The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-27 00:00:00

TILE MURDER OF TILE MAYOR OF UZES.

On the 30th of September last, at about four
o'clock in the morning, as the Viscount de Dampmartin, a man
of large property, mayor of the town of Uses, and one of
the most zealous defenders of the cause of order, was
leaving his house, preceded by a servant, carrying his trunk
with the intention of proceeding to Nifrael, where the Pre-
sident of the Republic wu to arrive that day, be was fired
at, and fell dead, having received several shots, one of
which struck him in a vital part, so that he fell without
uttering a cry ore groan. As M. de Dampmartin was a
man of great benevolence, and had never been known to
take legal proceedings against any tenant in arrear of
rent, or any other person indebted to him, it would have
been difficult to fix suspicion upon any man as the
murderer, if there hail been no ground for attributing
the deed to political motives. As soon, how-
ever, as the murder was known, public opinion designated
a muter mason, named Monet, as the murderer. Monet,
who is a man of 45 years of age, of inferior education, but
much natural intelligence, had, at the Revolution of 113411,
taken a prominent part in politics, and been elected as a
member of the Municipal Council of Uses. He was else
president of a society which exercised great influence over
the elections and all the affairs cf the municipality. Is
addition to this, Monet was employed by the Duke d'Usee
not only as a mason but also generally as • confidential i
agent. M. de Dampmartin, anxious to put an end to the
influence of the party at the head of which Monet Ind
placed himself, endeavoured to get him removed from
the Municipal Council, where he had thwarted all
the efforts of the Mayor and the Conservative party in
favour of order, and when another election took place for
that body Monet was an unsuccessful candidate. This
mortification was followed by another—the dissolution by
the prefect of the society of which Monet was presi-
dent, and to complete the defeat of Monet, the candidate-
ship of the Duke d'Uses for a seat in the Council General
of the department was unsuccessful, although Monet had
exerted himself strenuously in support of his patron.
Losing his influence is the Municipal Council, Monet was
no longer employed by the town as a builder, and this cir-
cumstance added greatly to the irritation which he felt at
being deprived of his position as a chief of the ultra repub-
lican party. lie had been frequently heard to utter me-
naces against the Mayor, and it was not surprising that
suspicion should fall upon him after the murder of M. de
Dampmartin. There were, however, no positive proofs
against him. The murders- was seen to walk away en the
direetion:of the house inhabited by Monet, but the evidence
as to his identity was not very conclusive, and if it was he
who fired the gun, be must have entered his house by passing
over the roof and not by the door. On this point, indeed,
there was evidence which appeared to bear heavily upon
Monet; for some person was heard to pass over the roof,
and on being called to by a person who was in bed, re-
plied, " It is me," but without mentioning his name.
Another fact stated in the indictment appeared also to
apply pattieululy to Monet. Several persons expressed an
opinion that M. de Datopmartin had been killed by a skil-
ful marksman, and Monet had tho reputation of Wag the
best shot st Uzis. The indictment, in addition to these
circumstances, dwelt at great length on the mode in which
Monet had conducted himsed after the murder ; but all
that was stated on this point might have taken place with
an ioaocent man knowing himself to be an object of ge-
neral suspicion. Monet was in the procession at the fune-
ral of M. de Dampmartin, and betrayed great
agitation. When the coffin approached lie withdrew, and
he did not eater the church for the religious crremcny.
Aa important question in this affair was to ascertain
where Monet was at about the time of the murder.
He declared that he was in bed, and that he rose about five,
and went to a small house belonging to him in the environs,
and which he was repairing. Several persons, however,
declared before the examining magistrate that they bad
seen Monet lurking about the premises of M. de Dampmar-
tin in the night of the murder, and the person who fired
the gun was stated by the servant of the victim, and other
persons who saw him walking off rapidly after com-
mitting the crime, to have been dressed as Monet usually
was. Among the circumstantial evidence againet the
accused, the indictment dwelt much on the fact that in
the pocket of the nursers of Monet there had Inca found
a piece of paper of the same kind as that of the unburnt
wadding of the gun, which was picked op oe the spot
where it was discharged. This paper is what is usually
sold at the tobacco shops, and in the piece found on
Monet was some tobacco. There were also on the
unburnt portion of the wadding and the paper found
on Monet marks of wax resembling each other; but, on
the other hand, the edges of the two pieces of paper did
not match, and, as the tobacco sold in packets is sealed with
wax of the sauna kind, the marks is question were to be
accounted fe' by supposing that the murderer, if it was not
Monet, might have put in wadding from a paper of to
en which he bad purchased. The double-barrelled gun
of Monet was found at his house in the country, loaded in
the usual way ; and, according to his statement, it bud not
been used for a considerable length of time, and one of the
locks would not act. Had this been true, it would have been
impossible for him to use it against M. de Dampmartin in the
way in which the crime was accomplished ; for the assassin
fired two barrels, one immediately after the other. The
persons employed to examine Monet's fowling-piece, how-
ever, declared that both locks acted, and that the gun
might have been recently fired. The above are the prin-
cipal parts of the indictment. On the trial, which com-
menced several days age before the Court of Assign of
the Drome, there were a great number of witnesses,
who deposed as to the general conduct of Monet,
the threats that he had used, and the violence of his cha-
racter, but many of these witnesses spoke from hearsay, and
not from personal knowledge. Some witnesses declared
that they saw the murderer as he was leavieg the spot, and
recognised him to be Monet ; (Wien said that the man who
was escaping resembled Monet in rise and by the dress that
be wore, but that although it was moonliebt he was in the
@bade, and they could not see his face. Two of these wit-
leases were charged by the President of the Tribunal with
prevarication, and on the application of the Precursor Im-
perial were ordered into custody. Two remarkable features
sharked the trial. During the examination of tie witnesses
far the prosecution, the prisoner displayed great violate.,
and occasionally much insolence, for which he was sternly
reprimanded by the President. On the other hand, if any
Englishman had been present, he must have been forcibly
inthremed with the difference in the mode of conducting
thee, as fa- as the indge is concerned, between England and
France. In England the judge rather endeavour to prevent
intimidation of a prisoner when it would have the effect
of making innocence appear to be guilt ; in France, the
judge is a sort of prosecutor, who avails himself of every
opportunity to get evidence against the prisoner by throw.
lag him off his guard. What is considered a duty in Eng-
land appears to constitute a vice in France. The difference
was never more strongly manifested than in this trial for
the murder of M. de Dampmartin. The prisoner, however,
appeared to bear the course adopted towards aim with
great indifference, and even indulged in some very improper
jocular remarks, but what was most characteristic in him,
was his violence. A female having declared that she bad
perfectly recognised him as the murderer, he exclaimed to
the gendarme who was near him, " Give me your sword
that I may cut off my head," and made a movement as if
about to seise the sword of the gendarme. The gendarme
declared that he had exclaimed, " Give me your sword
that I may cut off her head," and other persons in court
corroborated this statement, which was remarked upon by
the bench as another proof of his ferocity. The prisoner,
however, asserted this. he had said, "my bead,- and attri-
buted the exclamation to his sorrow and indignation at this
testimony, which, he said, was false, meaning that if such
evidence could be believed, it was in vain to hope for an ac-
quittal, and the sooner he got rid of his existence the better.
An Inoue of respectability who was near him, end some
other person!, declared that the rtendarme and those who
had declared that he said " cut off her head," were mis-
taken ; his exclamation was "my head." As the trial pro-
ceeded the conduct of Monet became exceedingly violent.
He insulted several witnesses for the prosecution, and told
them that they had sold themselves to his enemie,, who
had, he said, promised large sums for false testimony to
procure his conviction. The trial concluded on the 23rd,
when the jury gave in a verdict of guilty without extenuat-
ing circumstances. The court condemned Monet to death,
and ordered that the execution should take place at
Valence.

COMMERCIAL BANK OF LONDON.

Yesterday the annual meeting of the proprietors
of this bank took plan at the offices, Lothbury, Mr.
BAYNEWALL in the chair.

The balance sheet showed that, after paying all expenses
and making ample provision for bad and doubtful debts,
the net profits for the past year amount to 30,6541. 12s.
103.; out of these profits a dividend at the rate of 61. per I
rent. per annum fur the hal -year ending 31st December,
18.52, has been already paid, Ind the directors have now
to declare a dividend for the half-year ending 30th June,'
1853, at the same rate, and a bonus of 16s. per share—both
dividend and bonus free from income tax. The 5.000 new
shares issued in May, at 51. premium, were taken by the '
I proprietors, and the 25,0001. received for premium added to
' the reserve fund. This fund will now amount to 61,0201.
6.. 4d. The directors have taken advantage of the present
favouralde year to write off entirely the 3,6001. standing
against the leasehold premises and furniture. In a very
few weeks, the enlargement of the banking premiscs, 51
much ue.iled, will lie completed. In compliance with the
provisions of the deed of settlement, this following direc-
tors, viz., John Alfred Chowne, Esq , James Alexander
Douglas, Esq., John Savage, Esq., Joseph Thompson E-q.,
retire from o ffice, and being eligible offer themselves as
candidates for re-election."

•
_
BALANCE SUEET yr TO 30E11 JUNE, WA.
Dr. £ s. d.
Capital sübscribed
Capital paid up
Ditto receised in anticipation on account
of new shares
Guaranteed fund invests(' in goveisment
securities 68,052 10 1
Balance due to the customers of tho bank 1,216,821 2 4
Balance carried down atter deducting bad
and doubtful debts, income tax, and all
charges end current expenses 30,034 12 10

£3,618,986 6 3

CR.
Cub in band, government securities,
India Bonds, bills discounted, &c £1,545,380 6 3
Value of banking prktnises, fittings, and
furniture at Lothbury and Henrietta-
street

L 1,548,986 3 3

Dividend at the rate of G per cent. per
annum for the half•year ending 31at De-
cember, 1852, already paid £6,000 0 0
Dividend at the rate of 8 per cent. for
the half-year ending June 30, 1853
Bonus of 16s. per share on 10,000 - _

shares . , 8,000 0 0
Balance of banking premises account
written off entirely 3,600 0 0
Rebate of interest on current bills carried

to profit and loss new account
Balance carried to guarantee fund,
making that fund 61,029/. 63.4 d.

£30,654 12 10

Ca.
Balance brought down
The CHAIRMAN, in moving that: the report be adopted,
stated that the joint stock banks of London were the depo-
sitaries of twenty millions of money—a fact which testified
to the great success which had attended these establish-
ments. Whilst he,congratulated the shareholders on this
state of things, he expressed a hope that in future the
pri-
vats banking institutions would co-operato with them on
terms of mutual interest, so that the privileges enjoyed by
the one might be open to the other. He stated that all the
departments of the bank had improved, and that tke pros-
pects of the undertaking were of the most gratifying
character. _ _ _ _

A dividend at the rate of 6!. per cent. for the half year,
together with a bonus of I6s. a share was then agreed to ;
and after the re-election of the retiring directors the pro-
ceedings terminated with a cordial vote of thanks to the
chairman.