National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1872-12-30

Tropmann has left imltators II seems, for
the Court of AsslEes Of the Marine has Just
been called TO Judge another case Of this
kind. Francois Gerard is young man Of
% years, tlmld and Of almost childish APP
pearance. His parents, who are farmers In
easy circumstances, gave him good educa-
ton In a school Of Epernay, and they wished
him to be farmer like themselves, but he
manifested the greatest dislike to this pro-
fsssion. He aspired TO higher things, and
fancied that he was born 10 be the hero Of
the most extraordinary adventures, and that
his name would pass TO pOsterlty. He had
read in his bad books that eItortlon by threat
was powerful means Of obtaining money,
and one day he wrote an anonymous letter to
Count d'Ambrugoac, threatening 10 make
scandalous revelations II he did not give him
400 francs, with which he would have started
for the United States. Another day, for the
pleasure Of seeing his name In the papers, he
denounced himself as chief Of a band Of
thieves, and was arrested. In 1869 he left his
fathers house and came to live In Paris,
where he had numerous adventures, aud tried
all trades, being successfully photographer,
carter and zouave. During the war he was
taken prisoner at Artenay, escaped from the
Prusslans, entered the army Of the East, was
lnterned In Switzerland, and afterwards sent
to Africa with his regiment. There he was
dismissed on account Of his delicate cOnsti-
tuition. He returned TO his parents, who once
more pressed him TO follow their profession,
upon which he left them again and enlisted
In the marine infantry, whence he was also
dismissed as too delicate for the service.
He soon informed his father that he was
going to Belgium, and his father sent him
some money. lie went TO the station Of Vitry,
and leaving his things at the station, ho en-
tered cafe kept by woman named Hatat,
where he drank till no was tlpsy. He rc-
turned to the station, cad found that the train
had started. He went back at seven to the
cafe Of Nine. Hatat, who refused to supply
him with drink, and threatened to send for
the gen d'armes II he continued 10 make a
disturbance; upon which Gerard, brandlshlng
HE knife, rushed upon her and struck her
several times with II on the head and face
AZ he was leaving the cafe In a state Of un.
governable rage be met at the door a mar
with whom he had previously had an alter.
cation and struck him, inhiCtlng n mOrta
wound; but the sight Of all this blood only In
creased his evaporation, and he stabbed In
the back the first person he saw In the road
| q man named Tandart. On hearing the criet
Of the three victims q woman approached
and fell in her turn grieyOusly wounded. Hei
mother ran TO her assistance and was stabbed
| In the shoulder. lame soldier on leave o
absence tried TO disarm the assassin, but &c
rard threw him down and inflicted upon him
q terrible wound near the ear, struck with sC
much violence that the point Of the blade wa,
broken In the skull.
Gerard then took to flight, hurting his knife
with all his strength at the head Of another
woman, who was also badly wounded. Pick
| Ing up his knife as he went, he placed II be
tween his teeth and armed himself with 9
piece Of wood that happened to lay at thu
roadside. Upon the road to ChOppes he me
a widow named Prin, struck her to the eartl
with violent blow Of the cudgel, and bea
her with 1t while she was lying helpless oil
the ground, A little further on he met ant
struck down his ninth victim, calling out a
he did so that makes nine !" At last whit
he was making his tenth attempt at murder
the peasants, who had armed themselves will
pitchforks; succeeded In securing and glyinI
him up TO the gendarmes. At the Court o
AssiZes Gerard dislained to reply to tn,
questions Of tho president The doctor
having declared that though irasclble, ther,
was no sign Of mental arrangement, Gcrart
was sentenced TO hard labor for life. III
seemed greatly annoyed at not being scu
fenced 10 death.