The Sun.
London, England, 1824-07-26 00:00:00

the thought first struck him of cutting the body in pieces (for
he had made no previous preparations for this dreadful opera-
tion), and he then attempted to do jt with a small pocket knife,
but in endeavouring to separate one of the anus at the shoulder,
the blade turned and became useless. The blood spouted from
the wound in great abundance, and covered this reverend de-
mon's face and clothes. Foiled in his purpose, he seethed to
become delirious from disappointment and fear, and tying one
of the feet of -his victim to a tree, he exerted all his herculean.
strength to tear the body, limb from limb, but failing in this.
he returned to the house for a wore tit instrument for dissection,
the kitchen hatchet or clever. With this instrument he separat-
ed the thighs from the trunk, and threw them into a rapid
stream that discharges itself into the Isere. Ile then lifted the
mutilated trunk upon his shoulders, with which he hastened to.
wards the Isere into which he plunged it. He then deposited on.
the river side the neckerchief of poor Marie, in order to make
it supposed that she had dnerow d
herself. On returning to his
house lie burned the clothes Of the murdered Marie, together
with his own clerical robe, which was actually stained with
blood, and threw the ashes into the privy. On reflecting if he
had removed all traces of the crime, lie recollected, with
dismay, that he had left the pocket-knife behind him.; he lin-
inediately returned to the spot, but after the most minute search
he could not find it.—The knife, which was produced at the
trial, had already been found by a labourer, wheat the break
of day was passing La Roche, and had his attention caught by
a pool of blood, a bloody rope, and a black-handle knife lying
by it. The knife he took up, but fearing it might bring him
into trouble, he threw it into a bush. However, after going
some distance, he returned, took up the knife a second time,
washed it, and took it home with him.-A-When Alingrat's
servant-maid appeared before him in the morning, she was
pale, trembling, and bewildered. Mingrat, alarmed by her ap-
pearance, asked her abruptly what was the matter with her.
The poor girl thought in- vain to convince him that she bad
seen or heard nothing, except-a few moans, which she ,sup.
posed proceeded from himself being ill. The curate, how.
ever, continuing to question her, the girl's fears got the
better of her, she threw herself upon her knees, and join-
ing her hands, exclaimed in the most supplicating manner,
" Oh, Sir, permit me to go away ; I can no longer bear it 1"
This exclamation was a thunder clap for the curate ; lie clearly
saw that this weak-minded superstitious, hot honest creature,
was mistress of his life and secret. Ile got between her and the
door, and after a few moments reverie, he seized her by the arm,
and dragged her into the sanctuary, forced her down upon her
knees on the steps of altar, .and then taking from the taberna-
cle the host, he put it into her hands, telling her she should
either make up her mind to die, or take a most solemn oath
upon the body and blood of Christ, never to reveal what she
had seen or heard on the preceding night. The unfortunate
girl, half dead with fear and horror, took the oath prescribed.
After this extraordinary scene Mingrat resumed his tranquil-
lity. However, some days after, as sonic young shepherds were
fishing in the stream which flows into the Isere, one of them, on
drawing up his line, found a human thigh attached to it.—
Alarmed at such a sight, they flew towards the village and told
what had taken place. The authorities repaired to the spot,
the thigh was recognised to be that of a young woman, and
there, of course, was no longer any doubt as to Marie Gerin
having been murdered.. As public.opinion pointed out 31ingrat
as the assassin, he resorted to a last effort to remove suspicion
from him. The authorities had ordered the thigh to be buried
in the church-yard. Mingrat repaired thither, and ordered
the thigh to be removed; saying it should not rest in consecrated
ground, for Mario Geria:lititi committed suicide, and then,
affecting to fall into a state of fanatical excitement, he ex-
claimed—" Yes I saw that she was possessed by the devil !
yes, by Satan, who carried her *ratty in his arms, and
plunged with her into the abyss of hell ! Those who were
present could contain no longer their indignation, but loudly
cursed and hooted this hypocritical ruffian, the approbrium
and horror of their cantors. The next morning, while Min-
grat was ettreakfaet, two Gensdarmes entered ; they were not
charged to make him prisoner, but merely to watch his motions.
He appeared dreadfully alarined; but entleavourea to cmiceal it,
and invited them to partake of his breakfast. Before break-
fast was over the vicar of Zullin came in, and brought a
Ailikergro4his . Curate to Alinlrat ou the subject of the
" The murmurs afloat respecting gthVa. seiti„a=rorwiteiere
man weigh heavily upon you—if you are guilty fly instantly.".%
Mingrat took the advice and fled. The Mayor sent the Gens.
darmes in pursuit of him, bat Mingrat at over the frontier
into Savoy before they could take him. They, however, gave
a description of his person anti crime to some Piedmontese earbi-
neers, into whose hands he shortly after fell, and was conducted
to the prison of Chamberry, from whence he has been transtered
to the of Fe . nestrella. The Sardenian Government have
constantly refused to deliver him up, though he hiss been
condemned to 'death by the tribunal of Grenoble. The trial
was heard with closed doors—a th ra er remarkable circumstance.
A Grand Vicar of Grenoble went to visit him in the prison of
Chambcrry. On Mingrat seeing him, lie threw himself at his
feet and exclaiMed, " Ali, father ! I am guilty, pardon me !"
This public avowal was not at all relished by the Grand ViCar,
who immediately ordered those present to retire, when he bad
a tete
.a fete with the worthy curate. This Grand Vicar ran
no little risk on his return to Grenoble ; for the people suppos-
ingahat he hail brought back Mingrat for the purpose of de-
livering him up 'to the law, attacked the Vicar's carriage, deter
-
mined to do justictrupon him themselves.
To this detail of the facts of this horrible case, is annexed a
letter written by the brother of Marie Gerin, in which, he says,
before publishing this notice, I had recourse to every effort to
bringahe guilty to punishment, but they have all proved fruit-
leeta Jiversy door has been shut against sae. ale poor
sister's litiShand and myself bad a memorial presented to his
Majesty. In the answer to which, signed by the Duke de la
Charte; the King acknowledges'the justice of our demand; he
assures us of his protection and justice, but invites us to fol-
low the usual and constitutional forms, and address ourselves
to the Keeper of the Seals. This we did, accompanied by a
copy of. the King's letter, but we have not been able to obtain
an answer,from his Excellency. IVe then presented a petition
,to the Chainber of Deputies' scarcely width had • y a better fate,
as the Chamber 'Passed to the Order of the Day on it, the Re-
porteralleging as a' reason that it was not known where Min-
grat. The brother also complains, in this letter of the
calumnies tittered against him, and the husband of his sister,
by the country curates, whoaake part with Alingiat, and have
not hesitated to attribute this crime to the brother and husband
of the victim. The brother was not in the country when it
took place.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.

COURT OF CHANCERY, JULY 24.