Daily Davenport Democrat. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1864-1874, 1865-04-29
APART1AL PARALLEL TO THE
MURDER or Mr.. LINCOLN.
The Assassin alton Of VIII.
liam, Prince Of Orange.

ue CVaD sUtUU1cU ubuTuCU VI OuI OetpVcu
President. by the very side Of his wife, re
calla to mind, the retnasksbl assassination
Of William, Prince Of Orange, in the city
Of Delft, in 1854, So wildly described by
Motley In his Rise Of the Dutch Republic.
The account possesses 80 much interest 10
the general reader At this time that we give
the material portion Of il below.
Balthazar Gerard, native Of Burgundy
- mean, insignif, ant-looking creature
had introduced himself to the Prince as the
son Of man who had been put to death Tor
his devotion to the Princes cause and
church. The assassin d sguiscd his horrid
design under the cloak OF intense and devot
ed friendship and fervent piety. lie told the
guard who stood before the Princes door
that he needed some money to purchase
some shoes and stockings, SO rs to be able
n attend the church where the Prince wor-
shipped. The guard communicated the fact
to his master, who instantly sent Balthazar
purse. The assassin took the money and
bo' ght pair Of pistols on the fellow ing
morning from soldier who stabbed him
self TO the heart when he heard Of the hor
rid use 70 which the pistols had been ap-
Piled.
On Tuesday. the ,Otl, Of july, 1884. the
prince, with his wife on his arm, followed
by the members Of his family, were going
to dinner, when Gerard presented himself
at the doorway and demanded a passport =
The princess, struck with the pale and agi-
lated countcnance Of the man, anxiously
questioned her husband concerning the
stranger. The prince carclessly observed
that twas merely a person who cam. for d
sHasanNVt ~ aud nr1nVal tta co.r.t,ev m
write one. The princess observed in an un
qua courtenanre At 2 Of clock the com
,,any rose from the table and the prince led
the way to his private apartments alone
As he reached the second stair man emcr
ged from the recess. and standing william a
loot or two Of him discharged psto! full
1t his heart. Three balls entered his body.
The prince exclaimed in French "Oh, INV
God, have mercy upon INV soul! Oh. my
God, have mercy uppn this poor people !"
Ills master Of horse caught him as the fatal
shot was fired lie was laid on s'cou h in
the dining-room, when. in few minutes he
breathed h's last in the arms Of his wife and
sister. The murderer succeeded ir making
his escape through the aide door, and sped
swiftly up the narrow lane. He was soon
overtaken, and boldly owned the deed. =
Up,n being questioned BY the magistrates,
he manifested neither despair nor contrition,
but rather exultation. When falsely In
formed that his victim was not dead, he
showed no credulity or Disappointment =
lie he'd sent three poisoned balls into the
princes stomach, and he knew that death
must have already ensued. lie confessed
that he had brooded over the commission Of
the deed for seven years, and that ifhe were
thousand leagues away he would return in
order to do II again, ifp0ssiblc. lie was nut
% the rack, and endured his tortrte with
constancy. q. Ecs kOmo!", he exclaimed
from time 20 tine, q he raised his blood
streaming head fiem the bench. His judg-
e believed hin 70 be snpported by witch
ctatt, and sent for the shirt Of sorceres to
destroy the charm. Sentence was then pro
nsunced against Gerard twas decrced:
That his right hand should be burned of
with red-hot iron.
That his flesh should be torn from his
aonsst with pincers in six different placeavi 81
That he should b quartered and disem-
boweIod olive.s = III aas~cFT u~s
That his heart should be torn from his b.
con, and flung in hss face. ~4sss A.ss.,s
That he should have his head taken ID
That fearful scnteroe was literally execu
ted on the IAN n NY tke @retcA IMPORT
ing its horrors With sst qpishing fartitnies~-
Ills lips were sesa 70 move up to the time
HE heast vas thrown NJ tjsifce. sfIhcn.n
said . locker on, ne gAks mp fhd fAesSsr
The parents Of Gerard received The three
setgnories Of Licvremont, Hortal, and Daup-
martina ~ nouAr oaaSa. d.. 80. l