The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-10-07 00:00:00

PARIS, OCT. 2.

At the Assizes now holding at Liege, a trial has taken place
which disclosed circumstances of the most stupid superstition and
inhuman cruelty. After three days' proceedings with closed
doors, Ihning which 40 witnesses were examined, the Court was
opened to the public.* The prisoners, Pierre ..freold.frltoolet,ziml
Its three sans, Pierre.lorrph,Lanibert. and A/ex/miler, moil charged
with having, on the 10th of April, IBA in their own house, In-
flicted various blows and wounds upon the widow Jean Rigoelle,
a labouring woman, residing at Mahn, the result of which was
malady that incapacitated her from working for the space of
twenty days. (Since the indictment was drawn up this woman
had died.) The following is the account given of what took place
on the above-mentioned day, by the widow Riguelle, on her ex-
amination by the Bourgomaster:—
She went about three o'clock, on the 10th of April, to Jehoulet's
house with some flax, which he had given her to spin. Jehoulet,
after taking the thread from her, said that she was very unhappy ;
that within a short time he had lost two of his children ; that he
was overwhelmed with other misfortunes, which he could attribute
only to the influence of four witches, who were in the village;
that she (the widow Riguelle) was one of those. and that if she
did not immediately tell the names of +et sister witches, he
would roast her over the fife. It was in vain that she declared
her innocence of this extraordinary charge—Jehoulet, the father,
went to the yard, and brought in a bundle of fire-wood, half of
which he threw upon the fire, and when it was lighted, Lam-
bert and Alexander Jehoolet seised her, and, after pulling her
clothes over her head, held her over the fire, one by the feet and
the other by the head, until the father told them to remove her,
saying, that she had now suffered enough to make her avow
her enchantments. Jeboulet not being able, however, to get an
avowal from her, threw out the burning embers upon the hearth-
stone, and placed her on them. She immediately fainted away.
On recovering her senses Jehoulet put the same questions to her,
and not receiving the desired answers, he said to one of his suns,
" We must make an end of her—irreis Aire one fin);---and site
will not be the last that should be served in the same manner—we
must burn her alive." Pierre Joseph then threw the remainder of
the faggots upon the fire, and when they blazed up the woman was
held over them This fresh torture not drawing the required con-
fession from her, Pierre Joseph became furious, and swore that he
would force her to confess that she was a witch, anvil that she was in
compact with the devil, or he would kill her. He then took a foil
in one hand and • chain in the other—with the latter of which he
threatened to hang her up the chimney. She still persisting in de-
claring her innocence, he wounded her in the breast with the foil.
Jehoulet, the father, then asked het if she would undo her spells?
And upon her saying that she had none to undo, he asked her if
she would renounce the devil? To which she replied that she
would renounce any thing he wished her to renounce. He then
told hut to quit the house, at the sante time giving her a kick.—
When she got to the door lie ran after her. pulled up her clothes,
and tore away the burned skin and flesh front her back. The phy.
',icier' who examined her the next morning stated, that the injury
done her front the burning was of the most serious nature, and
would probably cause her death. The wound in the breast was not
dangerous. The Solicitor-General concinded by stating that, in
the accounts given to various persons by this unfortunate woman of
the scene of which she wrs the victim, she never varied in the
slightest inetance, and persisted in het first declaration to her dying
moment.
(When this report was sent off from Liege, the prisoner's Coun-
sel was addressing the Court.)
• By a decree in 11114, Issued previous to the Constitution, the
trial by Jury was abolished. The President of the Court does not
recapitulate the evidence—it is the Public Accuser, or Attorney.
General, who submits the questions to the Court. The Court of
A mize is composed of five Judges. There is also a Special Court,
consisting of eight member.. The pleadings and judgtdenta are
alone public.

The following is a copy of a love-lettrr writ'en by a
young attorney to the mistress of his heart. It is said to
be him first attempt :
plea. I can assure you my '
My dear Miss Brockman—My heart has given me notice of a
set-off. It attempted to sue out a tic clew, but failed. Your image,
aided by a posse comitatus of accmplishments, has enteivid and
ahstammy wish that you anti I should
taken possession of my bosom, after ejecting the aforesaid tenant.
sioefraecagePreyleaalit:io:ynund by Hymen. in a fidelity bond m
rakTeh:toi,nionkiitnotrytvatouhudant
Cupid, determinable, nevertheless, on the demise of either party.
I meant to have written to you yesterday ; but my ink tan up and
down, and secreted itself in my new patent inkstand. Pray accept
a declaration mine pro lone, and plead thereto issuably in four days;
and believe dint my attachment, unlike those in the Mayor's Court,
is incapable of being set aside on the corning of answer. Dated
this 211th day of September, 11125.
Your loving friend, Titos. TEMPLETOW."