Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1871-01-19
4 Down. WITH THE EMPEROR.
The BIoodIest Crime In the His
archy-rThe Horrible Murder oi
M de MOneyR.

| fiVH tno 4NcW flvih AiNSn'l Lfif .N q
The war eclipses- all minor events, or
we should hear more of occurrences in
France that in, ordinary times would be
| themes Of universal discussion. 1t is
scarcely credible, but yet is true, that
within few months man was burned
to death by French mob on the mere
accusation of having cried. Down with
the Emperor" This frightful tragedy
is just now the subject of trial before
| the Court of Assizes of the Dordogne.
Twenty-one peasants and artisans have
been arraigned in extraordinary session
charged with the preparation of the
crime, 4RsrnttVNtrsasses
, 1t seems, from the act Of accusation,
that it was committed on the 10th of last
August, the day after the Napoleonic an
niversary. On that day NJ. de Moneys,
an assistant or adJont to the Mayor Of
| Beaussac, arrived at Hautefaye, a village
in the department of the Dordogne.
The occasion was one ofunusual excite
ment, it being a fair day Some excited
talk occurred about elections in a group
near which NJ de Moneys was standing.
He drew near and asked the cause. The
reply was that cousin of his, M, de
Maillard, had shouted: Down with Ma
poleonN Vive la Repubhque 7 DE Mo
neys atdonce declared this could not be
so; but his informant pushed into the
crowd and loudly demanded that those
who heard De Maillard use the obnox-
ious expressions should hold up their
hands. Over twenty responded to the
summons, and a scene ensued of an
appalling character. kNHL WILMA
q The mob. turning from De Maillard,
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 the third ran
a goad into his neck below the right ear.
This was, however, but the beginning OF
the end, In spite of his agonizing
screams and protestations of innocence,
and in spite of the efforts of his kinsman,
NJ. De Maillard, his prosecutors seized
De Moneys, shouting " Death and
dragged him toward 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 dis
regarded him and pressed on. The par
sh priest next came, armed with re-
volver, and determined to rescue the
victim Buthe was violently threatened,
and even struck, and his friends, fearful
of his life, dragged him forcibly back
into his house. Meanwhile few humane
souls tried to help De Moneys, but they
we're overpowered and beaten. Two
burly agricultural laborers, Campot by
name, were most conspicuous in leading
the mob, and striking down all who OPP
posed them " De Moneys now kept con-
tinually crying ViUe FEmpereur " to
appeaso his assailants, but in vain. A
chiffonier at this, juncture struck him
with his hook with such fury that a wit
ness declared he thought the weapon had
pierced the brain.
A man named Brownlet, land-holder
and member of the municipal council of
neighboring commune, next attacked
De Moneys, dashing his fists in his
mouth and eyes, and finally kicking him
sayagely in the back. Spurred by this
noble example, farrier named Cham
bord struck him with a loaded cane,
yelling that he and 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 tofturing their victim until they
were themselves exhausted, these blood
thirsty Wretches made heap of fire.
wood, branches, and straw, and laid De
Moneys upon, it. They piled wood
upon him, brought matches, and y
either from compunction or caution
made two little children light these and
set fire to the piIe.' Before the fagots
were lighted, however, two of the torturers
Jumped on those that had been laid
uponthe victim, aud stamped 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 was going on.
One witness testified that he must have
seen himself burn for quarter of an
hour before death ended his agony.
When the flames had burnt out. t.soms
of the Assassins who had skunk away
turned over the ashes with their sticks,
and drew thence g a charred object that
looked like the burnt trunk of tree,
with the remains Of two branches black
ened by fire" This was all that was left !
of the unfortunate DE Moneys. Some
bystander had the courage TO express
his horror at the crime, and to say some
thing about the laws. There are no
laws. retorted one Of the miscreants,
with a fine flavor of the first French
Revolution; q one can kill a nObleman
now like q fly or fowl 1t makes the
blood boil, even when the tale comes
from a distance Of three thousand miles, |
10 hear, that an attempt was made, and
came near being successful, to clear |
these cowardly murderers by legal sub
Their counsel held, and prayed the
court to rule, that, by reason of the de
creeof the 4th Of eptember-which de- |
elafes amnesty for all political ofenses |
since December 2, ls52-it had no ju-
risdiction in the case. Happily for hu-
manity, the court declined to rule itself
incompetent, and the trial, by last ac-
counts, was still in progress. 1t will be
a singular satislaction to hear that the |
tiiabolieal rufians concerned in this out
rage will receive their full deserts.
College Scenes.
IL our college walls had eyes and ears,
saws a writer in the Beloit College |
Monthly, they would laugh till the plas-
ter ratified at some of the events which |
they would witness. For Instance:
Scene First Students room; late at
night; four students seated round table, |
pieces Of pasteboard in their hands. A |
iight etealthv stem il heard nnon the |