has ever been
tried in the Paris court. Eyraud was the
| inventor of this method of disposing of the
| corpus deficit, and so carefully had he TAX
| en- his precautions. that it was by a mere
| chance that the crime was traced. home
| to him and his female associate, Gabrielle
Bompard. Chance is after all the best ally
| of the police. and this Is exemplified almost
| every time that the criminal court sits in
| Paris. For much as has been said about
| the superior astuteness of French detec-
| tives the courts afford abundant evidence
that but for sheer luck many crimes would
go unpublished, by reason of the real in
| capacity of the police. / remember two
| trials in which although the prisoners were
| convicted-in each case of murder-their
| identity never was and never has been
established. AS far as the police and the
| public are concerned the men Campi and
Prado are as much mystery as the Mar
with the Iron Mask. Both steadfastly re-
fused to lift the veil which hid their rea
personality, and every effort of the police
| to trace their past failed. 1t was after.
| wards bruited abroad that Campi was 9
brother of General Boulanger, whilst OF
Prado 1t was asserted that he was the
son of General Prado. the Peruvian die
tator. But though still to-day these inur
derers identity Is discussed In the Iari:
papers. their shameful graves keep the Sc