The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1876-01-02
A POACHER'S VENGEANCE.

CRIME THAT WAS SET TO THE CREDIT OF THE
| GERMAN soLDIEs IN FRANCE.
| Paris Letter to the London Timesl
| At the Haute Marne Assizes q case has been
tried, resulting ia a capital sentence. the cir
Gnu stances of which deserve publicity. In
1850 man, still young and OF Indifferent
character, named Rambouilet, who carried
on poaching with audacity and success, was
surprised BY the gamekeeper Of forest in
/ thu Haute Marie An information was laid
against him, and he was brought before the
Correctional Tribunal, condemned to the
forfeiture OF his gun, to fine, and even, I
believe, to Imprisonment.
| Rsmbouillet Il ceived the sentence without
protest, acknowledging the ofense imputed
to him, aud resolving to turn over new leaf.
He kept his pledge and from 1850 to 1870 he
laid himself open to no reproach, He seemed
bent on blottiDg out by his good conduct the
stigma of his condemnation. When he met
the gamekeeper he avoided looking at him,
not with air OF man harboring q grudge,
but like man prevented by shame from en-
countering the witness of his fault.
1t was observed, however, that he often
isolated himself from others, and frequently
passed his time in wandering about the fields
without its being kaown whittier he direc ed
his steps. This also was attributed to regret
for his delinquency He regained public es-
TEEN, and his son married honorably.
Strange to say, Rambouillet was governed
for twenty years by q single ides that of
vengeance. His apparent contrition, the
rectitude of his conduct, his sadness, and his
gestures, were all directed toward one aim
vengeance. For twenty years. morning. noon
and night, he lay in wait for the gamekeeper
against whom he had vowed vengeance, and for
twenty years that vengeance escaped him.
Tn 1870 tho W. hrO ia ont tho Hant, Marina
was invaded, the forest, in which the game
keeper lived, was occupied by the German
troops. One December night, Raumbouillet,
whom every one supposed TO be at distance
from the n ,ighborhood, took his gun, SUNK
from tree to tree through the Ger
mans occupying the forest. and, at
the risk Of being captured and shot, fac
ing the greatest perils and resorting
to the most audacious stratagems, creeping
almost on level with the ground, he sue
ceeded in reaching the gamekeeper's lonely
The gamekeeper and his wife, lost in
this solitude, amid hostile troops, were
seated side by side. R.mbouillet watched
them some time through the clearing sur
rounding the cottage. The gamekeeper
remained motionless by his wife in
spite Of the furious barking Of his dogs, for
since the enemy had occupied the forest. the
dogs had always barked every night. Ram
bouillet raised his gun, took a careful aim
and fired. Two despairing cries were uttered
inside the cottage, the dogs redoub'ed their
noise, all around distant calls of "Voherda 2"
were heard and r I'M bou,llet hurried along
the paths, escaped, and disappeared from the
district.
The next day it was told how the Germans
had killed the gamekeepsr's wife, and all the
neighborhood mustered at her funeral.
Peace was signed, Rambouillet re-
sumed his former life. The occupation
ceased. and then everybody ventured
to express the horror excited by so cowardly
a crime committed against woman sitting
peaceably at her hearth.
Rambouillet had become more gloomy. A
gnawing despair had penetrated his heart.
He had committed usel IS crime. Not only
had his vengeance escaped him, but he felt
that any attempt against the gamekeeper
would recall attention to the crime of 1870,
and would divert attention from the German
soldiers. His irritation increased every day.
and often found vent in threats against those
around him.
A few weeks ago one of these scenes was
repeated between Rambouillet and his sons
daughter. "Ah, yes" exclaimed the latter,
lyon want to serve me as you served the
gamekeeper's wife; but I am not afraid of
you Rambouillet iinched. The converse
sation became known, and reached the ears of
Justice. Rambouillet was arrested, convicted
and condemned 10 death.
The jury answered every question put to
them Automatically, and without entenusting
circumstances They felt that a man who
had plotted revenge for twenty years must
have acted with generalization. The pris-
oner's counsel had. Of course, argued as an
extenua,ing circumstance that he mistook his
victim.
TIE Asbtabuls Ne,os says there are plenty
of absent-minded men in the world, but the |
gentleman on the South Ridge, not far from
Ashtabula, who was milking his COW in peck |
has kat and nnly dssisted Alter reneated calls |