Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1873-09-17
A CURIOUS LAwsUIT.-A delicate poin

a few days ago, by the civil tribunal OF
Rennes. 1t arose out Of the tragic occur
renee which took place in October, 1871,
on the rock of Penmarch, in Flnlsterre.
This rock, Of gigantic dimensions,
overhangs the Atlantic, and, being one OF
the most picturesque features of the
Brittany coast, is much visited by tourists
and marine painters. 1t JUS out at a
great hight over the sea, and the abyss
beneath is known to the aboriginal fishers
as Tall au Ifern or the mouth OF hell. An
Evil Spirit, these primitive people believe,
IS constantly lying in walt at the foot of
the rock to entrap unwary mortals, and
cut them off from among the living in the
midst of their sins. This idea, founded,
like most local superstitions, on fact, is not
always sufficiently present to the minds of
excursionists to Penmarch. The victims
of the Tall au Ifern demon in October,
1871, were Nine Levainville, the wife OF
a Brittany project, her daughter, Mdlle
Gabrielle Levainvlle, a beautiful young
girl of 1S. her nephew and niece VI
Georges and Mdlle. Eugene Dresch aud
Mdlle. Bonnemain the fancee Of Georges.
They had been staying on a visit at the
romantic chateau of Kernuz the seat of NJ.
Mantras duChatellier, and had driven over
on the Sth OF October with their host 5
son NJ Paul Mantras duChatelier marine
painter Of some repute, to visit his studio
overlooking Penmarch. After inspecting
some paintings, they went to compare
them with the sites they represented. Mile.
Levainville proposed that before returning
to the chateau Of kernuz she and her
young relations should pass half an hour
on the platform watching the effects of an
angry sunset. The sky was menacing the
horizon in blaze the atmosphere close
and charged with electricity and the sea
smooth as glass. The tide was full in and
nothing indicated the presence of the
egt ndary demon of Tall au Ifern. NJ
Paul du ChateIler while bis friends were
admiring the superb effects of color
returned to his studio to fix them on
canvass.
As the positions taken up by tho two
groups into which the excurslonists split
was the chief element in the case the Rem
nes tribunal had to decide, it is well TO
state that Nine Levainville and NJ and
Mdle Dresch were sitting together on the
most northern point of the rock, nnder a
sort Of natural parapet. Mdle Gabrielle
Levainvllle and Mdle Bonnemain were
standing at distance OF about two yards
behind them. Suddenly vast wave arose,
gathering in hight as it advanced, and, be-
fore the five persons on the platform had
time to perceive the danger, washed them
into the yawning Tall-aulfern. The fore
most group was taken first, dashed against
the parapet, and precipitated violently in
to the sea. The half-spent wave then gent
ly lifted the two young girls, and sent them
to rejoin their relatives. Now Nine Le-
vainvllle was the owner of large estates
and Mdlle Gabrielle her only child. The
question the tribunal of Rennes had to de-
eide was who should inherit this fortune,
which was claimed by Nine Dresch, the
sister of Nine Levainvile, as the heiress
of this lady, and by NJ Levainvile as the
heir of Gabrielle. If it could be proved
that the wife died last, the property would
90 to the sister and if not, to the husband
as the daughters heir. NJ Paul du Chat
eller, who was sketching the rock at the
moment of the accident, was the principal
witness. He stated that the foremost
group, comprising Nine Levainville and
Georges and Eugente Dresch, must have
been killed at once by the violent collision
into which they were brought with the
lateral parapet. When they were flung
into the sea he lost sight of two OF the
bodies. That of Georges which remained
floating some moments. seemed to him ar
inert, mangled mass When the wave
carried the two girls into the Tall-au- Ifern
they must have been in the full possession
of their faculties, and physically unhurt
There was, in M du Chatellier's opinion
more than fair presumption that Gabrielle
survived her mother for perhaps minute
or, SO long a time as it takes to die from
submersion. Nine Dresch herself admit,
ted that she saw her sister dashed head
foremost against rock and flung into th,
sea ere the wave had reached the niece
The state of four out of five of the bodie
that were found confirmed M du Chatellie
evidence. Those of Nine LevainvilIe ant
M Dresch were all mangled, whilst that o
Mile Levsinville did not present singh
confusion. 1t had the sleeping appearance
which NJ James Bertrand gave to tn
drowned Virginia. in beautiful pictur
he exhibited. four or five summers back
The court held that Gabrielle must hav
survived her mother for at least few sec
onds, and accordingly decided that tn
fortune she inherited from her goes to be
father. and not to Nine Levalnvllle's sis
Z ter.-London Daily Ne,cs.