The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-09-03
A TRIAL UNPRECEDENTED.
A dominican "A Onk RObs the Mon
nstery, Fsigns Suicide, aSd
IL Acquitted.

Lopdon Daily MelOs, Bordeaux has
been in astsie OF excitement about the
rial before the Assiza Court there OF
a Dominican named Pierre Brochard,
doctor in theology, and a remarkably
fine looking man OF 35 years, with a
long brown beard Of exceptional
INSURANCE. The indictment sets forth
that on the 3lst OF March last male
factor entered the Dominican mona9
,ery at Lille, and with the aid oil false
KEYS succeeded in opening the sale in
which money, Stock Exchange 30
curities and other property, were
kept. He carried off twelve deoen-
lures OF Austrian rente, worth 3O.OOO
francs, and upward of 5000 francs in
bank notes and gold. This robbery
must have been committed by q per
son familiar with the monastery, 81
no window was broken, nor Was any
noise heard by anyone belonging to The
house. Pierre Brochard, it was further
set forth, left the building on the eve
OF the robbery, and on the 18th oil
Nav assumed the name OF Beltbler,
went TO the office oil M. Molina, a
money changer OF Bordeaux, and
sought to get several Austrian debeni-
ures cashsd. As notice had been re-
ceivel by the money changers OF Dor
deaux not to pay the stolen bones,
M. Molit a, finding the numbers were
the same as those on the list sent by
the Dominicaps OF Lille, caused Pierre
Brochard to be arrested The monk,
on being Intercepted, owned
that be had been enabled by
Ease keys which a Lille lock
smith manufactured for him
on the model OF The real ones to open
the iron safe of the order. He com
mitted the robbery tho night after he
let the monastery when all the in
mates were in bed, simply by unlock
ing every door that came in his way.
On quitting Lille he decided to re-
nounce an ecclesiastical lie. He sim
ulated suicide by leaving his monastic
suit on.the. bank OF river, where 1t
WAS found. lie swan to the other SIDE
and rs be had prepared the brother
hood for suicide, they concluded when
his frock and undertaking were
found that he had drowned himself
Then under the name OF Berthier he
proceeded to Bordeaux, aud tod every
one he met of the suicide OF the NOOK
Brochard, so that he was Dever sus-
pected of the robbery, and would not
have been detected but for the money
changer noticing the numbers OF the
Aus rian debentures. Nothing could
be more full tran the avowal. On the
Judge asking whether he had ANYTHING
to add in extenuation OF his offence,
he faid that he had grave
maady, which sciercs was
powerless to cure, and
that owing to its effects on his brain
he was unable to preach. 1t was
under the influence Of this dorange-
ment that no planned and executed
the robbery which, he owned, he went
about in cool and cautious manner
that seemed incompatible with the
mental state he described. His crime
was ominable, and his repentance
was deep and hitter. A Dominican
brother was called by Brocbard's
counsel "a witness OF the circum-
stances OF the robbery. He kuew
nothing beyond what had been con-
iessed, but he informed the jury that
according to the civil law thsrs had
been no robbery, all things being in
common in n monastery. Brochard
had, perhaps, taken more than his
share, and prematurely, out Of iuad
of which he was co-proprietor, for I'M
der the decree for the expulsion OF the
religious orders this money YVES d.
vided equally among tho brethren,
who were to be reea dsd as a religious
family. The presiding Judge indig.
nantly protected against this theory,
but it went home to the jurors, who
returned unanimous verdict OF &C
ouittal,