Rensselaer Standard, Volume 1, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 September 1879 — A Villiage Borgia. [ARTICLE]

A Villiage Borgia.

Paris Cor. London Telegraph. Murders and rumors of murders are following one another in quick and terrible succession. The latest addition-to the annals of crime comes from the neighborhood of Aix, in the south of France. It is only lair to state that the verdict of the tribunal has not yet been pronounced, but the following are the facte reported from the little villiage of Lambese: Three persons—agallant soldier , a kind hearted old lady and a generous and well-to-do person, M. Laurent by name—died sudden deaths under circumstances whichjgave rise to suspicions chat poison had been taken in all three instances. This proved to have been the case upon the examination of the bodies by order of the Procureur General. “Look out for the woman,” is a saying which is applicable in all instances where mystery exists, and its origan cannot be trqced. In the present case the talisman was consulted and the result was that one of the prettiest and most popular of the villiage maidens was put under arrest Young Baptistine was an acknowledged coquette in Lambese, and it was with considerable surprise that on one fine day shortly before the Franco-German war the congregation of the village heard from the Cure that a certain Barthelemv Philip was about to wed her. The bridegroom had just served his time in the army, and was looking forward to a happy life with his wife in Lambese, which was his home, when suddenly he was called on to rejoin his regiment. He served throughout the campaign against Germany, while during his absence Baptistine took service with Mme. Martin, a respectable old lady. In spite of the demoted care of her young servant, Mme. Martin died rather suddenly one day and was buried. The doctor said she had an internal disorder, and no suspicions were aroused. Mme. Martin’s relatives were surprised, however, at not finding any traces of the money which she was supposed to have possessed. When Philip returned from the war, he found his Baptistine no longer gay as heretofore, but silent and downcast. As she, however, according to report, was a sad coquette, he paid no attention to the change in demeanor. Shortly afterwards a rich uncle of his proposed to come and live with him. Philip objected to this arrangement, but suggested, by way of conciliation, that Baptistine shoyld visit him every day. Not long afterward M. Laurent died suddenly, leaving all his fortune to young Baptistine and her husband. The latter, strangely enough, forthwith made his will, bequeathing, of course, his share of the fortune to his wife. Then an alarming illness seized him and quickly carried him off. Matters immediately assumed a serious aspect. The Procureur General was sent for, and, although the medical practitioner of the villiage declared that Philip had died of Indigestion, a large quantity of arsenic was found in his stomoch as well as in tne remains of his uncle, and in those of Mme. Martin.