Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1854-02-09

ralating theconditioninwhichM NJ. picwas
de moreover, gathered the mayors COWS
thinking, apparently, that in the confu.
sion they might he forgotten: and he sent
them home under safe convoy. Nor
was this all; after the mayor was carried
home and laid in his bed, the attendants
late at night, were surprised by the ap-
pearance among them of man covered
with blood. He went to the bedside.
embraced the sufferer, loaded him with
kisses, and again disappeared. The
stupified attendants made no motion to
seize the wretch till it was to late. Il
was Tragine, -7...ii
These strange tokens of real or seem
ing repentance could not prevent the at
tempt to punish a crime so nefarious. A
brigade of gendarmes was Immediately
stationed at Leychert with order to pur-
sue the ruffian, and take him alive if pos
slble. A public reward of 1000 francs
was offered for his capture. But, as he
had already done for three successive
years, Tragine continued, by his vigilance
and desperate courage, to elude all at
temptS to seize him: and, in fact. in place
of diminishing, the presence of the gen
darmes seemealto increase his effrontery.
For example, learning through some of
the PEASANTS, whom either fear or favor
led still to talk to him. that twenty Of
the police were assembled one night at
Pics house, the bandit went thither, and
fired in at one of the windows. The
double detonation warned the police of
the party with whom they had to do. but
before they could get on his track. the
ruffian was far beyond their vengeance.
Unhappily, the balls, of which not less
than five were found, showing how
heavily he loaded his gun, struck the
mayors son, and wounded him danger
ously. Reused to violent wrath by the
pursuit to which he was subjected, Tragine
even menaced with death all who should
assist the wounded Pics, making ONLY
one exception. To the curate of the
village he sent condescending message.
bidding him to do the duties of his office
towards the sufferers without fear. In
short, the bandit, for some weeks after
the assault on NJ. Pierre Pic, continued
to be the terror of the district, bursting
upon his pursuers here and there like
meteor, but with such caution that they
could not arrest him.
At length a report was studiouslv sent
abroad that every man who saw Tragine
was empowered to shoot him. This soon
came to the bandits ears, and as he had
once or twice narrowly escaped by speed
OF foot and skill IN climbing the rocks, he
was much alarmed by the tidings-so
much so that he left his old haunts:
whittier he went remained for time a
mystery. In the interval, the rrefect of
Ariege sent orders to the mayors of all
the different villages to be on the watch.
and to remember the reward for the VII
lain's capture. In the end, the mayor OF
Larcat, named NJ. Joule. formed plan
for the capture Of the bandit, but to show
the dlslnterestedness of his wish to serve
the public he first refused the reward.
NJ. Joule was man Of thirty-iive, tall in
stature, and athletic in make-a man
tit for struggle with Tragine, if the lat
ter could be caught unarmed, but there
lay the difficulty. for he never parted with
his fatal weapons. However, ingenuity
may do much. NJ. Joule having laid
down his plan, went out into the Streets
and market-place, and there, in the hear
ing Of many persons, descanted on the ex-
courage and address of Ira
glne, adding, 90 That he would be wise 10
retire to Spain, and that surely some
mayor, If properly applied to, would
grant him passport, which must be the
only difficulty in tile way" Some days
afterwards, a man came and sought a
secret interview with the mayor of Lar
cat. The object was to know if he would
grant passport for Tragine to go to
go to Spain. Three hundred francs were
offered on the part of the bandit. NJ
Joule refused, but afterwards consented
on condition of receiving five hundred
francs. An interview was to be held
with Tragine, to take down his descrip-
ton, and house in the country, neal
felx, was fixed on as the place Of meet
ing.
NJ. Joule was at the appointed place in |
good time; but there he found. moi
Tragine, but his wife, who brought 4OG
francs, with some necessary marks for |
making out the passport. M. Joule made |
a promise to hold the money sufficient
but it was not his purpose to do it with |
out the personal presence of the willy |
bandit. He therefore told the wife thai |
became only TO take down the description,
and had not brought the necessary pa
pers with MIN; but that if Tragine would |
come to his house On certain day, the |
would then be ready, except a.
regarded the filling up of some personal |
marks, and the signature. On the day |
named, Tragine did come to Larcat, but
he remained at the house of an associate
Or friend, and sent for the mayor to come
thither. NJ. Ioule went, and an interview
took place between Tragine and him.
The suspicious bandit remained inside OF
a window, leaning on his deadly gun.
while the mayor stood outside. The lat
Ter refused to write the passport among
people who might compromise him, and
said besides, that the official seal was at
ais own Office, but the cautious robber
would not trust himself in the mayors
house. Such, at least, was his first de-
,ision. The mayor, however, at last
said, /" Well, we'll. take your money back.
md 60 away" These words, uttered in
IN easy manner, changed the resolve OF
rragine. s.y ...-
al will go with you," he said, and ac-
followed the steps of the mayor