Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-07-10
The Three Hunchbacks.

The following amusing and seemingly in
credible narrative was extracted from late
French publication. 1t is neatly told, and
will be read with interest: :,
Three brothers, an humpbacked. and all
accurately alike in appearance, lived in Bas
sacom. One of them killed man in chance
medly, and rot Icing taken on the moment,
the prosecutors could only swear which one oil
the brothers had done the deed. Rather than
put an ipnccent man to death, the Judge let
the guilty one escape, but to- avoid further
Inconvenience of the kind. be banlshed all
from the province. One settled in Paris, be
came rich, and married; the others, after
neayly starving in England, returned and paid
a visit to their fortunate brother.
The master ct the A9use was abroad when
they knocked, and the poor wife was troub-
led more than u little BY the visit,
"My husband is very jealous" she said t1
them while she YVES giving them something
to eer. '.You must 60 to tie furthest quar-
ter of tie town, and never come here again
but III mako your brother look to your
wants"
While she was speaking she heard her hus'
bands kQOck. anC CEioI OIt'
"Follow me, fyou value your lives"
She ordered the servant not to open the
door till she should return, and then convey
ed the brothers down stairs and locked them
in the cellar. Her b.. band scolded for be-
ing kept out so long, but a good dinner re-
stored him to good humor, and at n'gt.t he
went out to pay visit.
The wife then vent down to the cellar, and
there found the two brothers dead, one lying
here and the other there. What was TO be
done She sent for strong Auvergnat,
brought rundown stairs, showed him one
corpse. which she had previously taken out
of the cellar, and promised him a louis dor
on his return after having thrown it into the
river Seine He made no scruple about
the matter, but popped the body into the
sack, took it to the bridge, and shook it into
the river.
Returning for bis reward, the wife disputed
his claiin, as the budy vas still dying outside
of the cellar door. Here the stupilicd man
saw what be firmly believed to be the corpse
he had thrown from the bridge, and resign
ing himself to destiny he got it into the sack
and went through the ceremony for the Sc
cond time.
Coming back. he was terrified and enragsd
by finding the twice drowned corpse knock
ing at the door.
q Are these your tricks, master 2" said ne,
*Ab, Monsieur Chest! Clever IS you are, III
settle you the third trial.
So saying,he forced the poor husband into
the sack, carried him to the same spot, and
efFeced the third discharge. This time be re
turned in triumph; for the wife, ignorant OF
her hrs' aud's fate, and having no more
ccrpses to remove, paid him twice what she
had covenauted, and gave him glass OF wine
into the bargain.
"Your good Eealah, madam said he. you
are better than Jour promises, but ear6e''
it. | found the humpbacked rogue, or his
ghost, knocking at the door after had thrown
him in the second time"
aGb, wretchl you nave drowned my hus-
band" cried the WOMAN.
While size was screaming, and he,standine
In amazement, the gendarmes entered, So
cured both, and sent them TO prison. Next
day they were brought before the magistrate
of the quarter and examined. The poor'wllc
concealed nothing the'Auvergnat was called
On for an explanation, and while both were
awaiting sentence Of death, the three broth.
ers full OF life, but with very pale faces, were
ushered in the room. Some fishermen sta
toned hear the bridge lad saved the three
The unmarried men had only been dead drunk
in the callar, and the submersion, and the con,
scquent pulling and hauling and Fs'eetment
of -;na and water. had recovered them from,
their drunken lcthargy before the natural
time. On tbeis first appearance before the
magistrate they could give no explanation Of !
their visit to the river, and the husband had had
no idea of the cause of his being seized; but
his wife's explanation made all clear. c
The king. hearingof the strange adventure,
settled pension on the unmarried men, but
they were not to dwell' within fltty miles o1
Paris, aud the msrried man was not jealous
for year and day aftee his seizure and es
cape from the river. =
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