Bridport, Beaminster, and Lyme Regis Telegram and Dorset, Somerset, and Devon Advertiser. — 1884-03-14 (Bridport, Dorset, England)

FRENCH TRASEDY.  A murder case, which has caused a great sensation at Marseilles, is being tried at Aix. The accused, a journeyman baker of the name of Guichard, is charged with the , murder of a collector of the Cr&lit Lyonnais. The circumstances of the case are as follow :—The victim, Michel, on the 30th November last did not return from hill Itinal round at the time expected, and on his employers of the Ore lit Lyonnais branch at Marseilles, informing the pollee of the fact a search was made, and Michel's dead body wee found in a room eta lodging-house in the town. He had been gagged and strangled. The keeper of the lodginr house, Madame Aleyron, stated that she had let the house to a M. Blain, • master potter at Aubagae.. This person received an immediate visit from the police, but it was quickly ascertained that it was not he, but somebody peps mating him, who had hired the rooms at Marseilles. Suspicion at length lighted on Madame Aleyron herself and her domestic servant, and they were arrested, but, fortunately for them, the police soon after found themselves upon the right track. A portmanteau-maker, M. Verdier, on the 11th of December called on the police commissary to make an important communication. A person had bought a satchel of him, which required some repairs. He was 1.43 return* at 8 o'clock that evening. The man had seemed to him • suspicious character, and had more money about him than his appearance and manners warranted. The police, on his returning as appointed, watched him, and following him home, arrested him and a young woman who was in his company. They gave their names as Guichard and Anna Moulin, his mistress. In Gidehard's box were found 13,0001., and enclosed in his shirt 17.0001. in bank noted. Attar giving confused and contradictory a:counts of the source of these large sums, he ended by confessing himself the perpetrator of the murder of the man Michel. Madame Aleyron recognised hint , also, not as the man who hired her rooms, but as a friend of her lodger, who had accompanied him. Guichard showed the police where the dead man's 1 satchel was concealed—viz., in a ehubbery. In it were securities, still untouched, to the extent of some 80,0001. Guiohard also explained how Michel had been trapped into the lodging& His accomplice, Contestln (who has not been secured) went to Nice, and drew a bill on M. Blain at the address of his lodgings, which he passed through the Credit Lyonnais. Michel had called to get it accepted. There are two mysterious points in the case. The young woman Moulin states that on the sth of December Contestin called on Guichard and whispered somethina to him, at which Guichard turned pale. Guichard put 100 f, on the mantlepiece, and went out with Contestin, saying he would return in a few minutes. He did not return for five day, What was the cause of this incident? Toe other myst irious fact is, that though Guichard says the booty was equally divided between him and his accomplice, nearly the whole of it has been fouod in the possession of Guichard. No trace has been found lof C intestin. As regards Goichard'e mistress, she is not implcated in the crime, having formed her intimacy with the accused subsequently to it.