CONFESSION OF MURDER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2533, 25 July 1893, Page 3

CONFESSION OF MURDER.

An extraordinary sensation has been caused in Clarkesville, Ten., and throughout Montgomery Country, by the confession of Dr. Francois Fonteney—a wealthy medical practitioner, who died on March 29th, that he had been guilty of the murder of a clergyman of the Anglican Church. In 1865 the Rev. A. M. Feitner, the rector of the Clarkesville Episcopal Church, mysteriously disappeared, and although every inquiry was made, and a vigilant search instituted, no trace of him could be found. Dr Fonteney, in the confession which he has left, admits having murdered Mr Feltner under the following circumstances : —He was the physician who attended Mrs Feltner, whose illness terminated fatally. The case was so peculiar in its features that he determined to steal the body, after it had been buried, for the purpose of holding an autopsy. He had the body removed from the grave, and was just preparing to replace the earth when he received a severe blow from behind, and on turning round he found himself face to face with the indignant and grief-stricken husbaud. The Rev. Mr Feltner made another attack upon the doctor, who retaliated with a tremendous blow with his shovel, which struck the clergyman on the head. The doctor hoped simply to stun his adversary, and thus make his escape. The shovel, however, penetrated the skull and death was instantaneous. The horrified doctor placed the clergyman’s body in the coffin, and refilled the grave. The rain washed away the traces of his terrible night’s work. The Rev. Mr Feltuer’s disappearance, although it was the subject of much speculation at the time, was almost forgotten long before the doctor’s death. The doctor held the autopsy, which resulted in an important discovery, given to the public many years ago. Dr. Fonteney, who was a bachelor until his death, adopted the two children of Mr and Mrs Feltner, and left them his entire fortune. In his confession the doctor stated he had buried Mrs Foltner’s body in the cellar of the house, and there the remains have been found. They will now be re-interred by the side of the husband.