Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1857-11-07
A REMARKABLE STORY OF GAR
RICK.

1
WELLER writes as follows:
The date Of this letter is enough TO let you
know that Paris is abapdoned by the few
thousand people, called everybody" All
the best writer's of the press have flown with
them. The charming M Eugene Gulnot sends
us weekly letters from one or another OF the
charming villages 10 the vincnity Of Paris
! In letter from the Forest OF Bondy, he tells
the following singular story. in exhibition Of
the wonderful powers OF Garricss
The celebrated English actor Garrick made
q trip to Paris in 1857, when he was at the
height Of his talents and fame. He did not,
as many OF our artists do now, make the cx-
cursion for the purpose Of speculation. be did
not come to Paris to perform and make mo-
ney. He travelled fer amusement, q mere
| tourist, anxious to visit beautiful country
which he might partly claim for his own. The
family Of the English actcr >2fa3 Of French
origin they fed the country tho revo-
cation Of the Edict OF Mates. "a the mail
| coach which bore them from Lopdop to DO
yer, Garrick found for fellow travsller, Sir
George Lewis, gentleman be bad met seyer
al times before in company, and had known
FOR constant frequenter At Drnry Lane
Theatre. They took advantage Of this casual
encounter to improve therA acquuintance !;
each was delighted with the other. After
crossing the channel together, they came to
| Paris in the same vehicle, bus when they
reached this capital they separated. The
actor went TO the house of the friends who
we're expecting him, and Sir George Lewis
took up his lodgidRs in one Of those splendid
furnished houses Of the Quarter de Ia Chaus-
sce dAntin, which than began to be very
fashionable quarter of the town. The two
| travelling companions had promised to see a
great deal Of each other during their stay in
Paris, but the very different life each Of them
led rendered it impossible for them to exc
cute their resolutions. Sir George Lewis
was man between forfy.fivs aud fifty years
old, with very singular face, whose irregu-
lar and prominent features made his physiog-
nomy most eccentric and expressive.
During the whole journey Garrick had ad-
mire that countenance, thiuking what an Of
feet it would produce on the stage. Despite
his age, which should have cooled tho ardor
/ of character, and have engaged him to aban-
don the folliss Of youth, Sir George Lewis
lived in the mids, Of dissipation and pleasure
He had come to Paris to amuse himself by
gaiIy spending a large legacy unexpectedly
bequeath to him. He was passiouately fond
Of gsming, and the satisfaction of this passion
led him into very mixed company. as indeed
are all companies where gambling is indulged
since these men are valued by the sum Of
money they are able or willing to stake on
cards, test which allows many sharpers to
slip in. The actor lived in very different
sort of society, and during the -four months
Of their stay 10 Paris the two travelling COM
panions scarcely met above two or three times
Just as he was abont ing for London Gar
rick called upon Sir George Lewis, TO bid
him goodbye and enquire il he bad any COM
mands for London. 70 his horror he was
Informed that the unhappy gentleman had
been assassinated the previous evening. His
body had been found that very morning in
the Forest of Bondy, covered With wounds,
and lying bnthed in blood
Deeply touched, Gsrrick exerted himself
to ascertain as much as possible of the details
Of this deplorable event. He found that Sir
| George Lewis had been one Of aparty Of
! pleasure to visit a chateau in the environs OF
( Bondy, where u large company OF sportsmen
aud gamblers We assembled. He intended
TO remain there some days. The first even
ing of his visit he won large sum Of money
at the gaming table. In the afternoon Of the
second day he received note from Paris,
engaging him to gallant rendezvous, and
Immediately on receipt of it, be bade adeu to
the company. They tried to retain him, less
out Of poiteness, perhaps. than the desire 0i
winning back the money he had taken from
them, and this desire was 20 vehement as to
carry to the resolution of dismountipg his
carriage. But Sir George Lewis WAS man
of will, and he determined to return TO Paris
on horse back. He leaped on his horse and
galloped away Further than this Garrick
ceuld learn nothing. The police were inclined
to bslieye the catastrophe one OF the usual
adventures then frequent in the forest o
Bondy but Garrick pointed out to then
that Sir George Lewis pistols were found
loaded and 10 his holsters aud that while his
purse had been taken from him. his golt
watch, gold snuff box and diamond ring were
found untouched. from which he concluded
firstly, that Sir George Lewis had not beer
attacked by banditti, but by some acqualn
tsuce, who perfdiously took him of his gusrd
aud secondly, that the personal property la,
) untouched merely because the rObber wa
afraid of compromising himself. Therefor
the assassin was an acquaintance of Sir Geo
Lewis, aud moved in the social circle tC
, which the knight belonged. The society as
sembled at the chateau was then secret.
, scanned by Gsrrck and the police, and sus
pcion alighted upon an Italian called tn
Chevalier Gaetau. This Italian was prove,
to have Quilted the chateau shortly after 81
George Lewis, and, despite his explanations
he was arrested; but no direct evidence cou
be brou. ht against him, aud the noble pro
prietor of the chateau, who was naturally yer
: ANXIOUS that no such cloud as crime shoul
res, upon his "frends," used every exertio
to procure the liberation Of the Italian.
At the moment Gsrrick INTERVIEWED. ii
begged the police to allow him TO make o
. experiment which he declared MAS decisive
e Garrick, as every body know was famou
Q for his play Of feature; he could assum
:. whatever countensnce he pleased. Sir Ge'
s Lewis had his portrait taken by Latour, an
n Garrck went to Lstour's studio to study th
i portrait and made up" himself. The polio
L fetched the Italian from the gaol and ca
d ried him, we'll escorted, to Sir George Lewis
:. rooms. Uneasy and perpleIed at this NOV
o flor he had been visiter at Sir George Lev
y ISIS house.) he, questioned the police sgen
: what they were going to do with him. \
reply Was made to his enqairies until tbs
reached the decessed's house, when the chi
Of the police said "Sir George Lewis is n,
:, dead. lie acuses you Of attempting to assa
y sinate him. am going TO confront u
" both" The Italian trenbled. he could scare
= ly speak, his confidence all forsook him. u