Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-01-26
4URDER OF AN AMERICAN, &C &C
IFRoM Our PARIS CoRREsPoNpENr.1

MURDER OF AN AMERICAN, &C &C.
From Our PARIS CoRREsPoNDENr.l
PARIS, France, January 5tb, 1857.
Editor Star According to promise made
you on a late visit to Washington, that / would
occasionally drop you line, should any thing
Of interest transpire in this Partisan world
worthy of note, 1 find occasion to convey you
sad intelligence of the murder of an American
citizen, that occurred at Clicky" Prison on
the Both ult
A young man, named Charles Morley, con-
nected, it is said, as agent here for Goodyesr's
patent, had been living rather fast in
Paris, and through extravagant indiscretions,
as all foreigners are wont to indulge, who too
readily yield to the fascinating temptations
inseparsble from ola belle Ville," found
himself incarcerated in "Clicky," the debtors
prison. At this prison there is much license
allowed the inmates but without infringing
the rules, Morley was standing at the window
Of his room, situated on the third floor The
gems 'armes on guard, ignorant of the par
ticular regulations that should guide him,
warned Morley to retire from tho window
which warning was UNDECIDED by Morley, who
was too distant from the sentry to hear the
caution, and ever admitting that Morley had
heard, he probably would not have needed it.
kaowiDg, as the sequel will prove, that he was
tons Of this establishment than the gems
d'armes himself But moment ensuei, and
the ball from the gems srmes's musket passed
entirely through the head of Morley, killing
him instantly. Tho gems d'armes was immc-
diately arrested, amidst much evaporation
evinced by the military authorities immedi-
ately in charge, at the rash, unwarran:able
and tragic act As a mitigation, however, of
this cruel outrage, it seems that this gems
LII L..t
criminal prison, and had conscientiously, but
through a culpable mistake, executed orders
prevailing at that establishment. Much blanc
is attached to the superior officers that the
gems d'arInes should not have received tho
proper orders regulating a different prison
from that with which he had been but lately
connected.
Morley has family here; is represented to
have been handsome and amiable man, and
to have been quite favorite with the police
OF the prison, and through an arrangement
with his creditors was to have been released
the same afternoon.
We hear that our efficient representative,
Judge Mason, lost no time in taking official
cOgnizance of the affair, and acquainting him
self with the circumstances. There has al
ready been preliminary examination, and it
is supposed court martial on the gems armes
and other culpable parties will follow.
This lamentable affair has excited the SYM
pathy and indignation Of every American in
Paris, but none more go than Judge Mason,
and we are all confident that through his in
terposition the soothing balm will be applied
to our national honor. Yet this will be but
poor alienation to the heart rending feel
ings of family bereaved Of one who, without.
moments notice, has thus been called to his
final account
The French Government has shown US An
example of forbearancs under somewhat sim.
liar circumstances, by which We must be more
or less guided in our management of this sad
affair. Some dozen years since. the frigate
United States in firing salute in the Medi-
terranean, "a ball having been carelessly left
| In gun, several sailors on board a French
frigate were killed satisfactory explanations
were made and ended by the French Govern
ment uniting with sympathies of coincidence
over the sad mishaps-the United States how
ever, pensiOned the families of the unfortunate
| sailors, which pension, l hear, they receive to
this day.
You may rest assured that this delicate AT:
fair will be managed with credit to the head
and heart Of Judge Mason, to the satisfaction
OF his countrymen and to the honor of his
country.
The whole city of Paris was thrown into an
intense state Of excitement the evening before
last by the sudden announcement of the as
ssssination OF the arcnDlshop OF PaIls. On the
occasion of the anniversary of the fete of ST.
denevieve, the patroness saint of the city of
Paris, it appears he was performing the ser
vice in connection with the day at the church
OF Saint Etienne du Mont, when he was stab
bed to the heart by q large Catalan knife in
the hands OF young priest The cause for
this unheard Of and bold crime is attributed
to various punishments inflicted on the priest
named Verges, for misdemeanors, and more
recently for his suspension from his functions,
and nnally his interdiction by the archbishop
(Sidour,) for preaching against the doctrine OF
the immaculate conception. The body Of tho
arch bishop is being embalmed and afterwards
is to be exposed in state in "chapeIle ar
dente" at the archiepiscopal palace So you
may conclude We are to have a grand funeral
pageant on the occasion, of which more anon.
On the 18Th ult our ambassador presented
some seventy or eighty Americans to the EN-
Peror and Empress, en- which occasion the
Empress wore blue moire antique, black lace
shawl, white hat and feathers Among our
townsmen presented was young Dr.. M****s,
but more recently Of Chicago.
On New Years day the di plomatic corps paid
their respects to the Emperor, on which occa
sion he congratulated Judge Mason on the
amlcable relations existing between the two
Governments, hoped the change about to take
place'in our administration would not inter-
rupt them, and sincerely trusted that its pres
ent representative at his court would be re-
tanned as guarantee of the desire of our
Government for a continuance Of kind rela-
tons c q p