The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-04-20

positions In favor of Lesurques 1v;sh -
prejudice; those already heard seeu,e1 49,
better than connivance, and those vel ~ =:
heard were listened TO with such suspicion -
to have no eject. Tie conviction Of his ruiIf
was hxed in every mind. Lesurqnes, depair-
Ing to get oyer such fatal appearances ceased
ms energetic denIals, and awaited his eens
tence IN gloomy silence. The jury retired,
/ AT this moment woman, agitated with the
most violent emotions demanded TO sneak 60
the President. She said that she vvastnove3
the voice of conscience, and wished ~ 80
the criminal tribune from doubtful error Il
was MadelainC Breban, the mistress ofT.o,,rc
icl. Brought before the President, she declar.
ed that she knew positively Lesurques was In
nocent, and thatrthe witnesses, deceived bv A.
inexplicable resemblance, had confounded him
with the real culprit, who was called Dubogo
Pejudiced as they were against Lesurques
and suspicious of all testimony after the preius
~ they had already detected the tribunal scar.
cely listened to Madelain Brehan and the iu~
rysreturned with their verdict, ia consequence
Of which, CourioL Lesurques, and Bernard /
were condemned to death Richerd "a four.
and-tweniy years imprisonment Gusno and
Bruer were acquitted: e
No sooner was the sentence passed than
Lesurques rose calmly, and addressing tn,
Judges, said, 81 am innocent Of the crime Of
which am accused. All, citoyens, If it is
horrible 10 murder on the highroads, it is not
less so TO murder by the law 2"
Couriol condemned to death, rose and said
~ am guilty; avow it. Bul Lesurques 10 in.
nocent, and Bernard did nOt'participate IN the
murder"
-Four times he reiterated this ssdeclaration
anc, on entering his prison, he wrote to the
Judge letter full of sorrow and repentance,
ID which he said,"I have never known Leeur.
ques my accompilces arc Vidal, Rossi, Dur.
ocha', and Dubosq. The resemblance Ollie.
Surques to Dnbosq has deceived the witness
ses."
To this declaration of Couriol was Joined
that of Madelaine Bre5an who after the iudg-
ment, returning TO renew her protestation, ac-
by two individuals, who swore that,
before the trial, she had told them Lesurqnes
had never had any relations with the cuprits;
but that he was victim of his fatal likeness to
DubOsq. These testimonies threw doubt in
the minds OF the magistrates, who fastened to
demand a reprieve from the Directory, which
terrified at the idea Of seeing an innocent man
perish through judicial error, had recourse
to the Corps LegisLuty, for every other re-
source was exhausted. The Message of the
Directory to the Five Hundred was pressing
is aim was to demand repreive, and decis-
on as to whatcourse to pursue. 1t ended thus
'Mus uLesurques perish on the scaffold be-
cause he resembles william O.
The Corps LegisIatU passed to the order
ofthe day, as every condition had'been legally
fulfilled, that particular case could not justify
IN infraction of decreed laws; and that, TOO
IN such indications, to do away with con-
lemnation legally pronounced by jury, would
be to oversee all ideas of justice and equality
before the law.
The right of pardon had been abolished;
md Lesurques had neither resources nor hope.
He bore his fate with frmness and resigna-
ion, and wrote, On the day Of his execution,
his note 10 his wife:
"MG bonnie Annie; There is no eluding ones
iestlny was ated to bejudicially murder-
ID. shall at least bear il with proper cour-
ge. / send you my locks Of HAIR when our
hildren are grown up you will divide it among
hem /; it Is the only heritage ] can leave
hem.'
He addressed also letter to Duboeq through
he newspapers. "You, in whose place am
bout to perish. content yourself with the sa-
rifce of my life. Should yon ever be brought
D justice, remember my three children Gov.
red with opprObrium- my wife re-
uced TO despair, and do not longer prolong
heir misfortunes.''