The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1870-02-06


E------ F.
they saw these two women and the old fathe
two PAGES from their bench, their courage for
] sock them. Jean Louis was near enough to
reach his hand to his wife, who co vered it will
| tears and kisses After that he turned his fac,
to the court, and saw clearly that none Of
them meant to look again on our side.
1 paid no attention to the reading of the in
dictment, which could only rehearse facts nn
happily too well known; but M. Jourdan wits
pered me that it was drawn up with dangerous
ability, and that the jury was unfavorably dis
posed. observed, indeed, that during the
reading of this document, which very
long the impressions of the audience seemed
to grow more and more hostile. 1t was entire
~ composed of inhabitants of the town, fol-
whom chouan was an enemy, and who, hav:
ing for a year and more heard nothing talked
of but violent robberies, assassinations, fires
and lawless gangs rowing through the country
were animated with the common desire of see
ing these disorders put an end to By a severe
repression. The sentiment of pity excited by
the family of the accused they entered the
hall was soon forgotten in listening to the
moving details of the death of M. Brossard
The Kings attorney had felt it his duty to in
troduce into the Indictment everything that
told to the honor of the victim he was mani
testify worthy, open handed, loyal man, and
could be justly entitled the benefactor of his
commune In denouncing the refractOries he
had but fulfilled the strict duty of his office.
Was it not also the duty of every good citizen
trict, and which, under a political disguise,
was, in reality, mere brgandage7 NJ. Brossard
had pushed moderation to it's last limits, since
he had allowed the guilty parties given time
within which to quit the country. Nay, it was
more than moderation, it was indulgent weak
ness. And yet they had gone to surprise him
In his sleep; they had, SO to speak, hack eli
him in pieces; for the indictment gave the
number of the wounds, and the hearers shud-
dered ut the recital of the ferocity of the MUIR
derers. They recalled with horror that knife
and asked each other what bounds the assas-
sins would set to their audacity.
The examination was listened to with mani
fest signs of ill-will. Jean Louis, the eldest,
who answered first, distinctly affirmed that he
had taken no part in the murder; that he had
even done his utmost to prevent it, but that he
had been held fast, he and his brothers, in a
corner of the chamber, while tho crime was
contaminated. The judge president noted the
extreme improbability of such allegation.
why, if they were opposed to the assassina-
ton, did they accompany the assassins. They
were forced to do For what purpose7 I'm
possible to explain. But when men go
expedition of this nature, they do not take per-
sons with them purely for the sake of securing
testimony afterwards against themselves 7"
To this the accused made reply lyon are
ali three vigorous; Brossard was man of I'M
usual strength. If you had struggled, You
might at least have served to give the alarm.
murder in the centre of Il village is impossi-
bic, even by numbers, i'll presence of three re-
solute men," No answer.
w men tuTn OF tue Youngest DTOIneT came
and he was asked why, instead of joining his
regiment, he threw himself into the band Of
the refractories, he showed confusion and plade
no reply.
50 Was it your father who advised you to this
course eo
-. Idid as the others did" he answered, "but
as for the murder, neither nor my brothers
were engaged in it; would have suffered
death to prevent it"
=" Silence" said the idcut, sharply, '1et
us at least have no hypocrisy."
Several WITNESSES were heard to prove that
the brothers Nayl had been for Il week with
the retractoTies of the canton of Saint Jean
Brevelay; that they accompanied the band to
kefdfegaeh and supped at the millers; and
that, finally, they entered with the others the
house of the mayor.
These dispositions, bearing on known and
avowed facts, offered no interest. Neghbors
testified that they had heard no noise, which
proved that there had been no struggle. From
the house situated opposite that of NJ. Bros
sard, the light had been seen in his chamber
and the shadows of number of persons but
this had excited attention, it being natural
that he should be in conference that night with
the soldiers and gendarmes.
The deposition of the doctor was q terrible
one. He stated that, according to all appear
ances, Brossard had been seized and tightly
held by the legs and arms, and had thus been
killed without the possibility of an attempt to
defend himself. He had received eighteen
strokes with knife, of which the wounds were
horrible. The assassins had continued to wreak
their fury on the corpse, for he must have died
from the first blows.
These details produced such effect that
the court rising, after fatiguing session, i'm.
mediatdly on the close of the doctors depos
ton, the judge president deemed it prudent t.
take measures for preventing the escort of the
prisoners from traversng the groups of excit
ed people. In the court room next morning the
emotion of the crowd WAS not yet allayed ant
they were rehearsing aloud one to another
awaiting the entrance of the judges, this and
that particular of the doctors testimony.
There ohl v remained to be heard the witncese.
for the defence and the pleadngs. NJ. Jour
dan had passed several hours with the accused
after the yesterdays session, aud the energy q
their protrstatIons had finally trumphrd OK"
his doubts But in telling me this, lie addict
desp"ndingly, tnat ali minds were made up
and that the pressing work now was ma /,
| the family accept the idea of petition to
mercy.
The principal witness for the defence-was To,
venerable cure OF Saint Aloucstre an old MAI
of 76 years, no moVed-the audience for atJo
mcnt 10y the earhrstncSs OF his prutestatiousi
Do y"u believe them capable Of II had ic
ton asked NJ. Juurdan-'cap able of nurdtrf
But when Lhe Switness had answered tines,
kqnestions, the Kings prosecutor inquired q
! him what were the opinions of the family
Was not tue father of the accused the s;m
=. 4,