The Poole Telegram. — 1884-03-14 (Poole, Dorset, England)

FRENCH TRAGEDY.  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 tollector of the Celdit Lyonnais. The circumstances of the case are as follow :—The victim, Michel, on the 30th November last did not return from his usual round at the time expected, and on his employers of the M Cr 6 lit Lyonnais branch at araeilles, informing the police of the fact a search was made, and Michel's dead body was found in a room at a lodging-house in the town. He had been gagged and strangled. The keeper of the lodgings house, Madame Ale y roil, stated that she had lst the house to a M Blain, • master potter at Aubague. This person received an immediate visit from the police, but it was quickly ascertained that it was not he, but somebody Dere miring him, who had hired the rooms at Marseilles. Suspicion at length lighted on Madame A.leyron herself and her domest'c 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 to return. at 8 o'clock that evening. The man had seemed t 3 him a suspicious character, and had more money about him than his appearance and mariners warranted. The police, on his returiflng is 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 mtstrets:'l Guichard's box were found 13,000 f., and enclosed in his shirt 17,000 f. in bank notes. After giving confused wad contradictory accounts of the source of these large sums, he ended by confessing himself the perpetrator of the murder of the man Michel. Madame Aleyron recogpised him also, not as the man who hired her rooms, but as a friend of her lodger, who had accompanied him. Goichard showed the police where the dead man's satchel was concealed—viz., in a ahubbery. In it were secur ties, still untouched, to the extent of some 80.000 f. Guichard also explained how Michel had been trapped into the lodgings. His accomplice, Contestin (who has not been secured) went to Nice, and drew a bill on M. Blain at the address of his lodgings, which he passed throne 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 Gaichard and whispered somethinz to him, at which Guichard turned pale. Goichard put 100 r. on the mantlepiece; and went out with Contestin, saying he would return in a few minutes. He did no% return for five day., What was tile cause of this incident? Tee other mysterious fee% is, that though Guiohard gays the booty was equally divided between him and his accomplice, nearly the whole of it has been found in the possession of Guichard. No trace has been found C .ntestin. As regards Guichard's mistress, she is not limpl Wed in the crime, having formed her intimacy with the accusal subsequently to it.