Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-04-23
RoMIsH pRIEsrCRA FRANCE.

From Gaiignani's Messenger March 5th.
An extraordinary trial has, during the last
month, occupied the Court of Orleans. The
facts Of it were these; 4 Mile. Bulnois, who
was born in 1872, inherits from her parents,
who were large landowners and manufacturers,
a very great fortune, and she Increased it by
her economy, and by carrying on for some
years the manufactures which they had estab-
lisfcd. Her education, however, was very
imperfect, and her intelligence by no means
great, and she was very superstitious. Some
priests and Sisters OF Charity Worlned them
selves into her confidence, and, under the
guisc Of religion, gained a co;nplete ascendan-
cy oyer her. In 1878, having retired from
business, she, by their advice, removed her
residence Irom Sarcus, her native place, in
the department of the 0ise. to Tours, which
then possessed the reputation OF being very
religious town.
She had two persons living with ber-one a
sister of charity, the other the daughter Of a
man named Leveque, who acted as her stew
ard but after year or two another Sister Of
Charity instilled herself in the house. Shortly
after her arrival at Tours she purchased an old
convent of the Feuillans, and took up her res
idence in il. She was there constantly
rounded by priests, and they pleased her great
ly by saving mass in her chapel. She was al
SO frequent visitor at the convent OF the Pc
tit Saint Martin, a branch of the great house of
Picpus at Paris; she moreover, after while,
charged Father Philibert chaplain of the con-
vent, who was her own confessor, with the
management of her property. In 1928, in
compliance with the recommendations ofFather
Phlibert, the nuns, the Sisters OF Charity and
priests who surrounded her, she took up her
residence in the convent of the Petit Saint
Martin.
She then transferred to priest who was the
representative of the Convent of Picpus, the
proprietorship of Les Feuiilans, acknowiedg-
ing that she had ssold'' the place to him for
10000 fr., though in reality, no such sum was,
nor any other, ever paid. Some time after he
executed deeds, by which she sssoid'' for lS0,
600 fr., to the Bishop of Chalcedonia, Superb
or of the convent of Picpus, valuable estate
at place called Mennevilliers, and she acknow-
ledged having received the sum in question in
cash !; but not one farthing of il was ever re-
ally paid to her. In addition TO this she gave
or sold to Leyeaue, her steward at Sarcus, all
the zeal property she possessed there T; but this
man was to q certain extent, the pyeteHom Of
the community OF Pcpus. Differences subse-
quently arose between him and the community
as to the manner in which the Sarcus property
should be divided between them, and these
differences came TO the knowledge of Madame
Balnois' family.
They were greatly surprised 10 learn that
she had made any disposition of her property
at all, as they knew she had fallen into state
of imbecility, and as they had supposed that
the religious community in which she was AT
Tours would, as her natural protector, have
prevented her from doing anything of the
founded TO find that she had done away, not
only with the property at Sarcus, but with the
estate at Menneyiliiers, and Les Feuillans at
Tours. They Immediately took proceedings
foi having her placed under interdiction, and
one Of the law courts, after making inquiries,
and subjecting her to interroGatories, declared
that she was undoubtedly SO imbecile as TO be
incapable of managing her own affairs, and II
charged one of her nephews with the admins
tration of them. This was in January, le41 /,
and in July, ls48, the poor lady died. Her
| nephews and nieces, as heirs at law, then took
! proceedings before different courts TO obtain
| the restitution Of her real property and tbs
| result Of this wa, that the Bishop Of Chalcsdo-