Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-08-23
A VAMPIRE.

IN ftNlI 1RGs
The correspondent of the London Stand
ard OF Freedom gives an account of one Of
the most singular trials before the military
tribunals which has ever occupied public
attention. One SERGEANT Bertrand was ac-
cused of violating the tombs of the dead
An immense auditory, embracing some of
the first people in France many of the
most distinguished medical men of Europe,
and several females were collected. a
more interesting, mild aud gentle being has
seldom appeared at criminal bar. He,
without the slightest hesitation, acknowl-
edged that, borne on by an irresistible fury,
he had rushed to the cemeteries, dragged
from their collins the lately buried bodies,
beat them with tremendous violence, and
tore out from the carcases the internal por-
tlons; and from what was stated by the
physician, to whom he had still more can
didly confessed his enormities it is not UNI
likely that he Toasted on these INITIATED re-
mains, and committed horrors at which hu-
manly shudders. Some scientific remarks
were ELECTED from the medical men, which
led to the conviction that the man was in
sane indeed there could be but little doubt
The military law could only lnliict pun
shment on him, when found guilty, of a
years imprisonment.
The Standard Of Freedom thus notices
this horrible creature more at length -
"Thc trial which took place at Paris, and
to which allusion has been made by our
French correspondent of The serieant who
tore bodies from their graves for the purpose
of mutIlatlng them, has produced great sen-
sation throughout the medical and legal
world. The tribunal before which he was
tried, being entirely composed of military
men, was incapable of elciting those truths
which are useful to society, and upon the
investigation of which so much depends. -
That the unfortunate man was insane there
can be little doubt, but how far he was re-
sponsible for the horrible acts he committed
we are unable to Judge There are upon
record in our courts Of law several instan-
ces of appalling offences, which have been
looked upon as the acts Of lunatics but
those who have had these fearful impulses
have been silent, moody, gloomy creatures,
upon whose brow the mark Of Cain has
been visible. In this instance the perpe-
traitor e. crimes before US is apparently of a
gentle and kindly nature; educated origi-
most of the persons by whom he was sur
rounded, and was placed by his officers in a
situation demanding high qualifications
Without any feeling beyond an irresistible
propensity, he sailed in tie dead of the
night from his quarters, which were some
times so guarded that it requred the utmost
cunning TO get out of them He scaled
tie highest walls, even when he knew that
there were placed instruments of deadly
kind to prevent him, and, having reached a
/ grave, he dragged out It's loathsome tenant,
beat it, mutiaed it, and tore out its in,es-
tines. Though not aware, according to his
own conirssIon Of the fact, he must have
become a cannlbal, for the marks of his
teeth were plainly discernible on bodies,
portions of which we're missing 1t is
! evident TINT lie marked out, wherever he
had an opportunity, the corpses Of young
females in preference to all others. On no
occasion does he seem to have taken away
with him any portion Of the clothes or the
little memorials which it is not uncommon
in France to bury with the dead. lie was
at length punished most feariully for his a.
trociics. A machine, constructed so as tn
discharge numerous missiles, was placed in
one Of the cemeteries which he had been
accustomed TO visit. He received from il
"A vast number of wounds, aud was com.
PEELED to take refuge in an hospital, having
contrlved to get oil from the spot. There
the singular nature Of his injuries, and the
imperfect story he related to account fol
them, led to suspicious, which were al
length confirmed by his own confession tC
the physician who had charge of him. lie
asserted on his trial that he was perfectly
cured Of his propensity, but seemed to have
! no proportlonate idea of its enormity. HC
stated that while in the hospital he had fol
! the first time seen death in its own shape
and that it had produced within him emo
tons would in future prevent the perPelra
ton OF similar acts There seemed to b'
neither imbecllity nor that moral insanlt.
I which the law allows to be sufficient rea
son for suspending its punishment, and con
J inning the individual lest he should be guilt
, of further deeds Of turptude. He spoke a
e if he felt he had been under no evil inhu
ence, and had no premontory symptoms o
: mental delusion. He had no motive fol
d his conduct, no inducemcnt but an instinc
tive impulse which became irresistible. -
j. Not yet recovered from the wounds tina
l were inflicted upon him, he entered tn
}, hall leaning on his clutches, looking aroun
X him with calmness and coectedness h
e seemed TO expect to be al object of sympi
p thy, and never SIN Junk back from the il
% tense gaze which was directed upon him.