The Sun.
London, England, 1861-03-26 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY SERIES 01 CRIMES

At the Assize Court of the Isere, on the 21st of
March, was tried for the murder of his own
daughter, and the attempted murder of her lover, a
criminal of no ordinary stamp. Benjamin Reynaud,
the culprit, a man of 66 years of age, with snow-
white hair and beard—a man of education, respec-
table position, and easy fortune—is not a Brutus,
thinking with barbarous virtue to wipe out the
pollution of a Tarquin by immolating his own flesh
and blood, but a hoary letcher who killed his
daughter from the vile motive that she was cogni-
zant of his having been laughed at by one of his
mistresses. This M. Reynaud went in early life to
the Isle St. Denis de la Reunion, where he became
receiver of stamps and taxes—a post of much con-
sideration in the colony. In that colony he mar-
ried, had five children, and lived for many years
much respected. He returned to France a few
years ago;and settled in a country house at Clary,
Grenoble. His wife found the residence too dull,
and without any positive quarrel, although she
knew that her husband was guilty of many infide-
lities, soon left him to return to the colony, where
she had married daughters. One of the daughters,
Madame Gardilanne, a lady of free and easy man-
ners, separated from her husband in consequence
of a scandal the circumstances of which are not ex-
plained, and came to live with her father in France.
That she, to his knowledge, had a lover prior
to the one whom the father attempted -to assassi-
nate was distinctly proved on the trial. He, a
Lothario of three-score years and upwards, notori-
ously intrigued with all the women in the neigh-
bourhood whom he could influence by money, social
position, or by that moral ascendancy which, not-
withstanding his age, he appears to have been able
to exercise for immoral purposes. One of his mis-
tresses was a young married lady, a Madame Baud-
rand, the wife of a notary. This Madame Baud-
rand, after becoming, much against the grain and
with frequent remorse and repugnanch, the mis-
tress of the father, was also the confidential friend
of the daughter, and knew of her liason with M.
Lobinhes, a young receiver of stamp duties, who
had lately come into that part of the country. It
happened one day that as M. Reynaud was expect-
ing a letter from Madame Baudrand to give him a
rendezvous,a letter from her to his daughter Madame
Gardilanne, came to the house when the latter was
out, and the father took upon himself to open it. In
that letter he found himself described as the " old
one" (le vieux), whom she, Madame Baudrand,
would contrive to get away for three or four nights
and she recommended Madame Gardilanne to make
the best use of the opportunity to see her lover, M.
Lobinhes, of whom she was so very fond. Hereupon
Reynaud, as he admitted on the trial, formed the
deliberate resolution of murdering his daughter and
her lover and killing himself. He left his house, •
saying that he should be absent for three or four
days. At the village of St. Marcellin he bought a
brace of pistols, which he loaded, and a poniard.
He wrote letters to his wife at Reunion, to
one of his married daughters, and to a son
who lives in England, telling them of his
intention to commit the double murder and
suicide. He fixed upon the notary and the advo-
cate who were to wind up his affairs after his
death. Having deliberately made all these dispo-
sitions, he returned in the dusk of the evening to
his own house, where he found his daughter in the
drawing-room. Not seeing her lover with her he
observed that he had probably arrived too soon,
but he could wait. He then laid down the pistols
and poinard upon a chest of drawers, and coolly
told her that he had brought the arms there to use
them ; that one of the pistols was for M. Lobinhes,
the poinard for her, aad the other pistol for him-
self. M. Lobinhes, who was concealed in an
adjoining room, heard the conversation, and rushed
out. He asked for pardon, remonstrated with
Reynaud, and urged him not to commit a dread-
ful act which he would afterwards bitterly repent
of. Reynaud said, " I grant no pardon ; take a
pen." The young man took a pen, and was asked
to write, " I admit myself to be an infamous
suborner." He threw the pen down and declared
that nothing would induce him to write it.
Reynaud then threatened to fire. " Give me a
moment," said the. young man ; " let me say one
prayer." A moment's hesitation ensued after this
appeal, and Lobinhes rushed to a window and
jumped out; but while he was jumping Reynaud
fired and wounded him. A moment after he
stabbed his daughter in three places, plunging the
poinard up to the hilt, and leaving her on the floor
speechless and dying. He then fired the remain-
ing pistol into his own mouth, and the ball carried
away a portion of the upper jaw, but without
inflicting a mortal or even very serious wound.
Meanwhile Lobinhes returned up the stairs, and
seeing that Madame Gardilanne was in her last
moments, thought of nothing but endeavouring
to administer to her some religious consolation. In
a few moments she breathed her last, and the
wretched father, when he saw her with her bosom
bared and dead, exclaimed, " She was a beautful
girl and a charming mistress." For this enormous
crime a Grenoble jury has found extenuating cir-
cumstances—grounded, I suppose, from the fact of
the bona fides of the attempt at suicide; and, as
the French law does not allow hard labour to be
inflicted upon a man above 60, the sentence is only
simple imprisonment for life. Madaamde
itis f
Baudrand,eared
Reynaud's last mistress, is missing, n
that she has committed suicide rather than appear
at the trial.

Four subsidised mail packets leave Irish ports
his week for the United States—viz., one from Galway to
Boston, two from Cork to New York, and one from London-
derry to Portland.

[ADVERTISEMENT.] Pills and medicine invariably ag-
gi avate and perpetuate diseases ; their annoyance, dis-
appointment, and expense may be avoided by persons
In indifferent health sending only their address to E.
S. Barry, Esq., 77, Regent-street, W., London, and they
will receivy gratis and free by post the " INVALIDS' OWN
GUIDE," or Natural Restorer, without medicine or ex
p -Ilse, of perfect digestion, strong nerves, sound lungs, and
refreshing sleep, to the most enfeebled, insuring the remova
of indigestion (dyspepsia), constipation, liver complaints
nausea, epilepsy, paralysis, debility, nervousness, palpitatiot ,
cough, asthma, consumption, dropsy, flatulency, diarrhoea,
dysentery, biliousness, fevers, sore throats,' catarrhs, colds,
noises in the ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities, eruptions,
hysteria, neuralgia, irritability, sleeplessness, acidity, pa1pi-
.4911,, Ilegtburn headache despondency, Cramps, spasms,
atis;hiOn'obitia.— " uestionably the safest Outdo
to mesatto).

ROY AL GBNERAL THEATRICAL FUND.

The Sixteenth Anniversary Festival of the Royal
General Theatrical Fund was celebrated last even-
ing at the Freemasons' Tavern, Mr. E. T. Smith
presiding, supported by Mr. Webster, Mr. Buck-
stone, Mr. Edward Huggins, Serjeant Ballantine,
Mr. Hedging, Dr. Hastings, Mr. Jerwood, Major
Williams, Mr. Creswick, Mr. T. P. Cooke, Mr. W.
R. Sams, Major Snell, Mr. Arcedeckne, Mr.
Ledger, Mr. G. B. Childs, Captain Yorke, Mr.
Fechter, Mr. Harris, Mr. S. Brougham, Mr. C. D.
Singer, and Mr. Jack.
Upwards of 200 gentlemen sat down to dinner,
which was remarkably well served, and did every
credit to the proprietors of the Freemasons' Tavern.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the health of "The
Queen," said it was out of no disrespect to her
Majesty that the anniversary dinner took place
that evening. Many weeks previous to the death
of her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent that
day had been fixed for the festival, and it was
found impossible, owing to a variety of arrange-
ments, to select another convenient day.
The health of " Her Majesty" was then drunk
in silence.
The next toast was " The Prince Consort, the
Prince of Wales, and the other branches of the
Royal Family," which was duly honoured.
The CHAIRMAN proposed " The Army and Navy,
and the Volunteers." As regarded the Navy, he
could almost return thanks for that branch of the
service himself having been connected with it for a
very short time. When a boy 15 years old he was
packed off by the night mail for Chatham to join
Lord Cochrane's vessel, but his mother followed
next day and brought him back with all his bag-
gage. (Laughter.) His father was then an Ad-
miral in the Navy, and he believed he had the
honoar of fighting with T. P. Cooke, at Cape St.
Vincent. (Laughter.)
Major WILLIAMS and Major SNELL replied for
the Army.
Mr. T. P. COOKE responded on behalf of the
Navy, and was warmly received. He would only
repeat what he had so frequently said before, that
he felt very highly gratified by their associating his
name with such a toast. He begged that they
would, if he was spared to witness many more of
those happy meetings, be kind enough to appoint a
younger and more efficient hand to discharge this
duty. His recollection of the British Navy was of
the last century. When he tried to revive it in his
mind he felt like Rip Van Winkle awakening from
a dream—everything was now so totally changed
in the navy. In the first place their poetic sails
had been nearly discaTded for the more prosy, but
certainly more efficient screw and paddle-wheel.
Their guns, then of limited range, were now ex-
changed for those of unlimited range and of
unlimited powers of destruction ; but above all, the
material of which their ships were then formed
seemed now totally useless, for their dear friend and
gallant ally on the other side of the Channel ap-
peared practically to have towed them into a " tar-
nation fix." (Laughter.) He had taken the scales
off their eyes, and thus convinced them that their
wooden walls were now of very little use to them;
and if they wished in future to compete with him,
and to hold their own in Europe, which of course
they must, then they should perforce give up their
hearts of oak, and rely upon the soul of iron.
(Cheers.) They had plenty of that material still
left, and also an abundance of coal with which to
lick that raw material into shape. (Cheers.) With
respect to engineering capability—that was the
building of iron ships—he would say, in the words
of Brother Jonathan, that "they could beat all the
world." (Cheers.) It was therefore some conside-
ration that though their dear friend had put them to-
enormous expense, he had at the same time placed
them in possession of enormous power, and if they
must surrender their dear hearts of oak, still they
had within them that "British pluck" which he
trusted would ever beat within the breast of their
gallant and heroic sailors.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the toast of the
evening—" Prosperity to the Royal Theatrical
Fund"—made a forcible appeal to the benevolence
of all present, and called upon them to assist by
their contributions those who, though now plunged
in distress, had in their time been the means of con-
tributing largely to the enjoyment of their fellow-
citizens. This was a charity which had the support
and especial patronage of her Majesty, who had
always taken the liveliest interest in it, and it was
one which was of the purest character, and of the
most extensive range.
The toast was received with loud demonstrations
of satisfaction.
Mr. BUCKSTONE rose to respond to the toast, and
was enthusiastically applauded. He said—Gentle-
men, it has always been a part of my duty, as trea-
surer of the Royal General Theatrical Fund, tp say
something handsome of the chairman on these
festive occasions, to speak of his talents, his high
position in society, and his excellent qualities--
(laughter)—but with respect to our chairman of this
evening, I feel that he is like the Duenna in
Sheridan's famous opera, a very hard person to
1 compliment—(laughter)—not that he is undeserving
of everything handsome that it is possible to say of
him—(loud laughter)—but I am puzzled upon which
of his many good points to seize, and to begin with.
He is not a distinguished novelist, neither is he a
member of Parliament ; that is to say, not at pre-
sent—(laughter)—he is not a popular actor—
(laughter)—neither is he a poet, nor a great painter,
nor a sensation preacher—(laughter)—while as
regards the last celebrity, he may certainly reply,
" No, thank Heaven, nobody can say that of me."
(A laugh.) Yet still he must possess some promi-
nent qualities, or he could not be where he is to-
night—(cheers)—the president of a festival, so
excellent in its objects, and so numerously
attended. I have often heard him called
an extraordinary man. (Laughter.) Of course
that is one of his qualifications (continued
laughter)—but I am more disposed to admit
that his chief recommendations are, that while he
is a man of great energy, he is also a man of great
good nature and generosity; while, to my know-
ledge, he has hardly ever been known to fail in any
of the numerous enterprises in which he has em-
barked; therefore, as impresario of Her Majesty's
Theatre, lessee and manager of Drury-lane Theatre;
proprietor of the Alhambra—(laughter)—projector
of hotels and luncheon bars innumerable, and pur-
chaser of everything—(roars of laughter)—the
liberal employer of hundreds of people, actors,
singers, dancers, musicians, artists, pantomimists,
acrobats, and nigger singers—(hear)—add conse-
quently the encourager of all trades, professions,
and almost every description of literature, from the
libretto of " The Amber Witch"—(laughter)—and
" Robin Hood," to the charming lyric of " Old Bob
Ridley"—(roars of laughter)—is well qualified to
preside at this dinner, where I am sure his great
energy and indomitable perseverance will be
brought to bear upon your feelings and your
pockets, and that a large subscription will be the
happy result of his appearance here to-night
(Applause.) I have again the pleasure to inform
you, gentlemen, that our fund still continues in a
flourishing condition. (Hear, hear.) Our capital,
if you are generous to-night, will amount to nearly
£12,000. (Cheers.) We have now thirteen an-
nuitants, receiving £9O, £6O, and £3O per annum,
according to the class to which they subscribed
during the term required by our rules; and when
I tell you that ten of these annuitants are ladies—
(applause)—l can show you no greater proof of
the excellence and usefulness of our institution.
(Cheers.) Nor do we confine our resources only to
the grantinglof annuities. At the death of a mem-
ber we contribute £lO towards funeral expenses,
and any member wishing to retire from the fund
can claim the return of one-half the amount of his
subscription money, though this not very liberal
claim has very rarely been made upon us. We
have 172 subscribing members, while, in addition
to the annuitants I have named, we shall shortly
have two more to be added to that number, and
as we now possess a royal charter, we are enabled
to receive legacies, and you will be pleased
to hear that our fund has recently been
benefited by two bequests, one of £2lO by the late
gifted Lady Morgan, and £lOO by the much re-
gretted Albert Smith, who has often been present
at these festivals, and helped to enliven the evening
by one of his admirable songs. We acknowledge
these bequests with every feeling of gratitude, and
trust that it may set an example to others. (Hear,
hear.) In the statement of " Wills and Bequests,"
published weekly in the illustrated London News,
I often glance over it, in the hope of meeting with
some kind and generous spirit—(laughter)—who,
remembering the many pleasant hours the actors'
art may have given him or her, has not forgotten
the poor player, when "age with his stealing steps
ha th caught him in his clutch," and when failing to
discover such intelligence in behalf of our fund, I
have dreamily, and I hope not unreasonably, as a
constant labourer for many years in the vineyard of
instruction and amusement—(hear, hear)—glanced
again, to see if any of the rich departed from
amongst the thousands of audiences I have appeared
before, and for more years than I shall mention,
have kindly and gratefully remembered me. I need
not tell you I have never yet met with any such
remembrance : still we are told not to despair, as
none of us know what may happen. (Applause.)
Gentlemen, it is an old but very false and ignorant
notion amongst many per ions, that the actors are a
reckless and improvident body ; taken as a body,
there is not a more prudent au). careful class.
Witness the four dramatic institutions now in
existence—the Drury-lane Fund, the Covent-garden
Fund, the Dramatic Sick Fund, this the General
Fund, and then, to crown all these monuments of
prudence, look at the Royal Dramatic College—
(hear, hear)—the houses of which are nearly