The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-02-16

wanted. seized a horse pistol, which ht
stuck in his belt, and a boarding ak
which he wildly brandished. Ther
cautiously opening the door of the ate
lier, the army entered the suspected ter
ritory.
When we were in the midst of this
vast room, encountered with easels, pic
lures and strange, unexpected objects
of furniture, Sorieul called a halt and
said: Il constitute myself general. Let
us hold q council of wal. You cuiras
siers, go and cut off the retreat of the
enemy, that is, Lock the door, You
grenadiers will be my escort"
/ executed the commanded movement
then joined the troop that formed the
accommodating party.
l was searching behind great screen,
a lighted candle in my hand, when q
furious noise burst forth. l darted out
to find lie Poittevin had stuck his bayo
net into the breast of a lay figure, and
Sorieul was trying to cut off the head
with his ak.
The mistake being recognized the gen.
eral commanded, "Be more prudent?
and again we commenced operations.
For twenty minutes at least we ran.
sacked every corner and crevice of the
atelier without success. Atlast LIE Poit-
tevin thought of opening q large closet.
1t was dark and deep. l thrust in my
arm, holding the light, but quickly re-
coiled; a man-a living, breathing man
was there looking at mel
/ Immediately shut the door and Sc
cured it by two turns of the key; then
we held a new council of war.
Opinions were very much divided. So
rieul wanted to smoke out the robber, LIE
Poittevin to take him by famine; l pro-
posed to blow him up with powder.
The advice of LIE Poittevin prevailed.
While he mounted guard with his
gigantic gun we ran off for the remain
der of the punch and our pipes; when
we installed ourselves before the locked
door and drank to the health of the pris-
oner.
At the end of half an hour Sorieul said:
"All the same, I would like to see him
nearer! Suppose we take him by force!'
] cried "Bravov Each one dashed to
his arms, the closet door was opened,
Sorieul cooking his pistol-which was
not loaded-was the first to rush in, we
followed, bowling and yelling. It was
an awful scrimmage In the dark, and
after five minutes of frightful struggling
we brought out an old, dirty, ragged
looking beggar with long white hair.
VIZ Io,,-1 h,-a ho~l onl FDN% o~5 ~~N
ceeded to question him. He would not
answer a word.
Then Sorieul, full Of digniied drunken
ness, said, "We must try this man, and
pass sentence upon him" / was so
drunk the proposition seemed perfectly
natural to me. LIE Poitteyin was charged
with the defense, and l to sustain the
accusation. He was condemned to death;
only one dissenting voice, that of his de-
fender. We were going to execute the
sentence, when q serious scruple came to
Sorieul. He said: "This man ought not
to die without the consolation of religion.
Some n must go for a priest"
/ objected-said it was too late. Then
Sorieul proposed that l should fill that
office, and l exhorted the criminal to
unburden his sins into my bosom.
The poor old wretch had been rolling
his frightened eyes for about five min
utes, no doubt wondering what kind of
madmen he had fallen into the hands OF.
You will laugh when l tell you Sorieul
forced him down upon his knees, saying,
"Confess to this gentleman, for thy last
hour has comet"
Horribly frightened, the old scoundrel
began to cry "Help! help!" with such
strength and vigor we we've forced to
gag him for fear he would arouse the
neighbors. Then he rolled over the
floor, turning, twisting, upsetting the
easels, pictures, canvases. until Sorieul
got out of patience and angrily ex-
claimed, "Come, let us finish himP
with that he put his pistol to the head
of the miserable wretch and pulled the
trigger.
Carried away by his example, l fired
in my turn. My musket was an old
fintlock, and sent forth a tiny spark,
to my great surprise.
Then LIE Poittevin said in grave tones.
'Have we the right to kill this manY'
Sorieul in great establishment cried
out, Certainly, when we have con.
demned him to deathr"
"But," continued LIE P~oittevin, "they
don't shoot civilians. They are always
hanged. We must take this one to the
police station"
This argument appeared conclusive.
We picked up the old fellow-he
would not walk a step-bound him Sc.
curely to a plank taken from the model
table, and carried him, LIE Poittevin al
the head, l at the foot, while Sorieul,
armed to the teeth, closed the line Of
march.
When we reached the station house
the sentinel arrested us. The chief o.
police was sent for. He knew us well,
nearly every day Witnessing some of oul
jokes, pranks and unheard of capers
He refused to receive our prisoner.
Sorieul insisted; then the officer sever
ly invited us to return home and make
no more noise.
The troop again took up the line Of
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