The weekly Butte record., 1864-01-09
Judicial Combat between Man and a
Dog.


On the Sth of October. 1861. there
took place in the Island of Metre
Dame, Paris, combat, which illus
trates stukingly the maXims and ideas
prevalent in that age, and IS, perhaps,
the most singular instance on record Of
the appeals to "the judgment Of God
in criminal cases. NJ. Aubrey de
Montdidier, French gentleman, when
travelling through the forest Of Bondy,
was murdered and buried at the foot Of
tree. His dog remained several days
beside his grave, and only left the spot
when urged by hunger. The faithful
animal proceeded to Paris and present
ed himself at the house of an intimate
friend Of his masters, making the most
piteous howlings to announce the loss he
had sustained. After being supplied
with food, he renewed his lamentations,
moved toward the door, looked round to
see whether he was followed, and re-
turning to his masters friend, laid hold
of him by the coat, as if to signify that
he should come along with him. The
s-ngularity of these movements on the
part of dog, coupled with the non -ap-
pearance of his master, from whom he
was generally miserable, induced the
person in question to follow the animal.
Leading the way, the log arrived in
time at the foot Of tree in the forest
of Bondy, where he commenced scratch
ing and tearing up the ground, at the
same time recommending the most pit
eous lamentations. On digging the
spot thus Indicated, the body of the
murdered Aubry was exposed to view.
/ No trace of the assassin could for a
time be discovered; but, after awhile
the dog happening to be confronted with
an individual named Chevalier Macaire,
he flew at the mans throat, and could
only with the utmost difficulty, be fore
ed to let 90 his hold. A similar fury
was manifested by the dog on every sub
sequent occasion that he met this per-
son. Such an extraordinary hostility
on the part of the animal, who was
otherwise remarkably gentle and good
tempered, attracted universal attention.
1t was remembered that he had been
always deyotedly attached to his mas
ter, against whom Macaire had cher
ished the bitterest enmity. Other cir
cumstances combined to strengthen the
suspicious now aroused. The King of
France, Informed of all the rumors in
circulation on this subject, ordered the
dog to be brought before him. The an
imal remained perfectly quiet till it rec
ognized Macaire amid a crowd of cour-
tiers, and then rushed forward to seize
him with a tremendous bay. In these
days the practice of the judicial combat
was in full vigor, that mode of settling
doubtful cases being frequently y resorted
to, as an appeal to "the judgment Of
/ God" who it was believed, would inter
pose specially to shield and vindicate
injured innocence. 1t was decided by
his Majesty that this arbitrament
should determine the point at issue !;
and he accordingly ordered that duel
should take place between Macaire
and the dog of the murdered Au-
bry. The lower animals were frequent
ly during the middle ages, subjected to
trial, ard the process was conducted
against them with all the parade of le-
gal ceremonial employed in the case of
their betters.
Such an encounter, therefore, be-
tween the human and canine creation,
would not in the fourteenth century,
appear specially extraordinary or un-
precedented, The ground for the COM
bat was marked off in the Island Of No
tire Dame, then an open space. Ma
caire made his appearance armed with
large club, whilst the dog had an empty
cask, into which he could retreat and
make his spring from.
On being let loose, he Immediately
ran up to his adversary, attacked him
first on one side and then on the other,