The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-02-19

Mr.. Ford was appointed by the county
court administrator of Ney's estate. This
was mere matter of FORM as he was pos.
sessed of no estate. In 1917 an unknown
Frenchman visited Mr.. Ford and tried to
get possession OF the shorthand manuscript
referred to above, but Mr.. Ford refused to
give it up. He afterwards, however, turned
it over to q man who called himself Pliny
Myers q member of the New York Histo-
rical society, with the understanding that
he (Myers) would have the documents trans
lated and the mystery enveloped therein
cleared up. Nothing more has ever been
heard from it. 1t is not the purpose of your
correspondent to discuss the question which
is here raised. 1t is my business to merely
give the facts and let the reader DRAW his
own conclusions; but deem it proper to
incorporate here the language and opinions
of some of the persons with whom / have
talked on the subject.
VIEWS OF OLD PUPILS OF NEY.
Mr.. Wilfred Turner, an aged gentleman,
than whom no man in North Carolina stands
higher, nor is more respected, says: II wen.
to school to Peter Stuart Ney in 1925 and
1896, and knew him well. I have no doubt
but that he was Marshal Ney. Certain it
was, he was a soldier, and it was evident he
was no ordinary soldier, but man of rank
and genius
Rev Mr.. Albea, a Methodist minister,
says: II was one OF Ney's pupils when be
taught at Oak Hill academy, aud remember
him well. He was noble looking man,
and showed his military training in his every
step and movement. He was a great ed
mirer of Napoleon Bonaparte-always spoke
of him in terms of tbs highest admiration
and up to the time of the death of the prince
imperial he spoke of returning to France
when the Bonaparte dynasty should be re.
stored, which event he anticipated would
soon occur. He was not an ordinary man in
any sense, and / 60 not hesitate to say thai
in my opinion he wss none other than the
great marshal OF the empire
Mrs. NJ. G. Dalton, an aged lady of marked
intelligence and of unusual information,
says: Il am as thoroughly convinced of the
fact that he was Marshal Ney as / am of my
own existence. Now, assuming" says she,
that he was Marshal Ney how could he give
heart in more forcible and pointed language
than is contained in these verses. written in
my album not long after ne heard of the
death of Napoleon's SON." Recorded
above. II saw him once" continues Mrs.
Dalton, when he had been drinking, per
haps. taken up from the road in stupor
and Laid across horse to be carried to the
house. This aroused him, and his involun.
fary expression, as / well remember, was
What put the Duke of Elchingen on q
horse like sacki Let me down.
DR.. J. r. b. Adams, of this county, says:
II have been entirely satisfied in my own
mind since 1912 that P. S. Ney, who taught
school within few hundred yards of my
residence for two years or more, and is now
buried in Third Creek church-yard. wss the
veritable Marshal Ney."
Mr.. o. G. Ford, at whose house Ney died
believes he was the great marshal and none
other. He says when Ney was on his death
bed he several times in fits of delirium ex
claimed: "Oh, Francel France, my country
why could not like Bessieres, die for thee?'
His last words were these: "Bessieres ha;
fallen, and the Old Guard is defeated-now
let me die.''
With these words on his lips this mysteri
Gus French school teacher gave up the ghost
Was he Marshal New?