The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1851-10-10
A BALLROOM TRAGEDY.

A BALLROOM TRAGEDY.
The London Times publishes from
a private letter, additional particulars
relative to the assassination of Miss
Brunei, at public ball in the theatre
of San Sebastian :--Now that the
festivities are over, the only subject of
conversation is The wretchcd young
nan who poinardcd Maria Brunei.
He is in custody in the fortress of the
town. Those who have been nc.
quainted with him speak favorably Of
his previous conduct. There is no
doubt of jealousy being tie cause of
the crime. ltappears he had been
attached to the young lady, and no
doubt he considered that he was
sighted BY her or supplanted. On
The night Of the ball he considered
there was no doubt of the fact. He
became exasperated, and committed
the crime while his victim was in the
act OF dancing Il polka. He stabbed
her twice IN the back; the first blow
only grazed her skin, but the second
went through the heart. Her death
was instantaneous. The act was so
sudden that her partner in the dance
did not perccive it until she fell at his
feet. You may easily Judge of the
confusion and the horror which it ex<
cited. The doors Of the saloon were
at once closed, lest the assassin should
escape. There was no necessity,
however. for these precautions: h
presented himself at once, and told
the persons present to give them.
selves no trouble; that he, and he only,
was the person who committed the
crime. You will not be asttnishcd
that almost all the ladies' who were
near the victim tainted. The son OF
the French Consul had presence OF
mind enough to draw the poinnrd
from the body, but The moment he did
so he ic!l also serseless. The mother
of the young lady uttered the most
frantic shrieks, ard made desperate
efforts to get a sign! CT her child. She
was kept from doing so BY her friends
and was taken home by force while
the bleeding body of the victim was
deposited in an apartment close to the
ballroom, for the inspection Of the
magistrates The funeral took place
on Sunday. The assassin is a young
officer of engineers. 1t is said thai
some of his friends wished TO furnish
him with the means Of destroying
himself by his own hand TO escape ;
death of infamv. He has refused, ir
order, as he says. to die the death OF {
Christian; that his life does not belong
to him, that he has taken that O
another, and that he will leave his Il
the disposal Of Heaven and Of hi
Judges. He expresses an earnes
desire that his condemnation shall
take place as soon as possible. and
says that his suff'erings are intense
and that he is weary Of lie. He con
,inues to wear two shirt studs, which
the young lady had presented hin
with. He often tears them from hi
bosom, kisses them, and utters thu
kost frantic expressions of sorrow
and remorse. He has refused foo'
of any kind, except coarse bread ant
water, and even this in the .smalles
quantity. The two or three first day
he was not permitted to communicate
with any one; lie is now allowed t.
see some OF his brother officers, AM
those who have been with him com
away weeping. He is only twenty
four years old. His brother officer
and chiefs are doing all they can t
have his life saved. At all events hi
mind is gone; he has continually be
fore him his victim, with whom h
fancies he talks, and his complaint
and his means bring tears from tn
eyes of all who hear hun. The han
of death is on him; if he die not by tn
hand of the executioner, he will die {
grief before long. He was an onl
child; his mother had followed him i
all his changes Of garrison except tn
present. She idolized him, and a
accounts agree that he was an exec
lent son. What destiny