The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-07-13 00:00:00

CHURCH ROBBERIES IN PARIS.

The Court of Assizes at Paris was occupied on Saturday last
with trials concerning the numerous and considerable robberies
committed in several churches ; but to which the new law on seed.
lege cannot be applied. as all the facts were committed before the
law passed; besides which no sacred vessel has either been carried
()Woe profaned. The authors of the robbery at Suresne hare not
yet been discovered. Antoine Guyard, a man about thirty years of
age. and formerly subaltern of the Royal Guard, confesses himself
to be the sole author of all the robberies, to the number of seven.
Teen, which have been committed in the course of the year
during the night, accompaided with the aggravating circumstaners
of escalades, violence, and false keys. The fotlowing is a list of
the churches in the environs of the capital which lie has robbed :
The churches of Alone Valerien, 6everes, Belleville, Ville
d'Array, Argenteuil, Poisey, Soisy-sous-Engliien, Aubervilliers,
Bourget, and St. Gum ; in Paris itself the churches of Nntre.
Dame des Vietoires. St. Gerinain l'Aaxerois, Sr. Scverin, Notre
Dame de Lorette, Fillet; du Saint•Sacrement au Marais, and St,
Sulpice. The lam-named church has twice been the theatre
Guyard'sAnisdectis ; the first robbery was committed by his entering
a window in the Rue Palatine. lie then took two three-branched
candelabra flora above the altar, and four of two branches from
themillars of the nave. 'The second robbery took place in that part
of the building called theiGenuan Chapel, from whence he took a
bronze crucifix. three tablets, two candlesticks of gilt copper, and
two large curtains. From miler churches Guyard has taken cru-
cifixes of ivory. gilt and silvered brass candelabra, surplices. &c.
At Argenteuil he took four silver hearts suspended to a statue of the
Virgin. The whole of these articles were sold by the prisoner to
dealers in curiosities and others, not put on their defence, except
Therese Maingaut, who is accused of having received a part of
the geode, knowing them to have been stolen. It was in his dello.
titian that Guyard charged this woman, complaining bitterly that
she and her husband had only paid him fifty francs for two beau.
tiful tablets taken from St. Sulpiee, and which, according to his
account, were worth one hundred crowns. lie asserts that misery
alone drove him to commit these robberies, and because the robbing
of churches offered greater facilities, and was attended with less
danger.
The woman Maingaut affirmt, that she was not aware of the
articles having been stolen, and that she was not surprised to see
church ornaments in the hands of Goyim], who pretended that he
had several relations ir. the catirch, VIZ.-a sister, a nun ; and an
uncle, a canon. The husband of this woman, who is a broker,
has been already prosecuted for receiving stolen goods, and passing
1 false (aim
M. de Peyronnet, Avocat-General, sustains the prosecution.
The Counsel for the defendants are Alcssrs. Renaud and Clare:on
Guya-11 thought proper to add a lone speech to his defence, which
lasted mote than an hour, and which he delivered with astnnisiiing
facility. • " Belonging," said he, " to an honourable family, but
ruined by the Revolution, I was not born for crimes and whore% er
may said, I was lillecl with religious ardour, and frequented the
churches iu consequence. Having been reduced to a stave of
frightful destitution, I one day went to the church of Notre-Dame
des-Victoires, where the sight of a gilt crucifix tempted me. In
short, I fell before the temptation of the evil spirit, and intrc.
duced myself at night into the church ; long did I resist; I fainted
on the steps of the altar, but at last my late co:tette:rd.
and I consummated my crime. Since then I havasommittrd all
the thefts with which you are acquainted, and of which I myself
revealed a portion after my accusation. Never have I laid hands
'on any of the sacred vessels, althowth the opportunity offered and
my cupidity incited me to it. Unacquainted with the theft et
Suresne, I was recalled to myself by the touching discourse of nip
Lord the Archbishop of Paris : it was then that 1 felt the hand of
Coil and was delivered into the hands of justice."
The Jury acquitted the woman Maingant, but found Guyard
guilty, and condemned him to ten years' hard labour and ptiLl:c
exposure. (The maxannne is twenty years.)