The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-22
AN OLD STORY REVIVED.
That About Peter Stuart Ney, who Died in
North Carolina.

The Ney myth comes to the front once
more, and this time it is deliberately set
forth in book written by Rev. James A.
Weston of Hickory, n. C. Mr.. Weston is
an Episcopal clergyman. scholarly gentle
man. and he is firmly convinced that the
Peter Stuart Ney, who taught school and
died in Rowan County, n. c., in 1876, was
the veriiable Michael Ney. the Marshal of
france, who was called by Napoleon the
bravest of the brave.
In this strangely interesting book we are
told the names and given the testimony of
many prominent citizens of tie Carolinas
who knew Peter Stuart Ney, and who were
satisfied that he was the great French soldier
From all accounts the man was the very
image OF the Marshal. Hewas very reticent,
but occasionally took too much wine, and
then made admissions tending to show that
he was Michael Ney. He tried to commit
suicide when he heard of Napole0n's DEATH
He told Colonel Houston of IredeH County.
N. e., that when he marched TO the place of
execution he found that the soldiers detailed
to do the work belonged to his old command
He whispered TO them to aim high. They
obeyed him, and when the yolley was fired
ne fell, was pronounced dead and his body
was turned over to his friends. He went
secretly to Bordeaux, where he took vessel
1876
Now what are the facts on the other side ?
~ 1NuitIt SotOlluA NtN was q SCHOOL,
teacher. The real Ney was a mau of hardly
any education. The North Carolina Ney
sometimes got drunk. The real Ney was
noted for his abstemious habits.
why should any secrecy have been neces-
sary? Ii Ney had escaped he would have
been free and perfectly safe on these shores.
He was pot obliged to remain in exile. Am
nesty was granted by Louis XVIII, Charles
\ and Louis Philippe, and if Ney had been
living he would have returned to France
under the reigns Of either of these soyer-
eigns.
But this Is not all. The story will not
hold water. Napoleon told his friends at
ST. Helena all about Ney's execution. He,
at least, would have been informed of his
old MarshaPs escape. Montholon in his
memoirs describes the execution. Bouri-
enne gives minute details. The members of
the Ney family have time and again repudi-
ated the North Carolina Ney.
And yet many of the best and most intel
ligent people OF the Carolinas have believed
Tor the past sixty years, and still believe.
that Peter Stuart Ney, the schooI-teacher
was the famous hero of the FIRST Empire.
They believed it because he looked like New,
ived life of mystery, and now and then
told friend in confidence that ne was
Michael Ney.. 1t is useless to argue with
people when they take up fad. Some peo-
pie believe that Wilkes Booth is alive. Some
believe that the Rev. Eleazer Williams was
the son Of Marie Antoinette. and some be-
lieve that Brigham Young did not die, but
went off to live somewhere under an as
sumed name.
After all, it is well that the Ney myth has
been made the theme of book. 1t will now
attract more attention, and the evidence
against it will be presented in a shape that
will dispose OF the story forever. Atlanta
Constitution,