Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-02-03
dNOrtester Bully spp.
From "All the Year Round"
LACENAIRE.

TO do in town, thought fit like other Partisan
celebrities in vucation time, to take a jaunt
into the country-a most imprudent move.
There comes time in criminal biography
when the guilty party hovers about the scat.
told as the moth circles round the flame of a
candle. I.acenaire, who had remained peace
fully on the scene of his crimes without being
molested in any way-who had squandered
the price OF blood in the most frequented tav-
erns of the acknowledgements, the brig
and No. 3, set OIL to be arrested, as we COM
menced by stating, in small provincial town,
as vulgar cheat. He might well inpatient
ly say 10 the magistrate who took much pains
toinvest these peccadpoes, Greatly, monsieur,
you put me in mind of a surgeon who should
carefully cut the corns on patients foot be-
fore amputating the leg itself" On another
occasion he remarked, in reference TO his jour
ney back TO the capital, 81 was very glad to
get to Paris always wished to die there.
must confess that it would have annoyed me
very much to have to do with country exc.
Cutioner !"
The heads of the police tried hard 10 learn
the names OF his accomplices. eve repro
bates, he answered, lake pride i'll never
betraying our associates, unless they first be-
tray ms or try 10 injure US. That's our hon
esty."
"But you had something to do with the MUIR
der Of The Chardons 2" was subsequently ask
ed.
NO. replied the prisoner laconically, with
out displaying the slightest emotion.
"Well, we know that you have committed
it. and that the person who told is Francois"
eff what you say is true, you shall have
Francois bound hand and foot"
Convinced also that Avril (enraged at not
being concerned in the affair of The Rue Mon.
torgueil, which he believed had been a great
success) had really tried to get him arrested
out of revenge, lie considered himself olsen
gagged from his former friend, and requested to
be confronted with both the traitors. The in
terval was cruel for the culprits they bowed
the head before Lacenaire, who treated them
like revoled slaves.
'You have betrayed me. Very well, both
your heads shall fall with mine. Francois was
my accomplish in the trap laid in the Rue
Montorgueil. AS for Avril, he as well as
struck Chardon in the Passage OF the Cheval
Rouge"
Ne one, hitherto, suspected the amount of
Avril's culpabllty. To complete his revenge
Lacenaire added that the crime was to have
been committed with the little fellow Baton !;
but that, on the way to the victims lodging,
his companions paleness made him defer
the business and take Avril as more suitable
agent.
n lew weeks dIleF IL 'CeIdlre capture tue
noise of his exploits, his conversations, and
especially his verses, completely occupied the
trumpet of fame. The Parsians were aston.
ished at the cynicism of hisstheories. The
fools "whO constitute the majority since the
days of ADAM" were surprised at the sight
OF a murderer who spoke French correctly.
Novel readers declared that lie 9esembled Lord
Ruthuven the Vampire. The blue-stt ckings
were all excitement, and admired the assassin
who was in love with sylphide-as Lacenaire
styled his poetcal Egeria. Other women
took great interest in criminal who published
reveries, souvenirs, love songs, and prayers.
and they mourned over the wolf who was
moved to tears by the perusal of pastoral
poetry. But Lacenaire, instead of being as
ETHEREAL as these charming creatures believed,
was the incarnation of materasm.
AT the trial his appearance was youthful,
fresh, elegant, with IA smiling and pleasant
countenance, relieved by a silky moustache.
He regarded the audience complacenty. The
gravity of his position did not eXtinguish his
literary mania he caused to be handed
around the court verses, in which he claimed
the authorship OF then popular ballad. His
sole anxiety seemed to consist in proving
the guilt OF Avril and Francois. Without
either raising or lowering his voice, lie entered
into the ninutest.details respecting the locali-
ties and circumstances fthe crimes. He en-
ployed the most accurate expressions You
might have taken him for scientific lecturer
expoundlng theory to his pupils. While
the police were giving their evidence he
amused himself with reading the Journal deS
DebdtS, The effort this assumed Indifference
cost him may be conceived from the fact that,
during his Imprisonment, he drank as many
as twelve bottles OF wine in one day, without
being intoxicated,
apI uril ,.ppIop,po6 80
death, Francois to hard labor tor life.
"Francos has saved his heal" said Laeen-
aire, as he rose 10 leave the court, "but it will
not be for long
After the condemnation he was much more
anxious about the publication of his Memoirs,
the composition of his verses, and the correc-
ton of his proofs, than about the shocking end
which awaited him. His daily occupations
consisted in receiving visits, writing letters,
reading the journals, and carrying on paper
war with The CorSair, and he thought great
deal more of person whom he accused of
plagiarising his ballads than he did OF Fran
co.'s and Avril. The latter criminals mind
underwent a complete change. His anger
against Lecenaire had almost entirely evapor-
ated. Like a soldier who had repented of
having threatened his superior, Avril let fall
expressions intimating desire for reconciia-
rion with his former chief; in consequence Of
which, Lacenaire admitted his quondam friend
to a supper. To all religious eXhortations he
continued obdurately deaf, cherishing his lit
erary vanity almost to the last moment.
"Victor Hugo" he said, 'has made capital
book on The Last Day Of Condemned Grim.
inaA but am certain that, if L but had the
time, could beat him into fits. And vet,
whatever people may say, M. Hugo is a man
of talent"
AT the place of execution score of Nation
al Guards, in uniform, who had rushed away
from their respective posts, several dramatic
artists, some workmen on their wav to their
labors, detained by the torchlight prepara.
lions, few ladies in carriages returning from
an official ball and in search of violent emo.
tons, were already in waiting herest of the
spectators were dissolute women, and that
scum of population which is met on the wav
to all executions.
Avril walked firmly and deliberately to the
guotine, with the air of man who is enter
ing tea garden. Lacenalre was slower in his
movements, and while his accomplice was un
der he hands of the executi0ner, he inquired
of M. Allard whether such and such person
was there, exactly like an actor waiting in the
wing to go upon the stage. lie then made Il
slight signal to the sous-chef of the police OF
surety; the functionary approached.
"Would you kindly allow me the satisiac-
ton of embracing you, Monsieur Canler 2" he
said in an under tone.
Faith, mol think not, the other gently
replied after some hesitation. Last night
would have done it with pleasure but to-day,
in the presence of all these people-honestly, /
do not care about it"
The executioner of Beauvais had come to
assist his Partisan colleague, To prevent
Lacenaire from beholding AvriPs execution,