The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-12-17
The Brothers MOntesquiou, and the Homi-
cides at st. Louis.

The deplorable and almost incomprehensible
event which produced much sensation in the
public mind at st. Louis few weeks ago, and SO
much grief In several families, seems TO have cx-
| cited equal sensation and grief in France. The
last steamer brings out from Mr.. Rives, our minis
ter at Paris letter of his own TO Senator Benton
with many letters and official documents to him
| SELL and others to Senator Benton Senator Cas-
and the Hon. Mr.. Winthrop, on the subject of this
most melancholy occurrence. These letters make
known the fact that the father of these young gen
| temen (the late Count Montesquiou) labored I'M
der insanity, and destroyed his own life two wears
ago, and that their elder brother is now insane i'm
Paris; and hence raise the irresistible inference
thi0 inherited insanity must have broken out in the
| two brothers at st. Louis.
All the letters speak Of them in the same terms
| as being remarkable for the amability of their
characters and their 'mild and inoffensiye man
ncrs;' that they came to the United States for in
formation and recreation and especially to see the
! western country, and with ample means and Gre
DIT. They descend from family in France not
only OF great historic name, but distinguished for
private virtues. The celebrated Duke dc la Roche
ioucauld Liancourt, author of the "Maxims" il
their grandfather ON the mothers side; the present
Duke De la Rocheoucauld writes in their behalf az
his nephews. The General Oudinot, (Duke) of
kegg1o, and General Alright, (Du1e) of Padua,
also write IN their behalf relations. The Count
Montesquiou himself belonged to the distinguished
ana amiable family Of that name. Many Ameri-
cans IN Paris, among them Mr.. VIM. H. Aspinwall,
OF New York, also write and with all the deem feel
ing which the view Of the agonzed condition of the
unhappy mother and relations naturally inspires
These letters and official attestatons are an for
warded to st. Louis, TO have their effect in explain
ing transaction which seemed 10 be incomprehen-
sible
We believe the trial has not yet taken place at
81. Louis. These papers will show il To be a de-
porable case of inherited insanity, breaking out in
a strange land, and leading TO a most caamitous
event. calm and unprecedented trial is assured by
the character of our population, and by the parcu-
lar conduct OF the inhabitants of st. Louis at the
time of the dreadful occurrence, and where the cir
cumstances we're 50 exciting. Two amiable young
men killed, two others wounded all in their own
rooms, by strangers just arrived, and between
whom and themselves not even look had ever been
exchanged the crowded hotel and the neighbor-
hood raised by the loud report Of the firearms and
rushing 10 the CHASTITY scene yet the arrests were
made without violence, the unhappy strangers con-
Quoted to prison without harm, and, upon some
fear of an attempt on the prison. conducted to the
military barracks fifteen miles distant and there
militariy guarded and protected. This was hon
orabe to the population and to the character of the
hotel, Bdrnum's one of the most respectable in
America, and whose proprietor was the uncle Of
one Of the young men killed. This calmness,
moderation, and regard TO justice and decorun at
the moment OF the catastrophe gives assurance of
an unprejudiced trial at the time il shall take place.
and that these unfortunate young gentlemen will
be dealt with precisely if they were our own citi-
zens.-Ndtionni bateLligencer.