A SWINDLER’S END

Hokitika Guardian, 7 October 1929, Page 3

A SWINDLER’S END

TERRIBLE REVENGE TAKEN

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). PARIS, October 4. Receiving an anonymous letter, with a diagram,, stating that the “Marquis of Champaubert” had been buried alive at Vernciril-sur-Seine. the police hastened to the cemetery, and there, found, at the spot indicated, a little tube sticking up from some freshly disturbed earth. The digging away of the earth revealed a coffin containing the body of a man. The tube was sufficient to enable him to breathe. Hence, it was believed that his death was due to starvation. It is reported that the pseudonym “Marquis of Champaubert’’ concealed the identity of Pascal Clement, who was prominent many years ago 'in connections with an alleged swindle. He recently went to reside with his mother at St. Denis, in the hope of living down his past. His burial alive is possibly a diabolical form of revenge. The body was c;lad in a shirt only. There were trousers folded under the head as a pillow. The face bore traces of terrible suffering, , and a post mortem revealed symptoms of' asphyxia, as well 'as. of starvation. The. elbows and knees yind the back of. the head were bruised. Death had occurred at least fortyeiglit hours' before the discovery. The pipe communicating With the coffin wad solidly made of brick clay. The grave was in some woods, near Verneuil. The spot was exactly shown on the plan'accompanying the anonymous letter, which was addressed to a friend .of Clement, named Gryvalet, who communicated ' with the police., The death of .the pseudo Marquis recalls a no less amazing exploit, in which ho was the chief actor, in the year 1924. Giving the name of the [Marquis of Champaubert, he rented a chalet near Dinard, and asked a jeweller to bring thevo a magnificent collection of gems. The jeweller was invited to sit in a room that was specially fitted ,up with an. apparatus which was slowly chloroforming him. The jeweller,' however, escaped, and informed the police.* Clement was then arrested, >and he was sentenced to five years’ imprisomgent.