The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1876-11-16
THE SAINT CYR MYSTERY.

IA Disgrsced French Csdet-what he
Told the Members OF the Court. Mar.
tia1.
tPsris Correspondence Of the New York Times.
Avery sad case is now occupying pub
lie attention here. Some time ago the
pupils Of Saint Cyr, the West Point Of
France, had to make frequent CON-
plant Of robberies. Many Of them lost
money, and in a few cases of rich
young men, the sum distracted was Of
considerable Importance. AL agreed
in saying that they had their money
when they went to bed in the dortoir,
and that it must have been taken dur
ing the night. After the third or fourth
complaint n careful watch was kept,
and the Professors soon acquired the
painful conviction that the thief must
be n Of the students. At the next
robbery all were questioned. All had
slept profoundly, and heard nothing or
seen nothing extraordinary. The next
day, however, n young man said that
there was one incident of the night which
he had not related, because it was of no
Importance; he had been aroused by
Sergeant Phillipot, who was close to his
bed, and on asking what was the mat
ter, Phillipot replied that he was suffer-
ing from the collie and had been out.
At the next robbery a student saw Phil
lipot coming from the end of the hall.
On that occasion all submitted
to a search, but nothing was
found. When the Professor
was going out one of the
students saw Phillipot glance at Il pack
age of cigarettes or the table, and when
he took it up Phillipot turned pale. The
object sought was q thousand. franc
bill taken from the pocket Of one Of the
young men, and it was found in the
packet of cigarettes. l should say that
all agreed to a search because the ex-
aminations were just over, and in three
days all the young men would receive
their commissions in the army. 1t was
out Of the question to allow a thief to
be commissioned, and hence a grand
search was proposed. Phillipot was ar
rested, and when before the Tribunal
remained calm and impossible. lie
confessed to the crime, and said that he
had been driven to it by his want OF
money. Something in the young mans
manner led the President of the Tri.
bunal to think that he had not gotten
at the real secret. He began to 9ues.
ton in a kindly way, but with a great
deal of tact, making appeals to the no.
BILE sentiments of human nature, and in
a short time Phillipot broke down. lie
began to cry, and then the President
pressed him, with kindness, to tell the
truth. The story he told was this: lie
was the illegitimate son Of q retired
army officer. He had never known a
home or parental affection. He was kept
at a boarding-school, utterly without
money, never seeing any relative, and
getting no letters, and only got into
Saint Cyr because he passed at the
head of his class. When he got in, his
father wrote him one cold letter to tel
him to stay there and mind his studies,
but he was allowed only enough money
to pay his regula~ bills. In the second
year he received another letter. His
father wrote that he had just married
n rich widow, who had a son of his age
just entering Saint Cyr. Young Pariso,
was therefore his brother by marriage,
but he, Phillipot, was particularly
charged not to reveal the secret of hi:
birth or to make himself known tc
Parisot. He obeyed the parental re
quest, and for three years kept the
secret. Meanwhile young Parisot haC
his pockets full of money, he was al
ways well dressed, he received constant
letters, and went home during vaca
tons. Every wish was gratified, while
his poor brother was in threadbart
clothes, without a SOU, and without {
friend. His needs were so great during
the last quarter that he ventured tc
write to his father for money, but ht
received no reply. Driven to the las'
extremity, the neglected youth con
fessed that he could endure it no long
er, and fell before a tempting oppor
tunity to commit a crime. The frs
was followed by another, then another
when detection came.
l need scarcely say that the members
of the court-martial were deeply moved
and every person in the room sympa
thized warmly with this young man
His sentence was light. He was con
demned to two years. Imprisonment
without military degradation, and tax
en- off an once to the prison of Cherch'
Midi. The public has also been deep
ly moved by this story, and it is ru
mored to day that several iniluentia
men have united in q petition for par
don, and that if it be granted, yeun.
Phillipot will be furnished money to e
abroad for a few years and try his for
tune in another country. Great indig
nation is felt toward tho father VIII,
neglected his own son in this way
while cherishing the son of his ricl
wife, and the father appears to hav'
written frequently to young Parisot
while neglecting utterly the half
brother.