Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-01-02
EXECUTION I'M rnANon.
SINGULAR RECOVERY OF A FEMALE
INJUSTIY ENECIITPD

SINGULAR RECOVERY OF A FEMALE
uSJuSTLY EXECUTED.
The following account Of the case Of
I a poor girl. who was uniustly executed
IN 1916, ~ given by a celebrated
French author, as an instance of Trims.
nee which was often committed by the
equivocal mode at trial used in France.
About IL years since, 4 young pea
SAINT girl, possessed Of very agreea-
Die hsure, was placed at Paris in tlr-
service oil man dcpravcd by oil the
wees consequent on the corruption of
great citIes- Smitten with her charms.
he tired every method to scduce her;
but ShO was Virtuous, and resisted.
he prudence OF this girl only ,rti,a
ted the passion Of her master. who mot
oeing able 10 make her submit 10 his
designs. determined OH the most black
and horrible revenge. lie secretly
conveyed into her box many things
belonging To him, marked with his
name. lie then exclaimed that he
was robbed, called in q comtniss,r;c
"a ministerial officer Of iustice.l and
made his deposition. The girls box
was searched. and the things were dis.
covered. The unhappy servant GIRL
was imprisoned. She dcfendeJberseIt
only by her tears; she had no evidence
to prove that she did not put the pro.
perty ia her box, and her onl, answer
10 the InterrogatorieS was, That she
vas innocent. The judges had no
Suspicion OF the depraVity of the accu.
ser, whose station was respectable.
and they administered the law in ali
ITS rigor; rigor undoubtedly excessive.
which ought tn disappear from our code
to give place To simple but certain 1
penalty which leave fewer crimes un
punished. The innocent girl was con
dsmned to be hanged. The dreadful
oilce was Intellectually performed, a.
!. was the Irst attempt Of the son of
Ihe great exeeutioner. A surgeon had
purchased the body for dissection. and
L was conveyed 10 his house. On tbat 4.
evening" being about to open her head,
~ perceived a gentle warmth about
he body. The dissecting knife fell
rom his hand, and he placed in hi.
%" her whom he was about 10 dissect. .
lis Efforts 10 restore her TO life va.
'iectual; and al the same time he semi
"a" Priest. on whose discretion and Z
experience las could depend, IN 80
o consult him on this strange event.
: wei as to have him for a witness Ia ,
Us conduct. The moment the un(or
innate girl opened her eyes, she beIiev. q
q herseh IN the other world, and ,
'erceIv'ng the figure of tho priest, who ,
al marked and majestic count,
ance, TOR | know him, and il il from {
am that have this fact, she joined
er hands trembling!y, and exclaimed.
Eternal Father, you know my limo. =,
enee, have pity on me- Ia this man. q
or she continued TO invoke the eecIc. "
iastie, believing in her simplicity. that
ne Oehei1 her God. They were long :,
persuading her thar she was not :,
cad so much had the idea Of the
1nishment and Of death possessed p
er imagination. Nothing could be h
'ore touching and more expressive sC
IAN the cry Of an innocent bciu, Ubn
lus approached towards him Vbo,r :,
&c regarded a. her Supreme Jude. IS
of her affecting beauIv
y single spectacle was sufficient 70 i'
cate The most lively interest in the g,
east OF an observing and sensible man V
hat scene Tor painter. What 4,
oral Tor philosopher! whsta les. n
~ for legislator "
The servant having returned TO life. ~
cogn'Zed man ~ him whom che had ~
l"fed, and who directed her pravsr.
wards the only adorable being. She &,
iitted The house u the surgeon. Who 90
- doubly quiet on her account and -
: own, end retired 10 hid, berselC
distant village, fearing 10 meet .,
= Judges Or the officers, wbo, w;tb y.
e dreabiul tree, necessarily haunted
= imagination. The ,illainous &C -
ser remained Bnpunishsd. betsuss I"
. crime, though manifested 20 the
rs 81 tao individual witnesses, was
4 80 clear 20 the ewes Of le masis. Z,
Ates and Ot the laws. The people 10
bsequenily became acquainted With
9 resusciiation n she girl. and load. 70.
With fepfoa1as8 the execrable Az =,
or n her misery; bot, IN the immense nj
~ hif offence u.s. sonu forgotten "a
.d the monster perhaps sill Breathe:
leasi' Dec has not publlclv suffered =,
p Pan'shmcHt which be deserves +.