21 May 2021: Inauguration of the Abbé Antoine Gélis Museum in Coustaussa (Tourist Attraction for the Mystery Buffs).

Abbé Antoine Gélis, assassinated in his Coustaussa presbytery on the night of Halloween, 31 October 1897. Mainstream accounts suggest that Abbé Gélis was an Anti-Republican priest murdered in an altercation involving several Pro-Republican ruffians, most probably homeless transients, as given by regional newspapers of the period, with headlines like “Exploits rêpublicaine” (L'Univers, 12 May 1881), thus explaining why no money was stolen (theft was not the motive), and why his dead body was laid out in a parody of the Catholic Ritual.

Here is a translation of one French newspaper article from the relevant period.

The little village of Coustaussa, located 3 kilometres from Couiza in the arrondissement of Limoux, was the setting last Sunday night of a truly dreadful crime. The venerable priest of this commune, Abbé Antonin Gélis, was found on Monday morning murdered in his kitchen, his body soaked in blood, with a wound to the nape of his neck which, it is thought, was made with a thick cudgel or hammer.

Was the curé already in his kitchen when he was attacked by ruffians, or did he go there to investigate when he heard a noise in the presbytery? We don't know.

The struggle must have been a terrible one and the blows to his skull very violent judging by the many wounds that the curé suffered. There were bloodstains on the furniture, on the walls and even on the ceiling.

As soon as they were informed of the crime, the staff of the Public Prosecutor's Office in Limoux and the gendarmes of Couiza and St. Hilaire rushed to the scene of the crime and carried out their first investigations.

Preliminary enquiries suggest that the crime could be attributed to two vagabonds who had been seen on Sunday roaming about the local countryside. One of them seemed to be aged about 55, with a full greying beard, while the other looked about 45 and had a heavy build and a prominent moustache.

It is alleged that the criminals, having murdered the abbé, then entered the presbytery and stole two ciboria and some money.

According to another theory however the theft was not linked to the murder, and the real offenders need to be sought among the locals, who of course would have a perfect knowledge of the curé's daily routine and the fact that he lived a solitary life.

The curé lived alone, without any servants. One of his nieces visited him during the day to cook meals and tidy up his rooms, but she then returned home.

The curé was believed to have had few possessions thanks to his parsimonious nature and frugal lifestyle. He was a priest of great integrity, utterly devoted to his ministry.

Abbé Gélis was born in Couiza in 1827. Ordained in 1852, he was appointed curé of Coustaussa in 1857. He had therefore been serving his parish for forty years. He was the uncle of Abbé Malot, chaplain of the hamlet of Grèzes near Carcassonne.

A curious coincidence – Another relative of the victim was attending Vespers in the Cathedral on Monday when His Grace the Bishop announced the murder, of which he had just been informed. Although this relative did not hear the name of the parish in question he had an immediate presentiment that it was the curé of Coustaussa who had been murdered, because he knew that he lived alone. On returning home the relative told his wife the news. Several hours later he learned that his presentiment had been all too justified.

The funeral of Abbé Gélis will take place on Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. in Coustaussa.

At the funeral Vicar-General Cantegril will represent His Grace the Bishop.

Latest details – At the time of writing no arrests have been made. All the local gendarmeries are out in search of the malefactors, having received an order to keep watch on the local roads and in the local countryside. The gendarmes of Perpignan are keeping an eye on the frontier, while those of Limoux, Couiza and the surrounding areas are showing especial zeal and vigilance.

We hope that the dreadful murder of his venerable old man will not remain long unpunished and that the culprit or culprits will soon be apprehended by the forces of law and order.