The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-06-18
A French Tragedy.

Farls writes to that journal on Nav 26:
a terrible story has just been unfolded at
the AssiZe Court of Mines. | will tell if
as briefly as L can: A Spaniard called
Jaime SanchO had for many wears lived
with his wife at Beaucaire. The husband
was a chifonier, and, as the couple were
labOrieus and honest, they enjoyed an ex-
cellent reputation, and were esteemed by
all who knew them. By dint of hard
work they managed to save a sum of near
ly 5000 francs, with which they proposed
to return to their native place, Tarragona,
and there buy back a little property which
had formerly belonged to the family.
Last October. indeed, they had made a
journey with this object, but, no being
able to come to terms with the proprietor,
they had returned to Beaucaire. While
waiting for some good investment for their
earnings they hid the money in the house
where they lived alone, in the Grande Rue.
On the 9th of November, at Q O'Clock in
the morning, they received a visit from a
fellOw-cOuntryman, who announced him.
self as one Jose VAGUE, and
said he was sent by Sancho's brother-in-
law, named Praty, TO his ar
rival at Marseilles, and to say that his son
had been arrested by order of the Spanish
Consul, as wishing to avoid the conscrip-
ton. Vague further produced a letter
~purporting to be from Praty, requesting
his brother-in-law to come at once to his
assistance at Marseilles. and asking him to
receive Vague as a friend. SanchO. there
fore, at once departed for Marseilles, and
left his cOuntryman installed in his house.
Vague went out twice during the evening,
and ten minutes after his return on the
second occasion, at about $50, the door
bell rang. Mdme. SanchO was going down
stairs to answer it, when q thick wooden
covering was thrown over her head from
behind by Vague, and 1t the same time
the house door was opened, and Il second
man entered. The newcomer at once
rushed toward the unfortunate wOman
and commenced beating her about the
head II body with a bluGgeOn-Mme.
SanchO, it should be added, being
e~ncsinte at the time. The two r%uffians
next garOtted her and tied her hands
together with a rope, and then her
keys were taken from her pocket. the new
conner saying to Vague in Spanish: Hold
her fast; | know where the money is"
W hat was the poor wOman'S horror to
recognize the voice of her husbands own
brother, Francisco Sancho Carettt. whom
she had left in Spain a month before, and
supposed to BE- still there? Evidently he
knew of their money. and she remembered
he had asked them to lend him 1000
francs. and mad even struck her on their
refusal. She at once saw her terrible DO
SitiOn, and that there was only one chance
~escape-namely. TO remain perfectly
still. This she did with marvellous self
possession, while Vague still held her, and
Sancho was riflIng the drawer
where the money was kept. Not a word,
not a groan, escaped her lips, though she
must have been in fearful pain. At last
Francisco Sancho said, 1--WE have what
want" The wretch then drew a long
knife and stabbed his siSter-in-
with it six times successfully. Still this
heroic woman played her difficult
part. Not Il cry did she utter. nor
give any sign of life-not vel
her brother-in-law put
his hand TO her heart and said to Vague,
she is dead" The ruff tns enveloped
their victim in all the linen they could
ind, and hurridcly left the room. Bya
not one of the knife thrustS had
a fatal part, though they were all
iimed through the covering at the heart.
The poor woman, faint and bleeding,
managed, by means OF her teeth, to free
herself from the linen, the wooden cloak,
and the cord, and crLwled to her bed.
where her screams brought no assistance,
or the room did not open upon the street.
agony that night must have been aw-
III. At last. in the morning. assistance
arrived, the alarm was given, and the as
'aSsins were arrested at Montpelier. At
he trial Nine. SinchO gave her evidence
II the ~clearcSt way. and described the
ninutest details Of the terrible scene which
;hc had Undergone. Her appearance in
,Ourt naturally excited The greatest SYM
rathy. NJ. Millrt. a doctor. deposed that
SanchO had only escaped by what [
lave already called it above, a miracle.
The jury found both prisoners guilty,
il seems hard TO Gecide-ex-
enuating circumstances i'm favor OF VAGUE.
SanchO was Their, fore con-
to death, and Vague to penal SER
for life. No one who reads these
ines will aSsuredly wish that either of the
should be committed.
"WINTER sleeping in the lap of Spring."
Winter lingering in the lap of May"