The National Register.
London, England, 1815-05-28 00:00:00

TIM NATIONAL. ItFAISTER.

/146

I am: innocent. I have bt lieved you, and I trust that those
laws, whose fall rigour you have felt, will soon restore you to-
honor, and to your country."
The Pi esident then having asked the accused whether he
had any thing to add to his defence, St. Claire, much af-
fected, replied, " 1 shall be brief in what I have to say. The
great explanations have taken place: your moments are pre-
cious. The question is now, whether you will restore an
hottest man to society, or tvhether you will banish from it a
monster, an assavin, a cruel being, whose term our language
wants terms to characterize. That is what you are going to
do ; if you retain any suspicions, do not hesitate; fear not
to deprive our country of one
.of her bsave defenders. I
prefer dcarh to the longest life. I request above all that you
will remote from me those degrading presumptions which
may attach to a brave man. On referring to the austere
principles of morality, my life may offer some errors. On
referring to those of honour and probity, none."
The Jury then retired to deliberate, and at the expiration
of an hour, declared the following verdict :—First, by a ma-
jot ity of six voices to one, yes, Antoine Series de St. Claire,
Captain of Grenadiers of the thirty-first Regiment, is guilty
of the homicide committed the 14th November last, on the
person of Cornelia Kersmaker ; secondly, by a majority of
six voices to one, yes, he has committed that crime wilfully;
third, by the same majority, no, he has not committed it
with premeditation. In consequence, Serres de St. Claire is
condemned to forced labour for life, to be degraded at the
head of the Guard, to pay the expence of the proceedings,
end, besides, t'n the impression of the judgment, and the post-
up of three bundled copies.
St. Claire was not present. The President ordered his
judgment to be read to him in presence of the Guard. The
Recorder went to perform this sad duty, after having asked,
in virtue of the Law of the 24th of Ventore, year it, that
Antoine de St. Claire he degraded from the legion of honour.
Meanwhile the Judges remained in their seats: at the expi-
ration of a quarter of an hour, St. Claire advanced with a
calin countenance, said a few words in a low tone of voice to
Advocate, and aver having pressed his hand with affec-
tion, placed himsel on the seat of the accused. "St. Claire,"
said the President, " you have offended againSt honour."
•• Never"--exclaimed Sr. Claire, springing from his seat, and
at the same time striking himself with a dagger which he
had concealed. The genscrarmes rushed upon him, and he
fell into their arms, then Oetaching himself his cross of ho-
nour, " bete it is, President, let no one take it from me—l
die—for my last consolation declare, that i have not at-
tempted the life of any one." Meanwhile his blood Rowed'
in (orients through the large wound which he had inflicted a
little below his heart. A surgeon, who had been examined
as a witness in the proceedings, was immediately called to his
ossistance, and he was led back to the prison of the Abbam
The terrible impression which this affecting scene produced
rm spectators little accustomed to see crime united to such
noble sentiments of honour, may easily be conceived. Some
of the Judges themselves could not deny their tears to him
whsrut they had condemned.

Attorn es, Mr. Vindle, John•str.
Whitley, ,Lippe► Dawson-street, In
T. EVans, of Liverpool, litier-d4
elev-n, at the George Inn, Dale-54.1.
Jatkson, Liverpool ; and Mr. Mackinson, Temple, Lonrion.
Z. Dt.nkin, of Parker-row, St. Mary Magdalen, Bermondsey.
Surrey, druggist, May 27, June 6, and July 4, at ten, at Guildhall,
London. Attorney, Mr. I ngold; Jamaica-row, Bermondsey.
T. Atkinson, of Yolk. linen-draper, June 14, 13, and July 4, at
eleven, at the Wick Swan Inn. Coney-street, York. Attornies,
Messrs. Bell and Brodrick, Bow Church-yard, Cheap.,ide, London ;
and Mr. Davies, Blake-street, York.
T. Nott, of Tichborne.street, Piccadilly, hatter, May 27, June 3,
and July 4, at ten, at Guildhall. Attorney. Mr. Nind, Thrt.gittorton-
street'.

G. Wclsford, of Crediton, Devon, tanner, June 6,7, and July 4, at
eleven, at the Globe Tavern, Exeter. A ttornie;,, Messrs ahephard,
Adlingron, and Gr..gory, Bedford-row, London ; and Mr. Smith,
Creditor, Devon.
N. B:LIcIle, Gloucester, grocer, June 5,6, and July 4, at eleven,
at the Upper George Coffee-house, Gloucester. A trornies, Mr. Chil-
ton, Exchequer °lli e, Lincoln's Inn, Lonlcin ; and G. W. Counsel,
C loucester.
T. Vaux, of Cridling-park, York, farmer, pine SI, CS and July 4,
at the Gre‘ liou-d Inn, Ferry bridge, York. Attormes, Mr. Crosley,
George•street, Mansion-house, London ; and Mr. Thorpe, Thorn,
Yorkshire.

J. Abbott, of A neaster, Lincoln, butcher, June 21, 21, and July 4,
at eleven, at the Spread Eagle Inn, Lincoln. Artornies, Mr. Elgin,
Lincoln; and Messrs. Leigh, Mason, and Housman, New Bridge.
street, London.
M. Jew, of Perahore, Worcester, butcher, June 14, 15, and July 4,
At twelve, at the Royal Hotel, Temple-row, Birmingham. A t torniot,
Mr. Nicholls, Gray's-inn-square, London; and Mr. Mole, Birming.
ham.

R. Ninon, of Liverpool, merchant, June 13, 14, and Tidy 4, at one,
at the York Hotel, Liverpool. Attornies. Me,srs. Stanistreet and
Eden, Leigh-street, Liverpool ; and Mr. Windle, John-street, Bed.
ford-row, London.
W. Holland, of \Vigland, Malpas, Chester, coal-merchant, June
14, IS, and July 4, at eleven, at the White Lion Inn, Whitchurch,
SAlop. Attornies. Messrs. Exley, Stoker, and Dawson, Furnival's
Inn, London ; and Messrs. Kinglet and Brookes, Whitcharch, Aslop.
H. Thurn, of Colchester, Essex, rag-merchant, June 1, .2, and
poly 4, at tell, at the Red Lion, Colchester. Attornies, Mr. Francis,
lchester ; and Messrs. Naylor, Great Neveport.str. et. London. •
E. Smith, of Deeping- Fen. Lintioln, innholder, June 7, itt three, 8,
and July 4, at eleven. at the New lim, Market-Dceping. Attornies,
Messrs. Ch-ales and Forbes, Sleaford, Lincoln; and Messrs. Lambert,
and Son, Bedford-row, London.
J. Cridlatid. sen. Leicester, hosier, June 6,7, and July 4, at eleven,
at the White Hart Inn, Leicester. Attornies, Mr. Ince, New
London ; and Mr. Dalby, Leicester.

MAY 2R.
reet, Bed tord-row, Londqn ; and Mr,
Williamson-squ re. Liverpool.
Ora ter,' June 14, 13, and July 4. at
:.a,r..er, Liverpool. Attorilies, Mr.