Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1855-04-14
THE ROMANCE OF CRIME.

nco Itoul OeiOW NueOec 10 VeIulOht, WHeTe
he was speedily arrested on a charge of foul
and cruel murder, alleged to have been by him
committed in Seignory near the St. Law
renee; he was accused Of having taken the life
Of an estimable gentleman, young and veal.
thy Seignior, the father of two fine children, at
the instigation of their mother, then under "a
years Of age, woman of refined manners, good
education, remarkable beauty, and aristocratic
family connections.
The only question mooted in the Vermont
tribunals was whether the law of nations, in
the absence Of a special treaty, authorized State
authorities to seize persons taking refuge with
in their territories and deliver them over to a
foreign power to be tried for life. The Re.
publican Courts decided that it did not The
physician was Of course released, and when
Gov. Van Ness became Collector Of Customs
at the port Of New York, l urged him to re-
late all the circumstances he could recollect'
including the law points. The memoranda I
still preserve. aass
Many years elapsed; l returned to Canada
and to public life, aud being on business in
Quebec, requested persons Of advanced years
aud undoubted, veracity, residing in and near
the place where the murder had been commit.
ted, to narrate the facts as they occurred
Well may we exclaim, "Truth is more won.
1erful than fictionn e
Mrs. was on visit to Quebec, where
she met with Dr. D., whom II is said she
had been acquainted with before her marriage;
they agreed that her affectiouate husband
should be poisoned; a servant woman who had
been long upon the seiguior, under its feudal
chiefs, was sorely tempted with heavy bribs
to 60 down to - and administer poison to
her master, and she vent stopped at the man.
or-house, gave him enough Of the poison in
beer to sicken, but not to kill; relented; return.
to her mistress at Quebec and told her that
she could not find in her heart to further in
jure the seignios her conscience would not
permit; she could not do it. All this took place
during the winter ofls3-. z7a7 s7at ..zai
Dr.. D. and the lady were Of course dis
pleased with her, and they finally concluded
that he must 60 down himself and do their
dreadful work; he accordingly crossed the st.
Lawrence, travelling alone in his carricle to
-. where he called upon the seignior, ask.
ing him to take drive with him in his carriole;
ank they went ty the barn Of a farm not far
distant to see some cattle, where the doctor
suddenly struck the seignior on the head with
the butt end of his heavy pistol till he became
senseless. The murderer then dragged him
back to The carriole, laid him in the bottom Of
it, put the robes on him. and then sat in it with
his feet upon the body. From thence Dr. D
. drove to the beach, intending to bury his
victim in the ice; on the way, however, the sei-
gnior recovered his senses so far as to scream
and moan family. Some of the inhabitants
met the carriole, and asked what the doctor had
got in his carriage, who replied, "a pig be had
bought and was taking home, which he kept
under his feet TO prevent his escape"
At the beach the butchery was completed,
but the murderer had so mangled the body
that the blood ran down from his carriole and
left red track or streak upon the snow, ex.
lending for great distance from the spot
where the corpse was hid, having been buried
under huge pieces Of ice, on the south shore Of
he great river Of Canada.
Terror speedily took hold Of the strong man
he felt the whole guilt VI his teribls posi..
ion, and putting his horse to ito full speed.
cached Point Levi. 1t 2 o'clock next morning,
where he stopped a. poor mans house, and
lsked the wife to let him lie down and rest on
J bed. but MOTTO touch his sleigh and robes, a.
V had Just como ffoma medical operation, the
Hood from which had been split Oh the ftrs.-.
10 thus rested until fonr, and then rose and
made The best Of his way to Vermont, Il hav.
ng been arranged between him and the wife
4 the innocent and very estimable gentleman
% had slain that she was soon to follow him to
place agreed on. She however wrote him
lfst, and he replied that Il wss his wish never
o ses Or hear from her again; aud believe he
'ever did. Whether be yet lives I have not
'st ascsrained. His brother belonged 10 Tho
husch, was 1t the time . teacher Or youth,
heerfnl, pioss, sud we'll beloved. From NE
ay Of Inst 6isht he ssvsr again held ap his
'esd anosg men, bat droopsd ard died of =
,roken heart. 1zFek ss55ssss
There sas great excitement 10 thcss days q
lnsbse The young sejgnicts body wss
oen fospd. hsing rs.diIy saesd IS tbe tnis q
'leod upon tie beaeh and road;ths gusslhy
.snusmas had besn at enes nisssd and vssy
liitgsaely sssscbsd for Ths wom4s q roiat
LSvi had Siso told tl.as Dr. d. loofs kad