The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1869-10-30 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

FOURFOLD MURDER IN BELGIUM.  Murders generally come in battalions, it is often said, and the adage is verified in Behduiii. For many years the country has not witnessed an execution, the absence of capital offences having been remarkable. Now, however, immediately following the murder of two ladies in Brussels, we have intelligence of the discovery of four murders comuiitted by one man at a village called liornu, near Mons, nearly 30 miles from Brussels. The murderer, for about three years, has been a small farmer 1111,1 sheep dealer. his Dame is Dessouale-Moustier. He is twenty-eight years iif age, and was married &Ale three yeaD ago to the daughter of a fanner. Ile was acquainted with three brothers Who werg extensive trailers in sheep, near the Forest of Ardennee. The elder brother, Pierre Joseph aged sixty-two years, was on friendly terms with the murderer, and in March, 1868, called upon him on business. Ile was never again seen alive, and it was known that he had upon him the sum of 3,0001. About a month afterwards his brother, Nicholas Thirion, aged fit ty-eight, visited the pris mer to make inquiries respecting his missing brother, but he never returned to his home in the forest. A month still later—namely, May, 186 S—the youngest id the three brothers, Gustave Thirion, aged fortythree years, went in tearch of his brother, and shared the same fate. The mysterious disappearance of the three brothers naturally excited considerable suspicion, and Deseowele-Moustier was called before the authorities and interrogated, but gave such a plausible explanation that, in the absence of any proofs, he was discharged. A few ilays ago his wife became imililenly ill, and he refused her medical aid, but she induced a neighbour, who accidentally called in, to send the village doctor. She rallied a little, but afterwards had another attack, under which ahe sank. Before her death she made sonic disclosures respecting her husband, and avowed her belief that he had poisoned her. The doctor confirmed her swipieions and, acting on his information, the man was arrested. The previous suspicions then revived, and the dying wife's disclosures prompted an examination of the premises of the prisoner. An old pit that had been tilled up in his garden was excavated, and there at different depths were found the remains of the three victims, of course considerably decomposed. In poisoning his wife the wretch appears to have had a double motive. A woman is the neighbourhood has cohabited with him and is enceinte. To bring this paramour into his home, and at the same time to rid himself of the only dangeroun witness of his previous grimes, he resolved to compass her death. When arrested and charged with the murder of his wife, he, with great coolness, exclaimed, " Oh ! is that all? He was on Saturday confronted with the remains of his victims, but was very aollected and disclaimed all knowled. ge of the matter. Hi. has, however, since admitted' his guilt, and inculpated an old man, who has been arrested, as an accomplice. He pleads for speedy execution. The stomach, kc., of his wife are in the hands of an eminent analyst in BM9PAiIIS foe examination. The remains of the three murdered brothers were on Brinday interred in the village oemetery, in the presence of thousands of spectators from the surrounding towns wad villa,:ep.