Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1847-12-25
HoRRiB.n STATE OF ArrA,Ns.

i'u"cc uispiays tnis weeka curious dppen-
dix to the lis, of deadly crimes in high society
three counts have attempted suicide, two Of the
gentlemen et in the ig hest ranks Of diploma.
cy; and two of the attempts have been fatal -
Count Bresson, notorious for his share in the
Madrid marriages, has killed himself at Naples
tic wished to b. sent as ambas sador TO London,
probably hoping to remove unpleasant impress
s'ons, instead of that he was sent to Naples,
which was not only post of less dignity. bu,
one where he might again have become invol.
v"d in still lower branches ot the Bourbon in.
,rigues Count Mor,ier, the French umbassa.
dor to Turin. who was living at Paris on leave
Of absence. was seized by the police in the act
OF xhori ne his children to perish with him.
under Authorization respecting his wifes f.
de i'y The third suicide is the Count de Co
mer. v no had been ANONYMOUSLY convicted of
shooting at u little boy trespassng on his
| grounds.
! Count Bresson had arrived at Naples only on
! the l4th Of October; he had presented his cre.
dentias on the 3lst, and been graciousy recei-
we'd by the King. On the LIST Of November he
paid numbrr of visits; wen, in the evening 10
| the opera; and throughout the day showed no
signs of insanity, or even of excitement. %
reaching home, however. al night, he was oh.
served TO be agi,ated; his excitement incress-
ed, and he was heard to pace his room I'LL NOR.
ming. A heavy fa!l was then heard, and on en-.
tering the room the Countess Bresson found her
husband lying with his throat cut. and razor
close to hun lie died before medical aid could
be obtaned The Count is understood to have
been deeply mortified at being sent to Naples :;
he had tried to obtain the British or Russian
Embassy; and, it is said, wrote from Naples iu,-
medie,eIy on his arrival there. requesting in
very earnest language tina, he might be sent
back to Madrid. In short. he appears. to have
felt degraded. He had made his will aud ar
ranged all his fairs before lis departure, which
occasions a surmise that he contemplated de-.
stroying himself even then. Nevertheless he
appeared perfectly collected Throughout, his jour
ncy, and, it is understood, transacted important
business ut Turin en- route.
Count Morter, Peer Of France and French
ambassador 10 the Court Of Sardinia has al.
tempted to kill his children in a fit of madness.
The Coun, had been residing in Paris oa leave of
absence. The prncipai deluson under which
he labored Was that his wife was unfahiul to
him but 1t is universally agreed that there
was not the shadow OF reason for such no
ton.
For some time past, says French journal,
NJ Mortimer had exhibited symptoms of th's
terrible maIody, and committed, without any
motive. acts of ihe greatest violence On Sun
day morning he fastened himsel. up with his
two children III the apartments which he occu'
, pied at the Hotel Chaiham. He then wrote
letters TO his wife and TO one Of his friends, u,l
nouncing that in some seconds he and his chill
dren woud have CEASED to exist. The prefecl
4 of police. who was immediately informed OF
this hastened 80 the hotel, as did also the pre-
, sident Of the Chamber of Peers NJ. MortieI
remained in his chamber, which wss barrics
ded. lie was armed with razor. which he
, brandished over his children, and threatened t.
plunge into his person; while, at the same time
he uttered the most frightfu! language. Ht
!, was spoken to in friendly way, but replied on
!. Iy by incoherent phrases ubou; death and blood
: and then, addressing himseflo his son, who wa,
:, on his knees, he said that he must die.
!. The poor child. who is sged only clever
!, years. cried that he would not die, and wept an,
!. struggled. The Couat then asked his daugh
!, ter, VINO is aged only eight years, il she woul,
i, follow him and die with him. The poor littl,
- creature replied in sweet childish sccen,s, tina
she would willingly die with her father and
is believed that he was preparing to accomplish
81 this horrible design. The persons who hear
! these dreadful words were chilled with terror
20 word or a movement on their part nigh
u cause TO descend the which madness agta
rs ted and retained at The same time This dread
. fui scene lasted nearly three hours; and tn
w Countess Mortier, the Chancellor, aud the pre-
- feet OF police, were at the door during the tim
- ia state Of indescribable dismsy. At leng'
access Wa> obtained 20 the rouni through ca.
drmned door, which was opened without nols
AZ The Chancelior and the project eo,eted, al
nd were fortunate enough to drag the poor childre
10 from the room, aud TO give them 10 their mott
"e er. ... s.a...
as NJ. Mortier still kept his razor in his hand
nj nothing could induce him TO quit il; he mat
'e at times the gesture Of cutting his throat, 81
this scene continued for three quarters OF {
bo hooy Ha tbao com ma mod bitterly of the pe