The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-29 00:00:00

MURDERS IN FRANCE.

A shocking event tonic place at Paris on the 11th instant.
The woman Bendraud, whose husband had let a small
garden to one Bonnet, bad at differ4nt times provoked his
tenatst by gathering the flowers as she. passed. He had
siveMl dines threatened her on this account; but on the
day in question the unfortunate woman, having had the
imprudence to cut a flower in the presence of Bounet, he
instantly ran into the house, fetched his gun, and return-
ing, shot the poor woman dead at a distance of ten paces
only. He immediately absconded.
CoenT OF Anuses OF CRATEAUROUX.—..LOIIis and
Etienne Brault were brought before the Court, accused of
the murder of the widow Pigekt, a poor infirm old lady,
who lived in a lone house at the extremity of the village
of Lavernelle ; she bad two daughters, one of them mar-
ried to one of the prisoners, Brault, anti the other residing
also in the same village, some distance off. It was known
that the widow Pieelet possessed about eight or ten thou-
sand francs in gold and silver. Her grand-daughter, Marie
Brault, aged seven, usually slept with her grandmamtna,
and was almost entirely brought up by her. Some time be-
fore the murder it was arranged that she should sleep aline,
under pretence that it was unhealthy to sleep with an old
woman. On the 15th July the little thing came running,
and crying'out that grandmamma was dead. She was found
stretched on her bed, her head terribly fractured ; an
enormous fire-dog hail beets removed from the grate, and
being found covered with blood, was unquestionably the in-
strument with which the fatal deed was performed. The
trunks and drawers had been opened and ransacked, her
keys had been taken from her pocket, and part of them
Rom under some linen where she was accustomed to hide
them. The assassins effected their entrance by mesas of a
hole made in the oven, the wall of which communicated
with a field. Suspicions at first alighted upon some fellows
of bad reputation in the village, and at length upon Louis
Brault, son-in-law to the victim, and Etienne Brault,. his
nephew • they were both corn-dealers, and after the event
were observed to deal more largely than before. Louis Brault
had been seen, the morning the murder was committed, on
a bridge near Laveruelle. Suspicions were heightened
against &lame Brault, by his wife having been heard
to exclaim, "We are all lost!" His mother had been
heard to say, " he has threatened, and done much worse;
but he is my son, I must spare him." On his examination,
he stated, that on the night of the murder he went to be]
at nine o'clock, and rose at four the next morning; but
witnesses proved that he had been seen in the streets at 11
at night; his servant also had made use of expressions
which tended to implicate his master; among others, one
day, his horse having fallen into a quagmire, he exclaimed,
" well, lie and rot if you will, the crowns of widow Pigelet
will buy another in your place." This servant, named
Mari, was arrested, and on his examination a 1,000 franc
note was found upon him ; he was not, however, included
in the act of accusation. After a patient invcstigaticn that
lasted three days, the prisoners were acquitted. The
President then addressed them to the following effect:—
" Etienne Brault, numerous witnesses have deposed
against you. You are about to be set at liberty, to return
to your ,tome; let no spirit of vengeance prevail. Endea-
vour that no complaint be henceforth made against you ;
think that, sooner or later, justice will discover the guilty.
Louis Brault, justice absolves you. We must think )ou
innocent, but remember that there is a justice which can-
not be deceived. Descend to the bottom of your heart and
conscience ; if you are guilty, behold what an example you
have given to this infant: You are free; retire."

On the sth Ult. M. Voisin, a notary's clerk, was found
dead in the forest of La Londe, a few feet from the high
road; he bail been shot through with a ball ; a pistol was
found near the body ; hi■ hat was plated before him ; his
horse was found feeding in the wood. The report was at
first circulated that be had committed suicide, but his belt,
which was faund at some distance cut in pieces, left no
doubt but he had been assassinated. Three persons were
arrested, namely, Jean Deguet, Jean Heurtaux, and his
wife, on suspicion of being concerned, and they arc to be
tried in a short time.

We understand that Mr. Charles Egan, professor of the
harp to her Royal Highness the Princess Atwasut, has re-
tun ed EoBland, to resume his professional s.