The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

At the commencement of the year, an American, bringing with him a considerable sum of money, but having no acquaintance whatsoever, arrived at Bordeaux, and fixed his residence in a small hotel. Here he formed two connections, with whom he lived in confidential intimacy; the landlord, and a friseur, the last of whom officiated as his occasional Valet de Chambre. To none but these and his negro servant, was he at all accessible; becoming at length more and more unguarded in the relation of his concerns and property in America, his two friends having corrupted the black slave, contrived a plan for making themselves the inheritors of his fortune. At the expiration of two months from his arrival, the American died suddenly in his bed; immediately afterwards the landlord and the hair-dresser concealed, only for such a length of time as suited their purposes, the body of the deceased. One of these miscreants, disguising himself as much as possible, and putting on the appearance of a dying man, undressed himself, and entered into the sick bed, whilst the other, accompanied by the negro, went in search of a Notary to make the will of the supposed expiring testator. This ceremony having been concluded the pious triumvirate sent for a Father Confessor to hear a catalogue of sins, to comfort a penitent in the last agonies, and to make him spotless by his hallowed absolution. Previous to the coming of this sacred visitor, the corpse was replaced in the bed, and then, with feigned tears, the three villains informed the Minister, that death had made it too late for him to execute his devout purposes, that the much lamented American was no more. The will was now read in form, and from thence it appeared that the inn-keeper and the hair dresser were the sole legatees. These having buried the American, began to administer, but too covetous of the wickedly acquired spoil, they refused totally to fulfil their liberal promised of reward to the negro; in consequence of which this irritated accomplice has betrayed them to the Magistrate. They are now under arrest; preparations are making for their trial, and the issue of it will doubtless prove fatal.