The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-02-02
DOWN WITH THE EMPEROR
The BIOOdiest Grimes in the History OF
Louis NRpOIeOn's MOnarehy-The
Horrible murder OF n. de Moneys.
From the New Yorl. Times.


The BIOOdiesE Grimes in the History OF
Louis NRPOIeOn's MOnRrehy-The
Horrible murder OF n. de Moneys
From the New York Times .
The war eclipses all minor events, or we
should hear more occurrences in France
that in ordinary times would be themes of
universal discussion. 1t is scarcely credi-
bic, but yet it is true, that within few
months man was burned to death bya
French mob on the mere accusation of
having cried, Down with the Emperor"
This frightful tragedy is Just now the sub.
ject of trial before the Court of AssiZes
ole Dordogne. Twenty-one peasants and
artisans have been arraigned in extraordi-
nary session charged with the preparation
of the crime.
It seems from the act of accusation, that
it was committed on the 18th of last Au-
gust, the day after the Napoleonic ami
Versary. On that day NJ. de Moneys. an
assistant, or Gdjoint, to the Mayor of Bea-
ussac. arrived ut Hautefay, a village in
the department of the Dordogne. This
occasion was one of unusual excitement,
it being a fair day. Some excited talk
occurred about elections IN a group near
which M. de Moneys was standing. He
drew near and asked the cause. The re-
ply was that cousin ofhis M. de Maiilard
had shouted Down with Napoleon
ViUe Ia ReplLbIqlIe" De Moneys declar-
ed at once that this could not be SO but
his informant pushed through the crowd
and loudly demanded that those who heard
De Maillard use the obnoxious expressions
should hold up their hands. Over twenty
responded to the summons, and scene
ensued of an appalling character.
The mob, turning from De Malliard,
rushed upon the unfortunate De Moneys,
and at once began maltreating him. One
fellow seized him by the ear and twisted
part of it off another struck him a stun
ming blow with his fist, and q third ran a
goad into his neck below the right ear.
This was, however, but the beginning of the
end. In spite of his agenizing screams and
protestations of innocence, and spite of his
kinsman De Maillard, his prosecutors seiz-
ed De Moneys, shouting 'Deathr and
dragged him toward a cherry-tree on
which they announced their purpose to
hang him.
The Mayor arrived and put on his scarf
in token of intent to hear and judge the
accusation-but the mob disregarded him
and pressed on. The parish priest next
came, armed with revolver, and deter
mined to rescue the victim. But he was
violently threatened, and even struck, and
his friends, fearful of his life, dragged him
forcibly back to his house. Meanwhile
few humane souls tried to help De Mon
eys, but they were overpowered and beat
en-. Two burly agricultural laborers, Cam
pot by name, were most conspicuous IN
leading the mob, and In striking down all
that opposed them. De Moneys kept con-
pease his assallants but IN vain A chiff-
onier at this juncture struck hIm with his
hook with such fury that a witness de-
clared he thought the weapon had pierre.
ed the brain.
a man named Bowler, a land-holdel
and member of the municipal council of a
neighboring commune, next attacked De
Moneys. dashing his fists into his mouth
and eyes, and finally kicking him savage
ly inithe back. Soured by this noble ex-
ample, farrier named Chambord struck
him with loaded cane, yelling that he
and all like him should be killed. A scene
of sickening barbarities followed, the bare
enumeration of which in the minutes of the
trial, fills three long newspaper columns
The miserable mans head is described as
looking at last like 'globe of blood
Happily for him his release was drawing
nigh.
After torturing their victim till they
were themselves exhausted, these blood
thirsty wrethes made heap of fre-wood
branches, and straw, and laid De Moneys
upon it, They then piled wood upon him
brought matches, and"-either from COM
Function or caution-"made two little
children light these andset fire to the pile
Before the fagots were lighted, however
two Of the torturers Jumped on those that
had been laid upon the victim, and stamp
ed and danced upon them..' All this time
the Mayor was present, and looked on,
but dared not interfere. De Moneys, too,
was quite sensible, and saw all that 'as
gong on. One witness testified tha> he
must have seen himself burn for . quar-
of an hour before death ended his ag.
ony.
When the flames had burnt out, some OF
the assassins who had not skunk away, turn
ed over the ashes with their sticks and
drew thence "a charred object that looked
like the burnt trunk of tree, with the
remains of two branches blackened by
fire. This was all that was left of the un-
fortunate De Moneys. Some bystander
had the courage to express his horror at
the crime, and to say something about the
laws. There are no laws" retorted one
of the miscreants, with fine favor of the
fret French Revolution zone can kill a
nobleman now like a fly or a fowl" 1t
makes the blood boil even when the tale
comes from distance of three Thousand
miles, to hear that an attempt was made,
and came near being successful, to clear
these cowardly murderers by legal sub
terfuge.
Their counsel held, and prayed the
Court 70 rule, that, by Ereasor of the
decree of the 4th Of September-which de-
clares amnesty for all political offenses since
December 2. 1s52-it had no jurisdiction
in the case. Happily for humanity, the
Court declined to rule itself incompetent,
and the trial by last accour :, was still in
progress. 1t will be singular satlstac-
ton to hear that the diabohcal rufians
concerned in this outrage will receive
their full deserts. ....