The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1876-04-07
THE COLUMBIAN, Vol. X, NO. Ia
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT, vOL. XII, NO.

to none, who had access at all hours 10 Vne
house of Madame Mazel who had been seen
to enter it at midnight--the hour the MUIR
der was committed--and who had an inter-
est in the death of his benefactress, which
lie Brun (who was ignorant of the legacy
left to him) had not ...
The counsel on the other side laid great
stress on the possession of the key, on lie
Bruins exclamation, "This is not apoplexy,
but something worse" and on the seven
louis he gave his wife to lock up, and which
it was pretended was part of the money TAX
en- from Madame Mazel, although no identi-
ficaton of it was even attempted. Never
was there clearer case. There was no di-
rect evidence either way. single circum-
stance-the possession Of master-key, oi
which a duplicate was known to be in
existence-was all that could be urged
against the prisoner, while in his favor there
was a mass of circumstantial evidence, clear
preponderating and convincing. His ac-
quittal seemed certain, but who OCCASION
ally feel inclined to grumble at the perver.
sites of iuries, would do well to study care
fully the history of French jurisprudence
before the Revolution. Poor lie Brun was
tried at different times before fifty. five judges
m,n whose business was the trial of causes.
and whom the knowledge which comes from
experience should have enlightened. But
other causes were at work-they always were
at work in the old French parlements-
family influence, friendship, money, social
relations all exerted an influence on these
bodies which juries rarely feel. To their
| iniquitous decisions, on many occasions, was
largely due that intense hatred ot the old
| system of procedure which made its over
throw one of the earliest steps in the Revo'
luton. OF the eleven judges who first tried
him, two declared that they required further
information, two voted that he might be put
to the torture, and six condemned him to
death, and that, too, in the most cruel man
ner that could be devised.
On February 22d his case came up for re-
view, and sentence was passed upon him by
twenty-five judges. Two only of these de-
manded further inquiry; the other twenty
decided for the torture, ordinary and extra
ordinary lie Brun was in consequence put
20 this dreadful trial, but amid the mos
dreadful tortures persisted in declaring hi,
innocence. On the 9th, twenty-five Other
judges being assembled, two of them voted
that he should be sent to the galleys for life
but the rest voted for an adjourned enquiry
of twelve months, during which tine Le
Brun was to remain in prison, though hi:
wife was to be at liberty. lie Brun, who
had all this time been kept in dungeon
without being allowed to see any one but the
jailor, was now allowed to receive his wife
children and friends but alleviation came
too late; the violence of the torture had so
reduced him, though very athletic and
healthy man, in the prime of life, that
his wife had only time to procure for him
he received them he again solemnly protested
his innocence, and expired amid the despair
of his wife and children, and the regret O
all who knew him.
A f'w weeks after this occurrence infor
nation was given to the magistrate OF Sens
that man named Gerlat, otherwise Berry
had established himself in that town as
dealer in horses, and without any visible
means by which he could acquire money tC
support such traffic. lie was arrested ,ant
upon him was found watch which wa,
known to belong to Madame Mazel. Pro-
cess was Instantly commenced against hin
and witnesses examined. Several persons
swore they had seen him at Paris at the time
of the murder; woman swore she saw hin
come out OF the house after twelve o'clock OF
the very night it was committed A barber
deposed that he had shaved him the mex
day, and having observed scratches anc
that they were made by cat which he hat
attempted to kill. The shirt and neck
cloth were proved to be his by comparing
them with those found upon him.
Berry was put to the torture, when he con
fessed that he had concealed himself in the
garret Of the house from the Friday to tn
Sunday, feeding upon bread and apples
which he had in his pockets; that on Sun
| u"y iApihiHSJ NHSH -hliIS' -hdHCi NSub u
mass, he entered her chamber and crept un
der the bed where he lay for some time. Al
ter dinner, when she had gone to vespers
he warmed himself at the fire, and finding
his hat troublesome, made a night cap of
towel, tied up the bell-cord, and stayed til
he heard the coach enter the yard. Getting
back into his hiding place he waited patient
ly till the old lady had been in bed an hour
He then showed himself and asked for he
money. On her commencing to scream Ii
told her if she cried out he would kill hel
and upon her still continuing to do 50 an
attempting to ring the bell, he struck he
with a knife and kept on stabbing her Ill
= she died. He then lighted a candle, helpe
} himself to 5000 livres in gold, took his ha
2 leaving the towel and neckcloth he knew nc
| where, ascended to the garret, where he 100
+ of his shirt, and putting on his coat wer
r down to the street door, which he foun
c open, and so made his escape.
: Berry was broken on the wheel, and th
| parliament of Paris declared the memory ,
1 lie Brun to be free from any stain. A con
5 mon jury would have spared the life
S which these experienced judges had deprive
G him.
1t Don't Pay.