Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-03-18
THE MARSHAL NEY ROMANCE

the romantic story which assumes tha
Marshal Ncy, the popular hero of the
French army in Napoleon Bonapartc
time. and the commander Of the OlC
Guard at Waterloo, died an exile in Nortl
Carolina. This story, with some modif-
cations and unimportant additions, come,
up at regular intervals to lay hold on the
sympathy and Imagination of those who
delight in mystery, and who find in the
career of the dashing French Marshal all
the charms of romantic narrative. ~
thi, is the case. the latest contribution, as
to the possibilities of the Marshal life
in America. will interest many reader
History paints Marshal Ney. Duke OF
Elchingcn and Prince of Moskva, as the
ideal soldier, as the 'braveSt Of the brave.
He was among Napoleon's favortes, and
distinguished himself in all the great bat
ties of the Napolconic era When the
Emperor abdicated, Ney formally accept
cd the Bourbon dynasty, but when Bona
parte returned from Elba, the Marshal
Joined his old leader, and was with him
to the last When the allies occupied
Paris after Waterloo. Ncy was arraigned
before the Chamber of Peers on the charge
of treason. He was pronounced guilty,
and was publicly shot in the garden OF
the Luxembourg. Dec. !, 1873. Ten
balls, it was said, entered his body, and
death was instantaneous. The people,
the soldiers, and the officials present all
knew Marshal Ncy. and there could be no
question as to the identity Of the man
executed.
4 few months after this execution, or
in January, 1916, distinguished looking
Frcnchman landed at Charleston. :. G..
TM, man bore so striking a resemblance
to Marshal Ney, that Phillip Petrie, one
Of his old soldiers, employed on the vessel.
recognized him and accostcd him a> hi
old commander. The stranger, without
admitting or denying his identity, said,
grutily. Marshal Ney was shot in Paris,
sir. and kept to his cabin during the re-
maindcrof the voyage The North Caro-
lima correspondent give, Pctrie residence,
if living. as Evanston, H., Milwaukee.
| Ms, or Detroit, Mich.
The Frcnchman who rcsemblcd Mar
shal Ncy went from South Carolina to
North Carolina in 1924, where he was
known as Peter Stuart Ncy He taught
school for many years, and was well
known in Ircdcll county. Several times,
when under the influence of wine, he
spoke of himself "a, Marshal Ney, and
p. enlarged upon the incidents of his army
career. On one occasion he told the story
of the supposed execution, and said that
the soldier, detailed to shoot him had pri-
yate instructions to aim high. They fired
above him. but he fell, and the attending
physicians, being in the conspiracy, pro
nounccd him dead, and turned the body
over to his friends. He was conveyed to
Bordeaux, from whence he sailed to
America.
On one occasion the North Carolina
Ney was visited by mysterious stranger,
who received from him many documents
When he received the news of the death
ofNapolcon son, the Duke of Reichstadt,
in 1882. he was in the school-room. HI
= lost his sclf-control. and. after u passion
ate outburst, said: The Prince lmpe-
rial Is dead. and my hopes are blasted.
lie dismissed school, and remained in ms
room for several days, destroying in the
meantime a large number of private pa
pers. In verses, written in an album
three years later, he put in words his dis
appointment and the growing up OF the
. hope that he might be recalled to France
On one occasion, when drunk, ne wa.
laid across a horse to be carried home
This aroused him from a Stupor, and he
exclaimed: "What! put the Duke o
! of Elchingen on horse like sack! lie
r me down.
Peter Stuart Ncy removed to Rowan
County, North Carolina. where he died IL
1916. In his fits of delirium he raveC
about his old comrades and the old bat
ties. Among his last words wore: Bes
scres mas fallen. and the Old Guard i
defeated-now let me die He died Oct
IA. 1916. and the remains were inferred
in the graveyard of the Third Creel
Meeting House
The new facts brought out by the cor
respondent of the New York Herdid ar
. in the shape of statements from Neys OLE
pupils and associates as to personal ap
pearance, habits, bearing, writing
=. tone of voice, etc. All these believe tina
!. Peter Stuart Ney was the distinguishct
French Marshal. The papers of the de
= ceased, written in shorthand or cipher
were turned over to a man claiming t
! represent the New York Historical So
y y ciety. and have never been heard of.
This is the story, and it is safe to sa
: that it will have many believers. At tn
= beginning of the Russian war people easil
y accepted the story that Osman Pasha, tn
commander at Pleyna, was Marshal Ba
! zaine, and there are men who believe tina
! Wilkes Booth is still alive People dc
light in mystery, and where there Is
i basis for belief, they accept highly colore
~ statements without question. In thi
=. case it would seem not difficult to deter
. mine Just how much truth there Is in tn
! North Carolina story, and to discover VIII
- - the mysterious person who died in Mort
j. Carolina was.
). Side Whiskers-Mules' tails in fl
timp