The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-01-03
NJ S @ e L L A N E O U S
The Brothers Montesquiou, and the HOmicides at
st. Iouis


The deplorable and almost incompre-
hensible event which produced so much
sensation in the public mind at st. Louis
few weeks ago, and so much grief in sew
eral families, seems TO have excited equal
sensation and grief in France. The last
steamer brings out from Mr.. Rives, our
minister at Paris, letter of his own to
Senator Benton, with many letters and
official, documents from himself and others
TO Senator Benton, Senator Cass, and the
Hon. Hr. Winthrop, on the subject of this
most melancholy occurrence. These let
tiers make known the fact that the father of
these young gentlemen (the late Count
Monteso ouiou) labored under insanity, and
destroyed his own life two years ago, and
that their elder brother is. now insane in
Paris; and hence raise the irresistible
Inference that 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
amiability of their characters and their
"mild and inoffensive manners;" that they
came to the United States for information
recreation, and especially to see the west
ern country, and with ample means and
credit. They descend from family in
France, not only of great historic name,
but distinguished for private virtues. The
celebrated Duke de la Rochefoucauld
Liancourt, author of the "Maxims," is
their grandfather on the mothers side; the
present Duke de la Rochefoucauld writes
in their behalf as his nephews. The Gen.
Oudinot (Duke) of Reggie, and General
Alright, (Duke) of Padua, also write in
their behalf as relations. The Count
Montesquiou himself belonged to the dis
tinguished and amiable family of that
name. Many Americans in Paris, among
them Mr.. VIM. H. Aspinwall, of New
York, also write, and with all the deep
feeling which. the view of the agonized
condition of the unhappy mother and re-
lations so naturally inspires. These let
ters and official attestations are all forwar-
ded to St. Louis, TO have their effect in
explaining transaction which seemed to
be incomprehensible.
We believe the trial has not yet taken
place at ST. Louis. These papers will
show it to be deplorable case of inherited
insanity, breaking out in a strange land
and leading TO most calamitous event.
A calm and unprejudiced trial is assured
Dy lne character Vi our pOpulduOla anu ny
the particular conduct of the inhabitants of
st. Louis at The time of the dreadful oc-
currence, and where the circumstances
were so exciting. Two amiable young
mel killed, two others wounded, all in
their own rooms, by strangers just arrived
and between whom and themselves, not
even a look had ever exchanged; the crow
ded hotel and the neighborhood raised by
the loud report of the firearms, and rush
ing to the ghashy scene; yet the arrests
were made without violence, the unhappy
strangers conducted to prison without harm
and, upon some fear of an attempt on the
prison, conducted to the military barracks
fifteen mics distant, and there militarily
guarded and protected. This was honor
able to the population and to the character
of the hotel, Barnum's, one of the most
respectable in America, and whose pro-
prietor was the uncle of one Of the young
men killed. This calmness, moderation,
and regard to justice and decorum at the
moment of the catastrophe, give assurance
of an unprejudiced trial at the time it shall
take place, and that these unfortunate
Young men will be delt with precisely as if
fhey were our own citizens.-Natio,aal
Esteligencer.