The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1921-02-10
Frozen Death
l@. l9aO. BY The wheeIer syndleats.l }

then ask DIR. Albert Beaurigard why
IL Is that fifteen prominent citizens
have died from cholera and yellow
fever when there has been no epi-
demic. Ask him why these men died
within few days after dining at his
house."
This was the anonymous letter that
led the chief OF police OF Buenos Aires
TO assign Manuel Porteras, one OF his
best men, TO the case which was
destined to become unique in criminal
annals a
1t was true that n number of men
who were prominent in the life OF the
city-bankers and lawyers and doc
tors-had died within the period men,
TONED in the unsigned communica-
tion. But in every case the attending
physicians had given certificates OF
death from natural causes. In fact,
as Porteras pointed out to his chief,
there had been autopsies on three OF
the bodies, but even these post-mor-
tenn examinations disclosed nothing
out of the ordinary.
II know all that" retorted the chief
OF police. but the charges made In
this letter are too grave to overlook
II only for the sake of Doctor Beauri-
CARDS reputation. 1t is unthinkable
that scientist OF his standing.
member of the Ecole de Medicine, a
man who Is mentioned as the logical
successor to Koch, should be con-
nected with these deaths. Besides,
what would be his motlveT"
professional Jealousy?" hazarded
Porteras.
Possibly, but that's hardly prob
able"
Before tackling the question of the
letter itself, Porteras dug back inte
the history of the fifteen men who
had died of cholera and yellow fever
In no case did he find any reason
which would explain their murder,
any motive for removing them.
What Porteras did find, however,
was support for the allegation OF
the anonymous writer. Each OF the
dead men had been guest at the
Beaurigard home only few days be.
fore their death. Less than twenty.
four hours later they developed symp
toms OF the dread disease!
Armed with this information, the
detective started his search for tn,
man who had written the note. Dis
guised as q book agent, Porteras sue
ceeded In securing samples of the
of number of persons
who were known so he friendly with
Doctor Beaurlgard, but none of these
showed the distinct characteristics
which were apparent even in the al
tered penmanship Of the letter to the
police. 1t was not until he came away
from the Beaurigard home with sam
pies of the servants handwriting that
he found what he had been looking
for.
The following morning Buenos
Aires was startled by the news ef the
arrest Of Dr. Albert Beaurigard, the
foremost physician in South Amer
lea. on charge OF murder.
During the days which preceded his
trial. the scientist preserved an air Of
total nonchalance. appearing oblivious
Of the fact that he was about to be
tried for his life and contenting him
self with the issuance of statements
that the ''whole matter was too abb |
surd TO he considered seriously" So
were his friends and so
secure his position In the social life |
of the South American capital that |
the majority of the people claimed |
that the affair was n plot on the part |
Of the police, an attempt to cover |
their past failures by sensational |
of an innocent man.
1t was not until the state had laid |
the foundation for its case by intro
ducing the testimony Of physicians
who had attended the dead men, fol-
lowed by proof that each OF these men
had dlned at the Beaurigard home
only few hours before they had |
been taken i'll, that Porteras played
his trump card. AT his direction the
attorney called Doctor
Beaurlgards butler to the stand and
for the first time the face of the ac-
rused showed the strain underawhich
ne had been laboring
"All preparations for the dinners
we're left in my hands," testified the
Dutler. with the exception of the
preparation of single glass OF creme
lie menthe. This Doctor Beaurigard
Invariably fixed himself, placing 1t on
he tray in the midst of the other
glasses"
"What was the difference between
his glass and the others?"
"The llqueur was the same. The
ce came from small test tube In
Doctor Beaurfgard's laboratory"
Hardly had the butler finished this
sentence before the prisoner was on
IFS feet, his left hand upraIsed to at
ract the attention of the court.
"Yes," he exclaimed, II am re-
ponsible for their deaths-but you'd
Iever have discovered 1t IL Il hadn't
,aan FOR thia nrvin0 carvont doef-o1 |