The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-01-08
The Brother. pronte.ouieu.

The case OF these young Frenchmen now in
prison at ST Louis, awaiting their trial for murder,
has excited much interest in France, well as in
| this country. Two influential French gentlemen
have arrived in this country to make representa-
tons in behalf of the prisoners, establishing the
fact that they afflicted with hereditary insanity.
The circumstances under which the outrage for
which they are under arrest was committed fully
justify this belief.
Froma statement made verbally by Raymond de
Montesqueu. the younger of the brothers, it APP
pears they left Ottowa last October, in two bugges,
and amused themselves occasionally by shooting
game as they passed the woods, among which they
several times got lost having mistaken the we'll
worn branch roads, by which wood was hauled, for
This, frequently occurring, threw the elder one,
GonzaHe, into state of extreme nervous excite
ment, which was increased by the idea that bad
seized upon his distempered mind, that two per-
sons, who had started from Ottowa on the same
day, and who happened, by some travelling chances,
to rest wherever they stopped at night, were follow
ing in their trail for the purpose Of robbing, and
perhaps, numbering them. This became SO firmly
impressed upon his mind that, during the whole of
the time spent between Ottowa and Alton, about six
days, he scarcely ever slept. The country down
from the lakes, and especially those parts heavily
wooded, presented itself to his eyes akin TO the
Black Forest Of Germany, thronged with villains,
hiding secretly all sides, and logging his steps
for the purpose of murder and plumber. Such was
the opinion he had formed of the western country
that his constant expression was, that he should
never leel secure until nc arrived III New Orleans.
On reaching the hotel at Alton the first persons
they saw were the strange travellers who had fol-
owed thcm At this Gonzalves excitement be-
came intense and in the night, waking and believ-
ing he had been robbed, he reused his brother, and
they both went down stairs to wake up the steward
and the landlord, Gonzalvc having gun in his
hand at the time They found their trunks and
bags all safe; and Gonzalve undertook to explain
his alarm, but in such confused English that the
landlord, suspicious Of their intentions, ordered
them to leave the house, refusing Raymonds re-
quest to let them remain during the night.
Being thus driven forth, the unfortunate brothers
remained in the streets till three O'Clock in the
morning, and then drove into the woods; Gonzalve
being more than impressed with the idea that
their election from the hotel was preconcerted
plot They arrived finally excessively fatigued, at
st. Louis, on the afternoon of October 9th, lS49
Up to the 29th OF that month nothing occurred to
affect the monomania under which Gonzalve was
laboring. But that evening he gave signs Of the
return of it by opening his window, and shouting
in loud tones, tGod save the King From this he
was induced to return to bed, and shortly after
Raymond fell asleep, and only awoke at the dis.
charge of two guns, which killed Albert Jones and
MORALLY wounded Kirby Barnum. Raymond inn
mediately missed his brother, and putting on has
tily his pantaoons and overcoat went into the pas
sage, where he met Gonzalve with the gun in his
hand, and the following conversation ensued:
Raymond What have you done?''
Gonzave-sT have killed two men,
Raymond-''It is not possible; you cannot mean
what you say"
Gonzalve-''Ye have had a revelation from God
TO kill two men, and | have done it,"
The brothers were shortly after arrested Soon
after the arrest, the conduct of Gonzalve became
tional, and his chief concern seemed to be on his
brothers. account, whom he averred to be entirely
guiltless. He seemed to be aware Of the enormity
Of his crime and expressed great contrition for it
and great concern for the men whom he had NOR
tally wounded.-Boston Transcript.
The Paris correspondent Of the Courier and En-
quirer says that this affair created much sensation
in France, where these young men were we'll
known members of respectable family. Their
father, long the victim Of 'mental malady"
committed suicide not long before the sons came to
America.
al learn from authority which will not permit me
to doubt, that the father of these young men had
ever been remarked for his sombre disposition,
causeless melancholy, and occasional strange con-
duct. About two years since he actually committed
suicide, without any assignabe reason-for he was
wealthy, respected, and happy in all his domestic
relations ! am further told that an elder brother
of these young men, in France and in good
health, was actually treated later than last
spring for mental arrangement, Of which he was
exhibiting symptoms. These are facts which would
go far to sustain plea of insanity in behalf of the
young men at St. Louis, unless the facts of their
case, with which we are acquainted here, are such
as to utterly exclude it,"