Litchfield enquirer., 1862-06-05
A 'sUPERST1TIoUs CREDUuTY-A
 .1nt -n1 .-s FACT I---- " U

"'F ."' a# FACT. a'-
 | A widow lady at Paris, aged about sixty-thrss who lodged on a twopair of stairs floor in the Rue de Ia Ferronierre, with only maid servant was accustomed to spend several hours every day before the altar dedicated to St. Paul, in neighboring church. Some williams, observing her extreme weakness, resolved, as she was known to be very rich, to share her wealth. One of them accordingly took the opportunity to conceal himself behind the carved work Ofths altar, and when no person but the old lady was there in the dusk of the evening, he conttived to throw letter right before her. She took 10 up, and not perceiving any one near, supposed it came by miracle. In this she was the more confirmed when she saw it signed, Paul, the Apostle" expressing the satisfaction he received by her prayers addressed to him, when 90 many newly canonized saints engrossed the devotion of the world, and robbed the primitive saints of I their wonted adoration and to show his regard for the devotion, he promised to como from he's ven with the angel Gabriel, and sup with her at eight in the evening. It seems scarcely credible that any one could be deceived by so gross fraud; yet to what length of crsdulity will not superstition carry weak mind. Thsinfatuatsd lady believed the whole; and rose from her knees in transport to prepare an entertainment for her heavenly guests. 4uC SuppCA pOihS oVSPOAO 0AN tAA0 oaNSeSNAo set out to the best advantage, she thought that her own plate worth about e400, did not make so elegant an appearance as might be wished; and therefore sent to her brother, O counselor | in the Parliament of Paris, to borrow all his plate. The maid however, was charged not to disclose the occasion, but only to say that she had company to supper, and would be obliged to him if he would lend his plate for the eve- ming. The Counselor, surprised at the applica- tion, well knowing his sisters frugal life, began suspect that she was enamored of some fortune hunter who might marry her and thus deprive his family of what he expected at his sisters death. He therefore positively refused to send the plate unless the maid told him what guests were expected. The girl alarmed for her mistress honor, declared that her pious lady had no thoughts of a husband, but St. Paul having sent her letter from heaven, promised that he and the angel Gabriel would sup with her, she wan ted to make the entertainment as elegant as pos. sible.
 The counselor immediately suspected that some williams had imposed on her; and sending the maid with the plate, proceeded directly to the commissary of that quarter. On the magis- trate's going with him toa house adjoining they saw just before eight o'clock, tall man dressed in long vestments, with white beard, and O young man in white, with large wings on his shoulders, alght from hackney coach and go up to his sisters apartments.
 The commissary ordered twelve of the police guard to post themselves on the stairs, while he knocked at the door and demanded admittance. The lady replied that she had company and could not speak to any one. But the commissa- ry answered that he must come in, for he was St. Peter, and had come to ask St. Paul and the angel Gabriel how they came out of heaven without his knowledge. The divine visitors were astonished at this, not expecting any moro more saints to join them but tho lady Oyerjoyed at having so great an apostle with her, ran ca. gerly to the door when the commissary, her brother, and the police guards rushed in, presen- ting their muskets, seized her guests and con- ducted them to prison.
 On searching the criminals, two cords, razor and pistol were found in St. Pauls pocket, and gag in that of the angel Gabriel. Three days after the trial came on when theypleaded
 in their defense that one was soldier in the French infantry; and the other barber's ap- prentice-that they had no other design than to procure good supper at the widows expense that it being carnival time they had borrowed these dresses, and the soldier having picked up the two cords put them in his pocket-that tho razor was that with which he constantly shaved himself-.that the pistol was to defend themselves from any insult to which their strange habits might expose them in going home-and that the apprentice, whose master was tooth drawer merely had the gag which they sometimes use | in their business. These excuses frivolous as they were, proved of some avail and as they had manifested no evil design by any overt act they were both acquitted.
 But the counselor, who foresaw what might happen through the defect of evidence, had pro vided another stroke for them. No sooner, therefore, were they discharged from the civil power, than the apparitor of the Archbishop of Paris immediately seized them and conveyed them to the ecclesiastical prison. In three days more they were tired and convicted ofa most scandalous proclamation by assuming to themselves the names, characters and appearances ofa holy apostle and blessed angel, with an intent to deceive pious and well-meaning woman, and to the scandal of religion. They were, nccor' dingly, condemned to be publicly whipped. burnt on the shoulder with red-hot-iron, and sent to the galleYs for fourteen years, sen- tepce which was in few days faithfully put in execution,
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