The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-02-17
The Aig, Tisn Tragedy.
The Albany Atlas and Argus translates
the following from French paper

tnc IoioWIDR Hpu J. fench pdHf
One Of tbo@ acts Of ferocious revenge
which, according to the custom Of the ka-
byIs, effect kind Of domestic justice--a
triple murder, committed in broad day and
In the presence OF u number brought before
the second council Of war OF Algeria, upon
The 2Gth of November, two men closely
united by the ties Of blood, both Rabyls Of
the tribe Of Benz Bon Yoassef 10 the dis
trict Of Fort Napoleon. One, an old man,
ELAdj Mahommed, and the other his young
son. Mahommed el-Arbi.
Upon tho 9th Of last August, the first
scene Of this bloody drama took place ut
sunrise, tho accused constituting themselves
Judges and exccutiouers. Upon the prece-
ding day, August 9Th, the son had gone TO
Fort Napoleon TO obtain passport for
travelling. towards the evening the father
left home 10 carry some grain 10 the mill Of
Touboya, in the neigbboring tribe Of Issiten.
Both were 10 return the next day.
In the house that tho ksbyls left Tor one
day, there remained behind two women
one, quite aged, Fatims, wife Of tho old Mo-
hammed and mother Of ELArbi--the other
Tessadit. daughter and sister Of tho two ab-
sentecs. Returning before day from his ex-
cursion 10 Fort Napoleon, VI. Arbi opens
the door gently, and pereeives his sister,
Tessadit, lying upon the arischa, kind Of
platform where tho beds ara placcd--a man
IA beside her. Marabout* Of TifIcrdoud,
named Sghir. known and feared throughout
the country ~ scducer, 10 spite Of the title
which be boasts Of. Below the platform,
and 10 the lower part Of the same apartment,
Fatima, tho mother, way lying witness and
accomplice OF the two guilty ones. Notwith.
standing the indignation which such sight
stirs up within him, El-Arbi takes time to
reflect lle is alone, and il be discovers him.
self the principal guilty one may escape, and
with him will disappear tho proof Ct tho
crime which has sulliod the family roof. Re.
strained by that fear, tho prudent El-Arbi
decides upon keeping watch ut tho door to
prevent egress and waiting thus the return
Of his father, who cannot delay long.
As was expected the old Mahommed soon
arrives, and upon the threshold Of his dwell
ing iin,s bis son, who informs oil tho outrage
committed against their honor, and bsgs his
father to be rsvenged upon the spot The
old man, iilled with just wrath. nevertheless
represents TO his son the imprudenoo Of taking
alone 80 serious step. lie orders the young
man 10 continue strict watch at the door,
and goes TO seek counsel and assistance from
his friends and ncighbors. and returns with
four Of tho n0tables Of the village.
Then in the presence OF tho chosen wit
nassrs the door Is opened. The Marabout
is still in the house but is no longer upon
the arseha where FL Arbi had seen him.
Startled by the noise. he arose aud after
making vain efforts 10 get out withdrew to
the lower end Of the room the two women
are in front OF him. The passage was no
sooner free than tho old Mahommed, in
famed with restrained anger, seizes Fatima.
hia wife, by tho throat The ncighbors in
terierc and try TO calm his violence. Taking
advantage Of the disturbance and confusion
in the struggle between the old man and
those who utroyo TO prevent bis striking his
vile. the Maraboui darts 10 the door, runs
round tho house and jumps from defence.
wall and ESCAPES by the garden.
Tho two MahommcJs rush in pursuit. OF
the cJucer. The son at u more rapid rate,
armed with long ilssa kniG), reaches tho
fugitive at some distance from the village.
Tho Marabout IL seized aud struck by III.
Arbi, who. furious. clings to his prey. Over
stones and bramblcs the wounded man and
his assailant roll into ravinc which il on
the edge II the path. aud grasp each other,
tho one To inilict death and the other 10 avoid
it, The El-Arbi, who has not loosei his
hold of the Marabout, strikes again. The
old Mahommed arrives TO help his son, and
under their repeated blows the victim soon
expires. But their hurry is not appcascl by
bloodshod they thirst Tor more. and the
father aud son return home TO complete their
work
Struck with terror Fatima and her
daughter await IN trembling their punish
ment. They know that oil duplication will
bo in vain, for upon the features OF thosc
around them they read their sentence of
death. The eNccu,ioners appear the hthr
attacks the mother. the sou the sister, and
literally cut them up with blows Of their
iissas, The women fall 10 rise M morc---
the murdcrers continue their work upon the
bloody holics until stopped by two still
corpscs. Among Nil the people Of the vii
lagc who assisted al that terrible execution,
not one darrell or wished to oppose that hor-
rid massacre
Arrested and delivered up TO the aethor.
itics, the two accused acknow lcdgNi that
they committed he dccd, During the trial,
and in the examination, they preserved tho
air OF persons innocent Of any accusation,
The evident ignorance Of the men, the SIN
certify OF their confession. their former ante
ccjcnts, the conviction that they were not
conscious Of the criminali,y OF Their terrible
act. pleaded eloquently in their favor, and
their defence, entrusted TO NJ Gochtcr, r.
suited in an acqui,tal OF both father aud
SON.