A Seine Murder Mystery.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVII, Issue 156, 4 July 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

A Seine Murder Mystery.

A bemaekablb instance of the manner in which murders are sometimes planned and carried out in Paris has juab been brought to light. On March 19bh a young man named Huchard, a bicycle fitter, mysteriously disappeared. Three weeks later his body was found, in the Seine. The police ascertained thab a carter named Lourdel had been beard threatening Hucliard because the latter had frequently assaulted a friend of Lourdel. Although there was no direct evidence against him the carter was arrested. He at first denied all connection with Huchard's death, bub on being closely questioned he made a full confession. Ho said that, learning thab Huchard was. to attend a dinner on the nighb of March 18th, he, in company with his uncle, who?e assistance ho obtained, lay in wait for Huchard close to the Mirabeaubridgo over the Seine, across which the victim would have to paes on his way home. Huchard. however, did nob go homo bbnb night, ho Lourdel and hia uncle waited for him on the following nighb. Aboub one o'clock in bhe morning.Kuchard appeared on the bridge slightly intoxicated, and Lourdel knocked him down by a blow on the head, with a loaded stick. Then, wibh his uncle's assistance, he threw Huchard into the river without troubling to ascertain whether he was dead or alive. In consequence ot this confession the uncle, Francois Lourdel, a labourer, aged 40 years, was arrested, bub he denied his nephew's assertions and abused him freely when eontronbed with him. The body of the victim, which was recovered from the river and interred, will be exhumed for examination.