The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1839-07-27

known to have been there. On this appa- |
ling sight Darancourt, whose friendship for
the family was we'll known, appeared at first
paralysed with grief When he recovered
from his trance-like stupor, he rushed from
the house, exclaiming, "My friend my
dear EInest! Where is my poor friend ?"
This exclamation called the minds of the
spectators, for the first time, to the circum-
stance of young St. Maure's absence. The
authorities were speedily called to the spot,
and among other steps taken, search was
instituted for Ernest de st. Maure. De
Valmont, who retained much more presence
of mind than Darancourt had exhibited, con-
Quoted in person the search for Earnest
But the whole of Brussels was examined
in vain. The young man was to be seen
nowhere.
At the solemn investigation which took
place into the whole of this tragic affair,
circumstances came out which tended
strongly 10 fix the guilt of parrcide on the
missing youth. A penknife, marked with
his initials, was found near the scene of
slaughter, covered with blood. This, to
all appearance was the instrument with
which the murders had been committed
Rewards were offered for the apprehension
Of young st. Maure, and in the estimation
of all men he was accounted parricide,
until, OH the sixth morning after the mur-
ders, new turn was given to the affair by
the discovery of the youths body in a stag
nant well in the outskirts Of the city. At
first, indeed, as no wound was seen on the
body, it was thought that he had added self
destruction 10 his other crimes; but on
more minute examination a small puncture
was detected on the breast, Immediately
over the heart. This had we'll nigh beeN
passed over as trifng and accideh q
scratch. At the urgent enlreaty Of one sru-
geOn, however, the chest was thoroughly
laid open, when it was found tlfat the heart
had been pierced 10 IFS centre by sharp in
strument of exceeding mnuteness, in di-
rect line with the external punctufe. This
obviously had been the cause of death. AS
tho young man 'obuIdt Dot htvu tirus slaiu
himself, and then have conveyed his body
to the well, it became apparent to all that
Ernest de st. Maure also had fallen vic
tim to the same conspiracy which had over
whelmed his parents. This, at all events,
was strong presumption; and so satisfactory
did the discovery appear to the authorities,
that they laid the son in the same grave with
his parents, thus clearing his memory, as
they could, from the dreadful charge Of be-
ing panicide. The arguments Of Charles
Darancourt were chiefly instrumental in pro-
curing this justice for his departed friend
The young advocate displayed in this cause
all the warmth of sorrowing affection, and
all the power Of forensic genius.
No further light was thrown on the fate
of the ST. Maures, until some weeks afler
the tragical event. Several papers were
then discovered in an escritoire By the late
Counts brother, which threw dark suspi.
cion on one of the most intimate friends oi
the deceased-on Theodore de Valmont -
1t appeared by these documents that De
Vamont had fixed his affections OH Emily
Duplessis beautiful young lady, who re-
turned his passion, in spite of a long-stand'
ing quarrel between their families. Emes
, de ST. Maure and Charles Darancourt had
, been de Valmont's only conidants, and hat
assisted him in procuring interviews will
. the object of his affections. Being thus oc
casionay brought into contact with the
young lady, Ernest dc ST. Maure had him
| self been inspired with a deep and unhappy
, passion for Emily Duplcssis. He had con
; icsscd this to Darancourt, and had at the
same time declared his resolution to root i
, out Of his mind, and TO die rather than in
! iure De Vamont But the passion had no
I been so easily overcome, and de Valmon
! had at length become aware of the truth
S This led TO a series of letters between hin
r and ST. Maure, which letters were now dis
! covered In some passages of these, DE-
VaImont reasoned with Ernest as with ;
= brother on the subject Of his misplaced pas
( sion, while in others Theodore used Ian
5 guage, that now bore most unfortunate as
= pect. "You know me too well, SAID d.
D Valmont in one letter, "not TO feel conylnc
K ed, that, independently of all other motives
e an innate sense of what is due to my owl
: honor would urge me to inAct the most am
f pie vengeance on the head Of him who CoulC
n avail himself of nv unbounded confidenc,
r to estrange from me the affections of my
d adored Emily" These, and otherp passage
: of The discovered correspondence, admitted
+ of an inference so unlavorable to Theodore
+ de Valmont, that the authorities, on haVinl
d the letters laid before them, immediatel'