Nashville daily patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1855-1857, 1856-12-03
writ.en tor the BaI.Inore Pa.rIo,.

~ to visit this fashionable watering place. The
change is a very agreeable one after long sojourn
m Paris Il late IN the evening of the l4th of
August that I arrived at the end of my journey,
and proceeded at once TO the Hotel des Bans
(which. by the bye, can recommend TO those Of nv
readers who may happen to visit Deppe,) and sf-
ter a light supper, retired to rest.
have always been an early riser. II makes no
difference what time go to bed at night, | am
sure TO get up early in the morning. ! suppose
this is habit, more than anything else. However
that may be, the morning after my arrival at dep
pc was up by cockscrow. looked at my watch,
and found il wanted few minutes to four. deter
termined would 60 and explore the town.
When | arrived in the street I was very much
surprised to find it full of people. gave the in
habants of Dieppe credit for being very industri,
Gus, beating their Partisan brethren to nothing in
the exercise of the virtue Of early rising, and exs
pected to discover upon inquiry practical ilustra.
ton of the truth Of the adsge by finding the citi-
Of that pretty but rather slow towu noted for
their health renowned for their wealth, and cOurted
for their wisdom.
was disturbed from these reflections by observ-
ing that the people were ali going in one direction,
and they hurried forward as if stimulated BY some
extraordinary curiosity. l addressed inquiries to
some of them, but they were too breathless and in
too great a hurry TO make any reply to me. All
they did was to point before them and nod their
heads
Not being able to obtain any satisfaction from
them ! determined to follow their footsteps, as
was now convinced there must be something to be
seen.
We advanced at a very quick pace down a hand
some street, which l afterwards learned was the
chief street in the town, called the Grande Rue;
the crowd all the time getting denser, so as TO rem
der it more difficult to proceed. We might have
gone a mile perhaps when the street Suddenly
opened into large square; this square was densey
packed with a neat mob. The most distracted noise
and confusion prevailed, but saw something there
raised on a platform at the further end of the
square, that engaged my whole attention, an made
my blood feel as il it we're turned into ice.
II was guilotne
Yes, there was the hideous frame work painted
black, that had seen once before at the Place du
Trone in Paris. At the moment / turned my eyes
on this instrument of death, engaged oll>
ing the groves, and to enable him to do it more
conveniently the knife was lowered half way down
between the two post, and the morning made
the blade glitter, rendering it easily to be dstin-
guished by the whole multitude.
Although | had before seen en- execution, and
was well aware Of the painful effect it had upon my
mind for months afterwards, morbid curiosity i'm,
PEELED me to remain, and see the conclusion Of the
tragedy. had not to wait long, neighboring bell
began to toll and cart made its appearance bear
ing the criminal. He appeared to take matters
very easy, and when first saw him. be was con-
versing gaily with the two gendarmes who accom-"
panied him. He was smoking cigar, and glanced
around at the multitude with the most perfect non
ehaLancs. The populace when they saw him raised
yell of execration; Talpable sneer was the only
reply he deigned to make.
He ascendsd the steps leading to the scafTold
withvan easy gait, and turning sharply round to the
mob, stood for minute two with his arms folded,
and foot advanced as ifdefying them, He glanced
at them look of unutterable scorn, and muttered
between bis teeth the word "CdndiLle."
1t was during this minute or two that had time
TO make note Of bis appearance. He seemed to
be about thirty FIVE years Of age. He was tall and
powerfully built but his featsres were the very cpl
tome of villainy. His eyes were dark and large,
surmounted by bushy eyebrows. He long
moustache which attended far beyond his cheeks.
Every bad passion seemed to be expressed in bis
face; in fact his countensnce might be called per-
feet devilish. An involuntary shudder run through
me as / gszed upon it.
He resigned himself into the hands of the exc
cutioner, and in a few minutes all was over. When
the time came for the knife to descend, had not
the courage to look, but turned my head away,
and it was only by shout from the mob that l
knew the tragedy was finished.
enquired of a spectator near me- the name Of
the criminal and the crime for which he had suffer-
ed.
The man stared at me with astonishment, say
ing.
"Why, it's Jacques Reynauld y
The name struck me as being somewhat familiar
and endeavored to remember where | had heard
it before. / suddenly recollected the Paris news
papers some months back had been filed with the
history OF several awful murders committed ia dep
pc, and this mans name was in some way cOnnect-
ed with them, but in what manner could not re-
| n,,E bI-
excited, and Immediately made the most minute
enquiries into the matter, and before / left Deppe
had learned the following particulars:
In the Rue des Armes, about four months previ-
Gus to the Time write, lived a worthy haberdasher
of the name Maurice. His family consisted of him
self, his wife, one child and servant girl. They
we're quiet, respectable people and very much res
pected by all their neighbors.
NJ Muarice did good business and frequently
had a considerable sum of money in his house. He
had an extraordinary run of custom one Saturday,
and when the labors of the day over he felt
very much fatigued. he shut up his shop and pro-
ceeded to q small room, where his wife and servant
were laying the cloth for supper.
my dear" said his wife, soon as he entered
the room, 81 should very much like some oysters
for supper to>night"
al am afraid it is too late" replied the hus
band, looking at his watch. II was quarter past
eleven
"0h no. Justine says there is a shop open round
the corner"
'Tf that be the case let Justine get some at once,
for am as hungry as a hunter"
Thereupon Justine put on her bonnet and shawl,
and went after the oysters; leaving The door ajdT,
that she might not disturb her master mistress
when she returned.
Now il so happened that the place where she exc
pected TO be able 10 obtain the oysters closed;
hut not wtsbiu0 IN diaannoint her pmnlnvara she
determined she would go and seek them elsewhere.
In pursuance Of this object she entered the Grande
Rue, but had TO walk a considerable distance be-
fore she could obtain what she sought She hur~
ried home again, and noticed when she arrived at
the door Of her masters house that the chimes of a
neighboring church struck quarter Of twelve. She
had, therefore, been absent just three quarters of
en- hour.
She was surprised to end the door shut, but sup.
posing that the wind had blown il TO- she raised the
latch The door was fastened The INSIDE. She
thought this rather strange but then again she re
Elected that twas doubtless only necessary pres
caution on the part of her master. She rnng the
bell, and was very much concerned when, after
waiting a few minutes, no reply was made. They
have gone to bed" she said TO herself and felt
rather angry with them for having locked her oat.
She again rung the bell more violently than before
still no answer She now became alarmed, and
rung long and violenty-no answer Her fears
we're thoroughly aroused, and she related the cir
cumstances to some persons passing along the
street The presence OF two or three gendarmes
was coon procured, and they proceeded at once to
break 10 the door
The passage into which the door opened was per.
fectly dark; but one Of the gendarmes stumbled
over something, and putting cut his hand to cave
himself il came in contact with something 90
the ground A light was Immediately obtained
and horrible eipht presanted itself
Laying across the passage was the dead body OF
Monsieur Maurice. With his thoat cut from ear 10