BARBER AND THE DOG.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20385, 17 April 1928, Page 16

BARBER AND THE DOG.

THE REAL “SWEENEY TODD.”

GRUESOME FRENCH STORY. MURDERERS GET DESERTS. The pi'oduction at the Elephant Theatre, in London of “ Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” has drawn attention to the story of the exploits of this amazing chai-acter. Did SCweeney Todd really exist, or was he a myth evolved from the gruesome imagination of some old-time writer i ’Mr Sydney . Barnard, of the Elephant Theatre," says ho believes that Todd really lived in or near Fleet street, and he quotes in confirmation of this no less an authority than the late George R. Sims, ft may, however, bo that the narrative had its origin in an actual occurrence which is described in the New London GL-anor, a magazine, published a century ago. The Sunday News publishes this storv in full as it then appeared. In the Rue dc la Harpe, which is a long, dismal, ancient street in the faubourg ol St. Mar cell, is a space or gap in the line of building, upon which formerly stood two dwelling houses, instead of which stands now a melancholy memorial, signifying that upon this spot no human habitation shall ever be erected, no human being ever must reside! PART PLAYED BY THE DOG. Two attached and opulent neighbours, residing in some province not very remote from the French capital, having occasion to go to town on certain money transactions. r. reed to travel thence and to return together. Upon their arrival at the Rue do In H.ivpe, they stopped into the shoo of a perruquicr to be shrved before they would proceed on their business, or enter into the more fashionable streets. So limited was their time, and so peremptory was their return, that the first man, who was shaved, proposed to his companion that while he was undergoing the operation of the razor he who was already shorn would run to execute a small commission in the neighbourhood, promising that he would be back before the other was ready to move. On returning, to his great surprise and vexation, he was informed that his friend was gone, but as the dog, which was the dog of the absentee, was sitting outside of the door, the other presumed he was only gone out for the moment, perhaps in pursuit of him.

Expecting Ills friend back every moment, the man chatted to the barber while he watched for his return. Impatience now became alarm; alarm became sympathetic. The poor dog exhibited marks of restlessness in yelps and in howling, which so affected the sensibility of the stranger that he threw out some insinuations not much to the credit of “ Monsieur.” An altercation ensued, and the traveller was indignantly ordered by the barber to quit his premises. BARBER ATTACKED BY THE ANIMAL.

In his agoiiv this afflicted man raised a crowd about the door, to whom he told his lamentable story. By some of the populace it was proposed to send for the police, by others it was proposed a remedy more summary, namely, to force in and search, the house, which was immediately done. The crowd burst in, every apartment was searched—was searched in vain. There was no trace whatsoever of the countryman. After a fruitless search and much altercation, the barber, who had prevailed upon those who had forced in to cpiit his house, came to the door, and was haranguing the populace, declaring most solemnly his innocence, when the dog suddenly sprang upon him, Hew at his throat in such a state of terrrlßc exasperation that his victim fainted and was with the greatest difficulty rescued from being torn to pieces. It was now proposed to give the animal his way to see what course he would pursue. The moment the dog was let loose ho few through bho shop, darted downstairs into a dark cellar, where he set up the most dismal lamentations.

Lights being procured, an aperture was discovered in the wall communicating with the next house, which was immediately surrounded In the cellar of this house the searchers found the body of the unfortunate man who had been missing. The person who kept this shop was a pastrycook. A TERRIBLE CONFESSION.

It is unnecessary to say that thoso miscreants were brought to trial and executed. The facts that appeared upon that trial, and afterwards upon confession, were these: Thoso incautious traveller’s, while in the shop of this fiend, unhappily talked of o money they had about them, and the wretch, who was a robber and a murderer by profession, as soon as the ono turned bis back drew his razor across tho throat of the other and plundered him. The pastrycook, whoso shop was so remarkable for savoury patties that they were sent for to the Rue do la Harpe from the most distant parts of Paris, was tho partner of this porruquicr, and those who were murdered by the razor of the ono were concealed by the knife of the other in those very identical patties. This case was of so terriffio a nature, it was made part of the sentence of tho law that besides the execution of these monsters the house in which they perpetrated those infernal deeds should bo pulled down, and that the snot on which they stood should he raarkeU out to posterity with horror and with execration.