The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-30 00:00:00

SORCERY IN FRANCE.

On the morning of December 18 the corpse of a man,
horribly mutilated, was found in the parish of Sept-
vento Calvados. The clothes were soaked with blood,
the body was run through in more than forty places in
the back, the neck, and the arms, while the skull ap-
peared to have been beaten in by a heavy club. Around
him the ground was trodden all down, as if there had
been many footsteps ; and a bloody knife was found at
no great distance. The body was recognized as that of
an inoffensive young man, of the name of Pierre Made-
line de Bieville. It was ascertained that he had been
all the previous day in company with a man named
Solomon Heurtevent, with whom he was on very friendly
terms, and with whom he frequently associated. On
the evening before, at ten o'clock, after drinking co-
piously of brandy, they left the parish of Dampiene
together, and nothing more was known of them till the
corpse was found.
Heurtevent was not suspected of the crime, but he
was necessarily examined to get information. At first
his answers were confused, as if under the influence of
drink, and he did not understand what was said to him.
He was then accused. He denied all knowledge of the
circumstance. The knife and a handkerchief were
shown him, which were found near-the body, and which
belonged to him. Then his memory seemed to revive,
and he told the following talc :—He left the public-
house with Madeline at ten o'clock ; the night was
dark ; they walked with difficulty, and fell down
several times. He ascribed the difficulty of walk-
ing to some supernatural being— to one of
those sorcerers of whom they had spoken a
good deal during the day. It was about mid-
night when they arrived at the little bridge called Pont
aux Bondes, and which to cross, it was difficult and
dangerous. Heurtevent offered to carry Madeline
across on his shoulders, the latter refused and went over
first, walking on his hands and knees. Heurt event
did not remember how he got across, but on arriving at
the other side, he could not discover his companion.
He looked for him and called him, and at length struck
against a body without motion, which appeared to him
something very strange. It was white and had long hair
on its legs. He called—he cried—he demanded of the un-
known being lying at his feet to speak and tell him
who he was. He received no answer and grew
more and more terrified. He drew forth his knife and
struck it. He then heard some groans, but nothing like
a human voice ; his terror and his rage increased—he
struck with his knife again, and his knife fell from his
hand. He broke a branch off a tree, and again attacked
his friend, who was already a corpse, with redoubled
fury. Tired at length with his exertions, Heurtevert
leaned against a tree, resolved to watch the spot till
daylight, and behold the enemy his valour had con•
quered. Soon, however, the cold became insupport-
able, he thought of going away, but before he departed
he made a great many efforts to break a leg of
his enemy, in order, as he said, that he might
be sure of finding him in the morning. He then went
away, and after some trouble reached his home, where
he slept profoundly. Such was his extraordinary
tale, and he could not believe that he had killed Made-
line, his best friend, till the bleeding- and mangled
corpse of the unhappy young man had been shown him.
On this recital and on these facts Heurtevent was tried
at Caen. On this trial he did not deny his belief
in sorcery ; he affirmed that he knew nothing of
having struck Madeline. He was found guilty with
extenuating circumstances, and sentenced to exposure
and to bard labour, and imprisonment for life. Such
are the consequences of drunkenness and superstition.
—Commerce.