The Sun. — 1851-07-31 (London, England)

ATROCIOUS MURDER IN PARIS.  The police arrested on Sunday the young man who murdered a girl named Juliette Flame in a publichouse in the Rue du Cherche-Midi. His name is Joseph Humblot, his age 19, and his occupation that of a waiter in a coffee-house. The arrest was effected at 110, Rue St. Honors, in the residence of a concierge, who is a friend of his mother. He readily answered the questions put to him, and made this statement:—" I know," he said, " that I have committed a horrible murder, and I know the fate that awaits me. But lam not a monster—l was distracted—l had an attack of brain fever. During eight months," he continued, " I had intimate relations with Juliette; I loved her passionately, but at last I fancied I perceived she deceived me. Ido not know whether I was right or wrong, but a violent jealousy took possession of me, and I resolved to kill her first, and myself afterwards. I was under the influence of these ideas when I met her on Wednesday. We went into the public-house, and ascended to a bedroom. A bottle of wine was brought us, and Juliette seated herself on the bed. It was nearly nine o'clock, and vertigo seized me. I passed my hand over her throat, which appeared to surprise her; but before she had time to make any observation I seized a razor which I had for some time carried in my pocket, and, in one cut, made a severe wound in the throat. Poor Wretch! She had only time to cry Mother! mother!' when she fell dead. I was troubled, and for a few moments knew not what I did. But at last I recovered my self-possession. I washed the blood from my hands and face. I opened the door, bat when half-way down the staircase, the idea of seeing her again recurred to me, and I went and kissed her for the last time. I hurried away. I went to the river and washed my trousers. Afterwards I went home, and said to my father and mother, Kiss me, for you will see me no more; I sin a great criminal, and deserve the scaffold!' In their stupor they did not think of stopping me. I went out of Paris and slept in a lodging-house at one of the barriers. In the morning I was agitated, and did not know where to go. So I resolved to commit suicide. But before dying I determined to try to see Juliette once again. I went to the Morgue, where I thought her body would be taken; but I arrived too late—she had been recognised by her mother, and the body had been removed. I listened to what was said in the crowd. A young girl has been murdered,' they said, • and the murderer afterwards threw the body into the river.' I shrugged my shoulders and went away. I went to a church, with the intention of confessing to a priest, but not finding one, I wandered about the streets for some time, and at last left Paris. I only returned this morning. And now I have only to request that I may be condemned to death. My repentance and my chastisement will open to me the gates of heaven, and it is there alone that I can hope to see Juliette again." This statement was made with the greatest calmness. The prisoner had on a shirt stained with the blood of his victim. The expression of his features is remarkably mild. He had procured himself a passport for a foreign country.