Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-10-23
A Remarkable story of Garraak.


4 Paris correspondent of the Boston Traveller
writes as follows:
The date of this letter is enough to let you know
that Paris is abandoned by the few thousand pao-
pie, called Everybody" All the best writer's of
the press have flown with them The charming
q b. Eugene Guinot senfs weekly letters from one
or another Of the charming villages in the vicinity
OF Paris. 10 letter from the forest Of BondY, be
tells the following singular story in exhibition of
the wonderful powers of Garrick:
The celebrated English actor, Garrick made a
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 excursion for the purpose
OF speculation, ne did not come Paris to perform
and make money. he travelled for amusement, a
mere tourist anxious to visit a beautiful country
which he might partly claim for his own. The
family Of the English actor Of French origin:
they fed the country upon the revocation of the
Rdict of Nantes. In the m4il coach which bore
them from London to Dover, Garrick found for
fellow traveller, Sir George Lewis, gentleman he
bad met several times before in company and had
known for a constant frequenter at Drury Lune
Theatre. They took advantage of this casual eD-
counter to improve their acquaintance: each WAS
delighted with the other After crossing the chan.
mel together, they came to Paris in the same We
hice, but when thew reached this capital thew sep
arated. The actor to the house Of the friends
who were expecting him, and Sir George Lewis
took up bis lodgings in OF those splendid fur.
nished houses of the Quarter de Ia Chsussee d. An
tin, which then began TO be a very fashionable
quarter o. the town. The two travelling eompap-
ions bad promised to 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 10 execute their resolutions Sir George
Lewis was man between forty five and fifty wears
old, With very singular face, whose irregular and
prominent features made his physiognomy most &C.
centric and expressive
During the whole journey Garrick had admired
POQutpuauce Wha afFa -
produce on the stage. Despite his age, which
should have cooled the ardor Of bis character and
have engaged him to abandon the follies of youth
Sir George Lewis lived in the midst of destination
and pleasure he had come to Paris to amuse
himself by gaily spending large legacy unexpect-
edly bequeathed 10 him. He was passionatey fond
of gaming, and the tisfacton Of this passion led
him into very mixed company, as indeed are all
companions where gambling is indulged since these
men are valued y the sum Of money they able
willing to stake the cards. test which allows
many sharpers to slip in. The actor lived in
very diff rnt sort OF sOciety, and during the four
months of their stay 10 Paris the two travelling COM
psniOus scarcely met above two or three times
just as he was about leaving for London Garrick
called upon Sir George Lewis to bid him goodbye
and enquire il he had airy commands for London.
To his horror he informed that the unhappy
gentleman had been assassinsted the previous even
ing. His body had been found that very morning
in the Forest OF BOndy, covered with wounds, and
lying bathed in blood.
Deeply touched, g rrick exerted himself to as
certain much possible of the details Of this de-
plorable event. He found that Sir George Lewis
had been of party Of pleasure to visit a cha
teau In the enViTons of BOndy, where large COM
Dany of spOTsmen and gamblers were assembled.
II intended to remain there sOme days. The first
evening of his visit be won a large sum of money
at the gaming table. In the afternoon of the sec
Ond day he received a note from Paris, engaging
him to a gallant rendezvous and Immediately on
.f he d. H.. 81,
tried to retain him, less out of politeness perhaps
than the desire of winning back the money he had
taken from them, and this desire was so vehement
as TO carry them to the resolution Of dsmounting
his carriage. But Sir George Lewis was a of
will and ne determined to return to Paris horse
back He eaped OF his horse and galloped away.
Further than this GsFrick could learn nothing. The
police were inclined to believe the catastrophe one
of the usual adventures then frequent in the forest
of Bondy but Garrick pointed out to them that Sir
George Lewis pistols found loaded and in his
holsters, and that while his purse had been taken
from him, his gold watch, gold snuff box and dia-
mond ring found untouched, from which he
concluded, firstly, that Sir orge Lewis had not
been attacked by banditt, but by come acquaint-
Rnce, who peIhdiously took him off his guard and
secondly that the personal property lay untouched
merely because the rObbeF afraid of cOmpro-
missing himself Therefore, the assassin was ac-
quaiutance Of Sir George Lewis, and moved in the
social circle to which the knight belonged The
scanned by Garrck aud the police, and suspicion
Rlighted upon an Italian called the CheVaier Gae
tan. This Italian was proved to have Quilted the
chateau shortly after Sir George Lewis and despite
his explanations, he arrested; but direct ev
idence could be brought against him, and the noble
proprietor Of the chateau, who was naturally very
anxious that such cloud a crime should rest
upon his "irend~," used every exerlion to procure
the liberation Of the Italian.
Al the moment Garrck interviewed. He begged
the police to allow him to make an experiment
which he declared decisive. Garrick, eve
~ body knows, was famous Tor his play of feature
he could assume whatever countenance he pleased.
Sir George Lewis had his portrait taken by Latour,
and Garrick went to Latour's studio TO study The
portrait and ''make up" himself The police fetch
ed the Italian from the gaol, aud carried him, well
escorted, to Sir George Lewiss rooms. Uneasy
and perplexed at this move (lor he had been Wis
itOr At Sir George Lewis's house, he questioned
the police agents what they going to do with
him. No reply made to his enquiries until
they reached the deceased's house, when the chieI
of the police said ''Sr George Lewis is not dead
He accuses you Of attempting to assassnate him.
am going TO confront you both" The Italian
trembled, he could scarcely speak, his confidence
all forsoOk him. He was carried into the rOou
wherr Gsrrick stood; the great actor represented
Sir George Lewis to the life he had his face, fea
lures, Expression, gesture and it was in the very
tone Of the decreased knight Garrick exclaimed -
"You wretch you assassin Do you dare deny
your crime before me I" The Italian was thunder
struck, aud falling upon his knees confessed h
crime and prayed Tor mercy. He hung.