The Nevada Democrat., 1857-03-11
From Galignani's Messenger, Jan. 5th.l
Assassination OF the Archbishop of Paris.

Paris was plunged into profound consterna-
ton on Saturday evening, by the report that
the Archbishop of Paris, whilst officiating in the
church of St. Etienne-du-Ment. had been muir
dered by priest. At first no one could believe
in the reality of SO awful crime, committed in
such place by such hand; but it was soon
ascertained, lamentable to relate, that the sad
intelligence was only too true. The following
is detailed account of this dreadful crime
Saturday was the fete of St Genevieve, and
the Archbishop went to church according to an
announcement, to preside over the opening of
the annual neuvaine in honor OF the saint who
is patroness of the city of Paris. After vespers,
and after sermon was preached by Mgr. Lac
cariere, Bishop of La Basse-Terre, procession
was formed and paraded around the church in
the customary way, the Archbishop in his robes
walking at the head of the lady patronesses OF
st, Genevieve. Just as the Archbishop arrived
opposite the outer door, and was about to turn
up the nave, man advanced towards him from
the crowd of spectators, and removing the pre-
ate's cope with his left hand, plunged with
great force with his right hand. large Catalan
knife into the prelate's breast, near the heart,
exclaiming as he did so, 'down with the god
dess l'' 4 bas Ia deesse.) The Archbishop fell
back two steps, cried out, "Ah, te mdtheueur ~
staggered and fell into the arms of the priests
who surrounded him. The wounded prelate
| ing and was the moment after bathed in the
blood which flowed from the wound. He was
Immediately conveyed into the vestry and med
ical assistance sent for; but all human aid was
found to be useless, Us he expired almost imme-
dately. The fatal blow was struck with such
extraordinary rapidity that it was impossible to
prevent it. The assassin, young man of about
thirty years of age, dressed in dark colored
clothes, made no attempt to escape, and was i'm
l..
knife, from which the blood was dropping, still
in the hand. Just before the venerable prelate
breathed his last, the Able Surat, the vicar-gen-
eral, who was close to him, gave him absolution
The assassin was conveyed to the marie of
the 18th reimbursement, and NJ. Moignon, sub
stitute of the Procureur Imperial, and Nj. Treil'
hard, examining magistrate, were Immediately
summoned and commenced an interrogatory
NJ. Corduin, Procurer Imperial, and NJ. Pietre
Prefect ofPolice, subsequently interrogated him
also. From what he said it appears that he is
priest of the diocese of Meaux, named Verges
He had been four or five times interdicted fol
misconduct, and some months back was again
suspended for having preached against the dog
ma of the Immaculate Conception. In Novem-
Der last he displayed great zeal in defending a
woman who was tried at Melun for poisoning
her husband, and though she was convicted of
the crime, and condemned to hard labor for
life, he printed pamphlet declaring that she
was innocent, and casting the grossest imputa-
tions on the judges and the public prosecutor.
The pamphlet was seized by the authorities be-
fore it could be distributed, and it caused q new
complaint against him to his bishop.
A little later he uttered menaces against a
respected clergyman of the diocese of Paris,
who had done him many kindnesses; and the
clergyman deemed it necessary to make repre-
sentation to the police. On the oath of Decem
ber, the man came to Paris, and took up his
residence at q hotel. No. 2 Rue Racine. He
was accustomed to pass days in the public libra
res; and even on Saturday he went to one as
usual. He endeavored to obtain an appoint.
ment in the diocese of Paris, but it was notified
to him that the Archbishop would not grant
him one On hearing that, he appears to have
projected the death Of the prelatc, and he pur-
chased for the purpose knife at the shop of a
cutler in the Rue Dauphine.
After he had stated the previous facts, he was
asked if he had stabbed the Archbishop more
than once, and he answered, mo, only give
him one stab for struck in the heart, and
knew the blow was mortal" "Why," he was
asked, "did you cry down with the goddess 7
when you struck the fatal blowW because
do not believe in the doctrine of the Immaculate
Conception, against which have preached from
the pulpit ; and wished to protest once more
against the impous doctrine" "Why did you
commit so grave crime 7" Because was in
tcrdicted and because the Archbishop had de-
clarcd that the interdiction would not be re-
moved" He then added after pause, "a
priest cannot be allowed to die of hunger" Ht
admitted that he had gone to the church will
the premeditated intention of killing the Arch
bishop; and he then several times cried, with
some violence, "No goddess no goddessW One
of the gentlemen who interrogated him remark
ed that the crime which he had committed wal
one of frightful enormity. "Yes," he exclaim
ed, ''it is frightful ~ and then tears fell from
his eyes, He begged for a New Testament, ant
sad 81 shall have great need oft during the
night"
The assassin replied to the questions put tt
him with calmness, and only displayed agitation
when he referred to the doctrine of the Immac
ulate Conception. His features are full of ex
preston. In the course of the evening, he wa
conveyed to the Concegerie, and turnkey wa
placed with him in his cell. On examining hi
dress some printed papers were found fastened
in his coat. These papers were writings agains
the Immaculate Conception, and against the
Archbishop in connection with it.
Tpr ran pus MULTIPLY FAsr-Tbere is a wire