BRAZILIAN FLESH-EATERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8670, 12 September 1891, Page 2 (Supplement)

BRAZILIAN FLESH-EATERS.

MURDER AND CANNIBALISM. A little three-column newspaper arrived at New York the other day which bore the most sensational news which it probably ever printed, says the Brooklyn Eagle. The newspaper was printed on June Ist, and was from the State of Chihuaha, Santa Rosalia, South America. A translation of the article referred to .is as follows : —

"At Salinas, in the State of Minus, Brazil, a man named Clements Viera has been charged with eating human flesh. The editor of the local paper, Cida de Leopoldina, visited Viera in gaol, and had the following interview with him : "'ls it true that you nourish yourself upon human flesh?' was asked. " ' Yes, sir,' answered the prisoner. ' For some time I and my friends, Basilio, Loan-; dro, and others, have eaten human flesh ; we have lived on it.'

"'What motivo luul impelled you to such barbarous acts before God and man V

" 1 Because we liked it.' " ' How did you secure tlio first victim ?' With the utmost frankness Viera roplied : "'Upon going ono day to Leandro's house he invited me to cat a piece of a dead child. I had had nothing to eat; I was hungry and accepted the invitation. The following day, while returning to my house, I found a woman asleep by the roadside. The thought came to me to kill her. I did so, using a stone for my weapon. I took the body to my home. After some days I killed Simplicio and invited Francisco and Severa to help mo eat him. '" When Simplicio'a flesh was consumed, having no other resource, it occurred to mo to kill his two sons for a further supply of food. With two blows the deed was done. The flesh of the two children lasted us a fortnight. After this time had elapsed, being thrown again into the old predicament of having nothing to cat, Basilio and myself killed Francisco and devoured him. " ' Finally, having discovered that Basilio had stolen a shirt from me I killed him while he was off his guard, engaged in preparing some roots for his supper. I ate very little of him, for I was caught two days after I had killed him.' " Viera was captured in the very act of making a meal of a portion of Basilio's remains, which he was devouring with evident relish. The soldier's found a part of Basilio's body packed away in a barrel, prepared with pepper and salt. Then, has human flesh an agreeable taste ?' Viera was asked.

"'No," lie replied; 'it is too sweet. The parts I found the most toothsome were the tongue and the brain. Mo doubt my stomach was turned each time 1 partook of human flesh.'

"' How did you] prepare the flesh for eating " ' We ate it roasted or boiled, seasoned with salt and a great deal of pepper.' " ' And did not. the remains of your victims inspire you with fear?' " ' Somewhat; yet the sight of them did not affect us, but the fear of detection.'

" ' And do you sleep calmly now ?' " ' Yes, ever so tranquilly.' "'Do you ever teel remorse at having been guilty of such deeds ?' "'I cannot remember that I ever do,' Viera replied. "The man Viera, the newspaper states, will have a trial." '