Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-01-29
THE FLEMISH CURATE.

y victim Of Il diabolcal plot was Flemish
curatc. who lived near the commencement
! o! the eighteenth century,. Lie was man
OF remarkable picty, and exhibited in his
conversation and department all the virtues
which ought 10 adorn the character of him
who assumes TO he the teacher of others. In
| his parish resided Il man OF violent passion
| who entertained 4 mortal ennity against
another paliSEloner ana ncighbor and rcsol-
| we'd to as&assinatc him. Casting his ewes
| deliberately about him to discover Il mode
oi dong this with safety, this wretch mott
ced habit which the clrate had Of throw
, ing OIL ms Walklng-cOat whenever he enter
ed his own house, and putting on short
| cassock in its stead, leaving the coat care
icSSly III the outer room or lobby. which
was open TO friend or strangcrat almost any
limc. Observing this custom the man allu-
dcd 10 resolved upon taking Il diabolical ad-
vantage oft. He fixed upon a time when
he knew the curatc to be usually engaged
, IN composing the sermon for the following
Sundays service and entered the lobby,
whence he carried Off the coat, and a neck
| erchlet which he found also there. He knew
that Immediately after this time, the person
whose assassination he meditated would
pass by retired spot near the village
The villain had planned his time well. The
victim came up to the spot as expected. and
perlshcd under the knife or dagger of his en-
envy, who afterwards returned without delav
to the curate's house. Favored by the dusk,
he placed the coat, neckerchief and dagger. in
the lobby whence he had taken them, and
then went oil TO the nearest magistrate. and
denounced the curatc us the murderer de-
claring that he himself, from a little dis
| lancc. had bchcld the commission of the
crime. The magistrate hurried to the re-
ported scene Of the deed, saw and recog-
niZed the body, and then proceeded to the
house o! the unfortunate and unconscious
Clergyman Half.hidden in the lobby were
found the coat, the kerchicf, and the dagger
all OF them more or less stained with blood
The curatc was arrested and thrown into
prison.
When the matter sustained Il judicial ex-
animation the bold, bad man. who had
projected the double murder adhered TO
his story, and as nobody was with tho Gu
rate at the time in his dwelling. the accused
had 70 eXculpatory evidence TO offer cx-
cept what was afforded by his simple pro-
tcstation of innocence and the sanctity of
his former character All his flock, and
indeed all vino knew him. believed him to
be utterly incapable OF such a crime but
the law. and the Judges Of the law, regarded
the crlIninatoGy testimony as too strong TO
lie doubted. and held it to be their duty to
condemn die accused. The best Of men, it
was argued by the public prosecutors, have
been known 10 be hurried by the violence
| OF temporary passion into the commission
OF crime. anA such was but 100 probable
the case here. Whcn the sentence was
<no"n Il great SENSATION was excited over
tie whole country. The whole community
w:as il favor Of TIE curatc, but this could
10; save him tron the &iuhr, 10 which he was
GuouuG. He died with L degree OF calm
! rcsi3matio:!. which drew tears Of admrin@
! pity from all who saw him
| four years after his execution, the william
| who had caused his end involved himself
i'll anothcr, and on this occasion the crime
was brought home to him. He was con-
| dcnincd TO be broken on the whecl-a death
| too horrible !or even such Il criminal rs he
was. Before he died, he confessed the
whole facts Of the curatc's case. The men,
ory of the latter was thenceiorth honorcd
! like that or the saints