There is a fair argument that the work of Jacques Aymar was not technically a “police” case. But that is only because there was no “police” in 17th Century France. The fact remains that Jacques was significant to the solving of a crime that was being investigated by the authorities of the time and was recognized as such by the King’s Procurator.
In 1692, a wine merchant in Lyons and his wife were found dead. Their demise was the result of a burglary, a meat cleaver and a thirst for blood … and maybe a nice claret. Surely the commotion that would accompany two people being hacked to death with a meat cleaver would have raised some clues, but those charged with investigating the crime were left red-faced and baffled.
Jacques Aymar, a dowser of some repute offered to help and the King’s Procurator was quick to bring him to Lyons to assist. This was a substantial gesture given that Aymar was a mere peasant. But it quickly bore fruit with the revelation that there had been three men involved in the crime.
There is a bizarre image that is created by Jacques setting off with his dowsing rods and following the trail of the killers. But unperturbed, he led the authorities to a prison in Beaucaire where he identified as one of the perpetrators a man, who had only just been incarcerated for stealing, from a line-up of thirteen men.
This man was taken back to Lyons where he admitted to the crime and confirmed Aymar’s assertions. On the back of this, Aymar was supplied with men to seek out the other two culprits, but before they could be captured they crossed the border into Genoa and out of French jurisdiction.
