According to AFP news agency, Mr Dupont bought hessian sacks and cement before his disappearance.

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In 1776, General Washington's American troops defeated a Hessian force fighting for the British at the battle of Trenton, New Jersey.

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Knobbled hessian bags, sewn shut, wait to be collected at homestead doors.

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The family lived in a big house in the Hessian village of Hanau, near Kassel, and the boys received a sound primary education at home.

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His back played him up, so at the beginning of each visit I humped hessian sacks of food and wine through the garden from his ancient M.

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It is this humanity to her work that has made her popular, such as covering a bed in a hessian before casting it, so as to give it a "hairy" texture.

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