Paris Mystery.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2634, 16 October 1909, Page 3 (Supplement)

Paris Mystery.

“BLACK SHADOW” THAT KILLED A CHEAIIST. One of those apparently inexplicable crimes which seem peculiar to Baris occurred at Bois Colombes on August 24th, when a chemist was . most mysteriously murdered . and . his. assistant narrowly escaped with his life. The chemist was seen at seven o’clock to open the side door of his shop and go next door to a newsagent. He purchased a paper, took in the milk, and went back into the shop. Soon afterwards the chemist’s assistant, named Gustave, arrived and cleaned out and opened the shop. At about eight o’clock a customer came, and was surprised to find nobody in tho shop. He went away again. Alany others came, and there was no one to serve them. Finally a neighbor fetched the police. Going down to the cellar the police heard gasping sounds, and found Gustave lying on his side choking. Near by lay" the dead body of the chemist on its back, with the knees drawn up. The body, was cold. Gustave was raised and another chemist called. A black froth came from the injured mail's lips. The chemist opened the man’ mouth, and discovered, crammed far back into the throat, something black. He extracted it and found it was a man’s black glove, covered with mud and earth. When Gustave had partly recovered he said: “After I liad finished cleaning the shop I went into the yard. Through a erratino - in the wall which admits air to°the cellar I heard my employer’s voice calling me in a distressful sort of way. I struck a match and went down the cellar stairs. I saw my master lying on the floor, looking imploringly at me, and 1 was about to turn to go up and fetch some brandy when a black shadow flitted by me and I received a violent blow at the back of tlie head, which stunned me. ■ I remember no more.” . ■ ■ Robbery did not appear to have been the object of the murder, for the chemist’s purse was found lying beside him, having apparently fallen out of his pocket in a struggle. A safe upstairs had not been tampered with, and nothing had been taken away.