The Sun. — 1847-05-13 (London, England)

PROMISING YOUTH. . We find the following statement in the Droit :—"A f youth, named Alfred, not yet sixteen, belonging to an . honest family of working people, having received some little education, and calling himself a clerk, was arrested , on Friday under the following circumstances :—During some time, Alfred has been alone at Paris, in consequence of his father being on a journey. Free from paternal authority, he plunged into pleasure, and incurred excessive expenses. His disorderly conduct brought down upon him the reproaches of his relatives, but he took no notice of them, and quitted his father's house, saying he would not receive advice from anybody, and that he knew how to create resources to live independently. A little while after, Alfred had occasion to go to the house of an English doctor named Edmonds, residing in the Rue Vieille-du-Temple, who during fifteen years had attended his family. In his visits to Dr. Edmonds, Alfred was much struck at the rich furniture, and concluded that the doctor must possess money and valuables. He according resolved to rob him, and in order to carry his design into effect studied the doctor's habits. Having observed that Dr. Edmonds frequently absented himself, he procured a key to open his apartment, and made preparations for effecting a robbery. On thinking further on the matter, he came to the conclusion that if he murdered the Doctor, and then robbed him, the chances of discovery would be fewer. He accordingly determined to murder him, and for that purpose procured a large awl, which he sharpened. Fearing, however, that his energy might fail at the fatal moment, he resolved to obtain an assistant. Ile, therefore, went on Thursday night to the well-known establishment of Paul Niquet, which is frequented by thieves and outcasts, among whom he hoped to find some one to aid him in carrying out his abominable designs. In the smoky tapis franc, he soon remarked a man of about 40, covered with rags, without shoes, with a long and dirty beard, and his whole appearance betokening suffering and misery. He accosted him, and asked what he did at Paris. The man replied that not being able to obtain work at Bordeaux he had come to Paris to seek it. " Work !" cried Alfred, " don't think of it ; you will not find occupation anywhere, and if you did you would not earn sufficient to live on. If you like I will procure you resources ; yes, I will make you have money, and that without fatigue !" And thereupon Alfred went on to speak of the wealth of the doctor, end of the good stroke that it would be to murder him. house,do the a and job, would sai d givet a t him one-fourth of all that he might be able to steal. he would proposed wudin introduce heeishim companionin into Strangulation was the means he first proposed, and he particularly recommended to the man to take care not to allow the victim to utter cries. He promised to dress hie accomplice in new clothes, in order that he might enter the house without suspicion, and he spoke of the murder as the most simple and natural thing in the world. The stranger appeared to accept his proposition, but said that it would be difficult to strangle the doctor without his crying out. Alfred thereupon drew his large awl from his pocket, and showed the other how he might kill a man with it at one blow. The stranger made no further observations, and a bargain was duly made, and confirmed by a good supper. The next merning Alfred led his accomplice to a barber's, and then left him to seek some clothes for him. When alone the poor wretch became so frightened at the horrible projects of the lad, that he hasted to the Marche des Innocens, and communicated them to some sergens de ville, who took him the commissaire de police of the quarter, to whom he told the same tale. Measures were immediately taken to arrest Alfred, and whew he appeared with his clothes at the appointed place he was captured. The instrument with which he had proposed to kill Dr. Edmonds was found upon him, as was also the key with which he intended to open the doctor's door. The examination to which he was subjected was not long. He, however, made the most complete confession, and detailed all the circumstances here related with extraordinary sang froid. He manifested not the slightest remorse, but exposed his criminal plans as it they were perfectly reguiar. He has a mild and agreeable expression of countenance, and appears to possess a well developed intelligence. He has been sent to the prison of the prefecture of police.