Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1828-11-14
Case of Homicide at Cayenne.


harmony. The sons industrious berdsmen ana
intrepid hunters, saw their numerous HOOKS
cropping the yerdan, pastures OF ,he oa'anes'
while the chace, which protected 'heir catue
from the incursicns Of the wild inhabitants OF
the forest, formed at once their occupatio" ana
amusement. This pastoral mode OF lie caiied
into action all their energies, mental as we" as
bodily, and gave every scope to the iuii ce'e'-
opment Of courage and address. Jealous OF The
Independence which they may be SAID 20 nave
in some sor, inherited, neither dissallshed win
their own possessions nor covetous oil NOSE OF
others, they passed their lives IN happy isnor-
ance Of world 10 which they were, III ,neir
turn, unknown. On sudden, rumor OF III
omen, a charge Of homicide, has reseaiea wha'
Nigh, almos, be called the secret OF their exist.
ence. Several white men, it was reported, had
been assassinated among them. ne whoie
colony took alarm al AL outrage so nbheara OF;
applications we're made TO the government; lhe
Procureur du Roi, the Judge d'instruction, all
were called into action and proceeded, acc om-
panied by an armed force, to inquire into me
| truth OF the transactions. An information was
| lodged, a corpse, already made hidcous by de-
composition, was disin,ervd; two OF the bro
lhers were consigned TO the Conciergerie oil
| CAYENNE, while the elder son and mother took
I'D their abode in the town for the purpose OF
affordng them consolation and support. ihe
trial which followed has brought the following
facts 10 ligh':
| A certain Sieur Quereau, q retired soldier,
had contrived, under different prelex,s, 10 intro
duce himself bene at the roof Of his family aud
had ended by establishing himself among them
as an inmate In short lime he compile rely
ruled the whole household; but his views were
| of yet higher nature, and not content with be-
| ing director. he aspired 10 become proprietor
! Of the farm as we'll as master OF the tapliy.-
| The widow, il seems, under a calm exterior,
| concealed the rmbers Of a FIRE not yet wholly
extinct. Though in the decline OF life, she yet
retained relish for the enjoyment OF her ear
lier years, and the epaulettes OF the retired gre
nader reminded her so forcibly OF those for
mery worn by her deceased husband, thai me-
| mory, regret and tender rccollections, all com
bined to render the association Of ideas irresist-
ible. Our information dives no farther into
the myst. ~ of her feelings, but their effect may
he presum, from what is unhap2iy but too
certain. UnqLes'i onahly, from a sense Of shame
laudable in itself, she dared not too openly
throw off that veil Of respect which oush TO
cover a mother in the presence Of her children,
who, nevertheless, ii is 10 be feared, could no!
| bu, be 100 conscious on The subject. Be that
as it may, Quereau, naturally qua relscme, as
has been sufficiently testified by his former Of
| fees, was now in The constant habit Of in
crcasing his i'll temper by inioxicaion. Once
firmly fixed in the cottage, he exerted the as
tendency he had acquired by degrees, ill every
thing was conceded to him by al parties in the
hope Of preserving peace. HIS drunkenness
now became perpetual, and in spite Of their dis
inclination, the brothers were but too often
forced 10 accompany him in his orgies, as their
refusal to drink with him was sure 10 occasion
dispute.
At length, one day, several Of the neighbors
were assembled at the table; conversation flows
ed freely. SO did the wine; the elder son with
his mother and sister had left the company and
were sitting under the shade Of the shrubs
which surrounded the cottage Quereau, who,
as u,ua., had par,aken largely both OF wine and
rum, till he. was in a state Of great drunken ex-
element, challenged the younger and more ro-
bust Of The brothers to wrestling match, and
on his declining seized him; the young man de-
Tended himself with vigor. d struggle ensued,
and Quereau was thrown. The elder brother
at this moment Came in, separated the comba
;ants, and order being apparently restored, a
gain retired. Quereau, however, who had re-
turned 10 his bottle, continued to provoke and
nsul, The brothers by every means in his pow
err to renewal of the struggle, till they left the
room in disaus. Incensed at what he constru-
ed into contempt, Quereau snatched up hat
che, which lay in corner Of the cottage, and
followed them with loud imprecalions. The
eide" brother hearing the noise, again n,erfer
ed to appease him, out received heavy blow
from the Ratchet on his breast, which prostra-
ted him. lie had barely time TO utter cry for
help, when second stroke on the head render
ed him insensible. The sister, alarmed at his
EXPLANATIONS, and seeing his situation, fled,
shricking out, 20, he has murdered my bro
Their" These words recalled her two brothers,
who, pereeiving Quereau, with his eyes fash
ing FIRE, foaming at the mouth, and brandishing
The fatal Ratchet Al them, rushed on him at
once, and wrenrhing the weapon from his grasp
threw him on the ground. A, this moment
they perceived their brother, apparently lifeess;
their Indignation rose to fury, and they at once
bestowed thousand kicks and blows on the
head and breast Of his supposed murderer,
whom they only quilted a, length 10 embrace
and weep over him whom they believed to be a
corpse. BY the arrival of servants with liphts