Strange Case of Dr. Etienne Deschamps, The: Murder in the New Orleans French Quarter

by Christopher G. Peña

In the era of Storyville and Bellocq, one man heard the spirits calling. Believing himself to be gifted with magnetic and hypnotic powers, Dr. Etienne Deschamps searched for the lost treasure of pirate Jean Lafitte. And he needed a young virgin to find it. Juliette Deitsh, poor, immigrant, and 12 years old, never stood a chance. In 1889, she was found dead from an overdose of chloroform in bed next to a distraught Deschamps. The deranged doctor’s heinous act made the legal authorities confront the Should the clearly insane Deschamps be executed for his crime? This incisive examination of the murder, trials, and conclusions invites readers to rethink this famous case.

Genres: True Crime

216 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2016

Reviews

[Sonnet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story, but the author's opinion on certain aspects was really clear. There was a question of sanity, and some doctors said one thing (other said the opposite). The author definitely takes a side, which is fine, but I never got a true sense of why (other than it was the Coroner). As a result, there were a few sentences where certain words were used that indicated bias in that regard. But it was a thoroughly researched book and an interesting case.

[RaeG · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really interesting piece of history, which the author has clearly researched thoroughly. The cover and description implies there is some question as to the central character's guilt and/or sanity, but the book makes it clear from the beginning that the author doesn't actually take that position. Occasionally the writing was unnecessarily dramatic or speculative, but it was at its best when adhering closely to the history.