The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-11-15
The Crime of q French Cadet.

d
Saint Cyr (says a Paris letter to the
New York Herald) is the West Point of
France, and the honor OF it's cadets is
dear to every soldier and civilian in
the country. 1t is, therefore, with moth
ing less than feeling of pain that so.
ciety hears of the convocation of a
court-martial for the thial of a s'Saint
Cyrien' for theft. A few nights ago
a cadet, who may be designated as B.,
tossing haplessly on his bed saw fig
ure in white passing by him lit should
be observed the pupils Of the military
college sleep together in large DOR
mitory), and cried out, ''Wh0's that :"
"It is l." said a voice, which he req.
ognized as that of K. 'sWhat are YOU
doing :" x. informed his comrade, and
the latter. merely taking advantage of
the situation to make joke, thought
no more of the matter. Next morn.
ing cadet missed his purse, contain
ing 1,000f. zoe. Who had taken it! It
was soon discovered that the thief
must have been one of the pupils, and
yet there was no one of the pupils who
could be fairly suspected. It was then
that B. called to mind his nocturnal in
terview with X, though he shrank
from the idea Of uttering his thoughts
aloud. Still he mentioned the circum.
stance to an intimate friend or two,
and one of these presently suggested
that every cadet should submit to be
searched. The proposal.was agreed to.
X. never moved muscle while his
comrades were thrusting their hands
into his pockets. Nothing was found
on him but rs francs, to which his title
could not be disputed.
It was now II o'clock in the morning.
At 2o'clock the promotion list was to
be published, and it was known that X.
would appear on the list Of Sub-Lieu-
tenants. Once commissioned officer
and he would have been safe from fur.
thur inquiries. He was playing des-
perate game for the coveted epaulette
or pair of handouts. Still his every
movement was jealousy watched. In a
few minutes he was observed to be
pacing uneasily between the dormitary
and the courtyard, as though he were
watching for an opportunity Of being
alone. B., whose suspicious were far
from being laid at rest, demanded an.
other general search, each cadet to
strip. X. smiled as. it came to his turn,
and continued to smile while the
lining Of his coat Was Conscien.
tiously ross-examined. Nothing was
found, and now popular opinion veered
round to his side. He stood honorably
acquitted in the eyes of his comrades,
It was half-past l. In another half.
hour he would be a French officer. An
hartily shook him by the hand. SHOW
it is over" he said, 81 don't mind
telling you, old fellow, that you were
suspected;'' and he explained why
x. made no answer. His gaze was fix
ed almost stonily on young cadet who
had just stretched out his hand toward
packet of Maryland cigarettes, which
had been taken from X pocket. B.,
who had never ceased to watch him.
darted forward and snatched the pack
ct himself, tore the paper from CT
garette and found it contained, instead
of tobacco, 1000 franc note. neatly
rolled up.
Every one stood COMPOUNDED
''Dress! !" said one Of his comrades
sternly to X, who was now observed
while taking up his socks, to make q
rapid, almost imperceptible movement
Four cadets sprung on him and seized
the socks. One of them contained
4 sous, which the unhappy youth had
had the courage to hold concealed il
his left hand during the two previous
Investigations. Of course they exact
~ made up the l,000f. zoe contained
in the missing purse. X. was left fol-
a few minutes quite alone. Then sew,
eral of his messmates returned. One
bore loaded Chassepot. another six
shooter, also loaded a third a Wand
containing. poison, a fourth a short
cord, evidently capable of sustaining a
considerable weight.
Then one of the seniors said: eve
shall leave you alone once more, Dc
your duty! Your suicide shall be at
tributed to disappointment in love OF
whatever you like. If you wish it We
will take letter from you to the Gen
eral.''
do \; merely replied I'll be '"med if
His last chance was gone. The Gen
eral was Immediately informed of
the circumstance and the offender
arrested. What makes the whole bus
mess inexpressib]y sad is that the cul
prit is the son of a brave old Major
now on half.pay, who had both his
arms carried away by cannon bal
while charging at the head of his ba
tallion before Sebastopol. There seems
every reason to suspect that this is an
other case of cleptomanla.
On examining the trunks of the pris
oner there were found concealed in
them books belonging to the Public
| Library and slammed with its seal