Litchfield enquirer., 1835-10-15
L.,.,.. From Gaignapfs Messenger-A~g. Sd.
Portrait and History Of Fieschi, alias
Gerard fke Assassin

The following is the description of &C.
rard's person His forehead is very broad,
and his head very large and square, his
hair black, thin and curled, his eye very
piercing and deep set his nose curved and
pointed, mouth wide and chin prominent,
the lower part Of his face meagre and
sharp; his whole countenance is marked
and expressive. Sometimes he wore
blouse or snlock-frock, and sometimes was
genleclly dressed Two women went FREE
quently to visit him, and it is supposed
that he had intimate relations with them
both. 1t is asserted that he had another
lodging than that on the Boulevard, but he
will not acknowledge it.
1t appears that Gerard has received a
much better education than is found in
journeymeR mechanics in general. He is
well acquainted with Roman history, and
frequently alludes to, some Of its distin-
guished characters, expressing great adj
miration for them. He also speaks of Ma
poIeon with pecular enthusiasm. Fills phys
ical strength is also unusually great. He
has several times expressed his regret at
the number Of his victims, and the families
he has thus thrown into mourning and dis
tress, but at the same time declares that
his ardent Imagination had overcome his
better reason, through an infatuation of
mind he found it impossible to conquer.
Boireau, the journeyma lampist, is said
to have been confronted with Gerard, who,
however, pretended to have no knowledge
Of him while on the other hand, Boireau
avowed he was we'll acquainted with Ge-
rard. Boireau further declared that it as he
who purchased the gun barrels, powder and
balls, with which the Internal machine was
made and charged. But it seems the spirit
of party in Boireau did not suppress his
love Of gain, since he took receipts for the
gun-barrels at fr. 10 sous each, although
in fact, he paid only f.. each. Accord
ing to another account, it was Gerard HIM
self who purchased the gun barrels, and
had the bill made out for them at 7fr. los.
each, though the price paid by him was on
gain for them above month before, but
left them at the makers, saying that he
bought them by commission for a person
who was coming to Paris in few days. 1t
was only two. or three days before the Re-
view that he went to take them away.
The assassin has at different times assu-
med the names Of Augustus Girard, Jac-
ques Gerard, and Joseph Lefevre, and
some persons have fancied that his name
is Ducasse. There are, however, we are
assured, reasons for believing that neither
Of these names really belong to him. Ac-
cording to the Constitutional, Gerard,
about 10 years ago. was employed in a
cloth-manufactory at Hodeve, where he
was remarked for his skill in making spin
dies and other parts Of machines used in
his work, which were always superior TO
those of his fellow workmen. He also
produced several curious pieces of tnecha-
nism. The National, however, says s.
:" A person who comes from Lodeve, and
who, till within the last IL months, exer-
cised there the functions Of Commissary
Of Police, and four merchants of the same
town were, on Saturday, brought to see
and identify Gerard, but they ali, not on
ly at first sight, but after an attentive OBJ
servation Of his features, unanimously de-
clared that they did not recognise IN him
the man Of that name who had resided and
been employed at Lodeye. On Friday,
M. CASPER, a manufacturer Of Lodeve,
who had been seat to the Conciergerie for
the same purpose, also denied that ti'e prls-
oner was Gerard, the naechanlcian who
had resided ia the town, whom he I'M.
Caspier,) knew perfectly well, and who
was married man with family. 1t was,
however, remarkable that Immediately al
ter he appeared, Gerard exclaimed =
Here is M. CASPER, of Lodeve.'e How
ever, TO the repeated declarations of M.
CASPER, that the man thus shown to him
was not Gerard, Of Lodeve, the prisoner
made no reply, any more than he did 20
tl,, similar ,,psvs ,;vt,s Of the pSrSs,tsD wlIv
were afterwards brought to see him." a.i}
When Gerard was arrested, he had. 1T is
said, a weapon he would have used in Of
fecting his escape had he not been wound
ed. 1t was species Of whip-handle, about
two feet long, to which was attached ten
pieces Of cord, each having at the end a
large bullet. In allusion to this, he said,
IF had not been wounded, you would
not now have had me in your clutches, for
| had that which would have enabled me
to clear my way through whole brigade
Of police oificers.'' OF his two wounds in
the head, one is superficial, bot the other
is SO deep that the traini'is exposed. No
exfoliations have taken place, nor has there
been any inflammation or compression Of
\ the brain. On his uuering long and deep
drawn sigh, he was asked il he, was in pain,
but he replied, mo; my suferings are
moral. but not physical" = baa ..geszz
/. Some of the Journals say :--'. On Fra
day, Gerard desired that he might be al
lowed to confess, and receive the Sacra-