Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1883-02-16
THE STORY OF JOSEPH LEsURQUEs.

"Ts just a-crceping up a'stairsl"
Mary Il. Barr, in Christian Union.
THE STORY OF JOSEPH LESURQUES.
The judicial blunder which sent Le-
surques to theiscaffold grew out of his
fatal resemblance tola villain named
Dubosc. 1t is famous in the annals of
French jurisprudence, and is celebrated
in one of the most popular, powerful
and exciting dramas on the French
stage. 't rf-..,
Joseph Lesprques was born at Douai,
of respectable parents. He entered the
army at an early age, and served in the
Auvergne regiment until 1889. when he
was honorab Y discharged, and soon aft
er married and settled in Douai.
He acquired al small fortune during
the Revolution by lucky speculations,
and removed with his family to Paris
late in 1895, where, he took up his abode
with his cousin, Andre Lesurgues, pend
ing repairs on the house that he had
hired. He was still living with this
Andre when the CRIME was committed
for which he suffered. ~ gE
On the morning of the 9sh Ilcreal,
an ". (2Sth April, 1796), some peas
ants found the mail-coach that ran be-
tween Paris and Lyons abandoned in
the woods, near the hamlet of Lieur-
saint, a few leagues distant from Paris.
One of the horses, was missing; the
other was still harnessed to the vehicle.
Near by, among mass of papers
smeared with blood, lay the dead body
of the position, and little further on
that of the courier; both disfigured by
dreadful wounds, that, together with the
trampled grass, gave evidence of des-
perate struggle, The peasants imme-
diately alarmed the 'neighborhood, and
summoned the proper officers, who pro-
ceeded to an investigation.
A few steps from the victims they
found several articles that had evidently
belonged to- the }murderers, namely, q
great-coat with a narrow dark-bluo bor-
der, broken saber with its sheath, the
sheath OLA large knife, another saber
sheath, and q plated spur with chain
attached, (which had been broken, and
mended by means Of bit of large cord.
The blade OF the saber was red with
blood, and bore the legend,
@Lhonneur me conduit,
3 Pour 10 salut de ma patrie,
strange sentiment for a highwayman
to carry about him.
The time of the murder, as nearly as
could be ascertained, was nine o'clock
of the night before. The courier S
papers showed that on setting out he
had had in his possession ten thousand
francs in coin and several millions in
assignats, all of which were missing.
An inquest wasneXt held, when it ap-
peared, fromnthe testimony OF several
witnesses, that for men on horseback
had been along the road, on the after
noon of the 9th of April, as far n:
Lieursaint,s but not beyond; and thai
these same men, in company with fiftf
horseman, had returned towards Pari:
in the night. 1t also appeared that the
coach had carried but one passenger, {
man wrapped in ''a agreat-coat with ;
narrow dark border" who had take1
his seat beside the courier at Paris
This mau was nowhere to be found
He was clearly an accomplice, who hat
made good his escape on the missing
horse, and was the "fifth horseman o
the witnesses. A bloody saber was pro
duced that, had been picked up on th
road near Melun. Il fitted exactly tn,
odd sheath found at the scene of th
murder. Finally, the volunteer VIII
had mounted guard in Paris at the Bar
riere de Rambouillet, between four an,
five O clock, on the morning of the 2Stl
of April, Testified to the entrance int
the city, at about that time, of five horse
men, riding at full speed, upon horse
reeking with sweat and almost spent.
The police now took the matter i
hand. After securing the missing post
horse, which was found astray in Paris
near the Place Royale, they proceede
TO look up the other four. They 500
discovered that at about five O clock, o
the morning of the 2sth of April, ma
named Courriol had left at certai
tavern in Paris. four foaming horses
which he and another man had take
away again at seven o clock; that TIL
Courriol had lodged in the Rue de Pet
Reposoir before the 9th of April, b,
had not slept in his lodgings on I'll
night of the murder, or returned to thel
since; that from the 2Sth of April I
the 9th OF May he had lodged with b
mistress in the Rue de la Boucherie, /,
the house of one Richards; and, in fin,
that on thes-6th of May the two ha
taken out passports for Troyes, and 10
the city together in post-chaise. I'll
fugitives were traced to the house of
man named Golfer. in Chateau Their,
The police found there also citizen
Douai. named Guesno, who had arrive
y few hours previously from Paris, whel
he too had. lodged with Richard. TIL
Richard, itshould be remarked, had TO
merly resided in Douai. Guesno an
Collier were arrested, as well as Cou
riol and his mistress, and all four we
taken to the capital. .uifu9
AS about one fifth of the stolen pro
erty was recovered from Courriol,
was at once committed for trial; bl
Guesno and Collier easily convinced Il
magistrate. Daubanton, of their inn
cence, and were discharged from Gu
tody. Guesno was told to call the ne!
day and get his papers, which had bee
sci ed in his room at Richards.
Now Gpesno was we'll acquainte
with Joseph Lesurque, and happeniI
TO fall in with him the morning after b
release, while on the way to Daubanton
Office, he very naturally regaled b
friend with the story of his late unplea
ant experience. Lesurques no less ma
urally eyinced great interest in Guesno
recital. accompanied him to his place
destinations and readily consented to
in with him and see the end of the ma
ter. They accordingly passed into Il
magistrate's Office. and seated theI
selves in the ante room, which was fl
OF country people, witnesses in Cou
rioI 5 case. 20 Two Of the women prese
eyed them curiously and closely. al
kept up brisk whispered conversati'
until summoned 10 Uaubanton. Cues
and Lesurlues little thought what w
iJie tenor Of that conversation, Rlthou{