Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-08-30
BRUNEAU GUILLOTINED.
The Murderous Abbe Meets His
 Just Deserts.
HE KILLED A VENERABLE PRIEST.
He Was a Wolf In sheep's Clothing. and
 While Protesting Extreme Piety Robbed Charitable People to Indulge Himself In

He Was a Wolf In sheep's Clothing, and
 While Protesting Extreme Piety Robbed
 Charitable People to Indulge Himself In
 Sinful Pleasures.
 LAVAL, France, Aug. 3O.-Abbe Bru- neau, the murderer, was executed at o'clock this morning.
 Bruneau was awake when tho officers entered his cell ts tell him 1t was time to prepare for tho execution. When he was dressed, the condemned man heard mass and received communion He prayed the pardon of God and men for any faults he might have committed and also asked that the clergy might pardon him for breaking his vows of chastity. Ho then informed tho attendants that he was ready. Hc showed great coolness until he arrived at the foot of the scaffold, when his fortitude seemed to leave him.
 An enormous crowd was present, and the people cheered when the criminals head fell into the basket. Bruneau left a two page letter, in which he protested his innocence of the crimes with which he was charged.
 The order for the execution was not re- ceived until 5 o'clock last evening. When 1t became known to the people, 1t caused general rejoicing.
 A DIsorderly Crowd A crowd began to gather at the scene of the execution as night fell, and 2, 900 persons had assembled by midnight. Maitre Domique, the prisoners counsel, | arrived in Laval late last evening. He left the train at the station next to Laval, as he feared that he would be attacked by | tho populace, who had been greatly ip- | censed because of his efforts to obtain Bruneau's pardon. As the night advanc- | ed the mob grow noisy, and the police charged the Place do Palais dc Justice, | and troops cordoned tho streets in the vi- cinity. At o'clock 5000 people were waiting in the neighborhood and passing the time in tumultuous singing and yell ing. They became so disorderly that the soldiers were obliged to drive them fur | ther away. All the windows overlooking the scene of the execution were lighted and orammed with spectators, who be- | guiled the time in drinking and laughing | Deibler. the executioner, and his assist | ants began to erect tho guillotinc at ?: l5 o'clock this morning. The scene at that hour was one of riotous and brutal reioic- ing, which was continued until the knife had fallen, when the mob numbered about 5000.
 | Bruneau's Record or Crime.
 Bruneau was convicted of the murder of Abbe Fricot, the venerable cure of En- trammcs, but acquitted of the murder of Mime. BourdaiS n flower seller of Laval.
 Bruneau. despite offenses of n criminal nature in his youth, was admitted to the higher seminary at Laval. was oSdained . priest and appointed vicar of Astillc in 1886. By protesting extreme piety AbbC Bruneau became possessed of largo sum. of money given him for charitable pur poses, which he seems to have spent ir houses of i'll fame at Laval, which he wis
 tied at night in civilian attire.
 He robbed the euro of Astille of ovel 500 francs. He insured his effects for l. 300 francs and set fro to the presbytery in or der to obtain the insurance Some tim' afterward Abbe Bruneau was sent to as sist Abbo Fricot at Entrammes. Thor,
 the vestry was broken into and a sum 0 money stolen.
 Bruneau was suspected of the crime
 He became awnre of this. and on Jan. ,
 returning from Laval after drinking free ly, he throw the AbbS down n well, hold
 ing him under the water with a long pol
 until he was drowned.