The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-05-02
WAS MY EIECUTBDf
James A. Wes on In New Book Gives His
Thenrr IL tha ETAnch MtrshaPs late.


James A. Yves on In New Book Gives His
Theory Of the French Msrshars Fate
NEW YORK. May la very curious
and in some respects an exceptionally IN
terestng book has been published py
Thomas Whitaker. 1t Is entitled. HIS
toric Doubts as 10 the Execution or Mar
shall Ney," and Is the work or James ~
Weston. Of Hickory, North Carolina. Nj
merous explanatory Illustrations accom-
pany the text, and add greatly TO the
value of the book. Among them are re-
productions OF Marshal Neys handwrit-
ing and Illustrations OF several striking
events in the life of the famous warrior.
The authors object In writing the book
is plainly told. Having been Informed
several years ago that Peter stuart Ney'
who died November Is, 1916, in Rowan
county y. c. was the famous Marshal
Ney. OF France he started on A thorough
investigation OF the matter, and the re-
suit is that he is satisfied that the Ney
who died forty-nine years ago IN North
Carolina was Marshal Ney, VINO was sup
posed TO have persisted in France, put
who, in the opinion OF the author anu
others. escaped death through the alu
of the soldiers detailed TO execute him.
and found a refuge in the United states
GROUNDS or qHE AUTHORS BELuF.
The author bases his conviction that
Peter :. Ney was Marshal Ney on sew
eral grounds. In the first place, the
physical resemblance between the two
men was very great-'pertect,' says the
author. Both were large. athletic
broad-shouldered. full-chested, ana SYM
petrically built. Again, in character
disposition. habit and manners, polh
men were singularly alike. Marshal
New VAS a man of great personal mag
netism, and Of strong, VIGOROUS
mind as. too. was Peter 5. Ney Both
men used tobacco, and drank wine ana
shirts Peter sometimes INDUCED III
the latter TO excess, but we are toia
that "he was not at all Incorporate
until the death of Napoleon, IN 1871 when
he said TO Colonel Rogers. with the
death of Napoleon. my last nope Is
gone This would certainly seem 10
prove that Peter and the Marshai were
one and the same. ..,
Moreover. both men had strong consti-
tutions. were fair musicians, model SONS
husbands. and fathers, had considerao'e
artistic talent. were skilled fencers. and
Thoroughly versed in everything per
raining TO the art OF war. More cur
Gus Is the fact that Marshal Ney was
wounded several tmes-in the loot Knee
thigh. hand. arm and chest-and tnat re-
ter : Nev also had wounds I'm All 'heSs
places Marshal Ney was also WOUNDED
i'm the neck. but there Is no record OF
any such wound I'm Peters case
As 10 the change OF name the au-
thor saws. "If Peter :. Ney were Mar
ehal Nov. why did he adopt the name OF
peter stuart Ney2 The French soldiers
called Marshal Ney Peter the Red IL
vas their pet name for him. TINS name
! therefore, must have had for Ney the
most delightful. the most tender, even
the most sacred associations, As 10 ms
middle name. T.. :. Ney said-accofdlhg 20
/ some witnesses the maiden name OF
| his mother was Stuart, and that he chose
| Stuart on that account. According 10
other witnesses he chose TINS name
/ because his mother was related 70, OF III
sonr way closely connected "llh'
/ family Of Stuarts'
WHY he CHOSE THE NAME.
"Put Ney. why did he adopt that
rarne-a name OF worldwide fame, anu
/ therefore. almost certain 10 create s"s-
nicion and to lead 10 discovery name
| which no one would expect him 20 take
! lie took il. I'm all probability. simply De-
/ cause N was famous throughout the
world. because no one would expect MIN
! ~ take H. II was his greatest protection
ia take IT, II was his greatest
nrotection. his best foil against
suspicion or recognition. II was
/ i'm keeping with Ney's bold daring
| shrewd practical character. BESIDES
there was magic in the name. Ney' IL
avoke A thousand precious, hallo"ed
memories II thrilled one through ana
| through. ike an electric shock. II was
] the SYNONYM OF bravery and herolsm
and Immortality Ney could not give
mo that name. 1t was his life' his glory
| his ALL" n.,ou
The closing scene in the life OF peter
| s. Ney points also in the same dlreGt ION
"a few minutes before ms aeath' I. -
/ %ev became deliri0us. I'm TINS conan
,,on he died Mr.. o. q. Foard says that
his iaet words. spoken IN delirium' were
-. .Ressieres is dead. and the old
| Guard is defeated: now let me de. Mar
iii NJ, had often led the Old Guard 20
,,,etorg and they had gone down win
w.. -, The field OF Waterloo. Marshal
possicres the loved and honored COM
r,ander ~ the old Guard. was killed at
| he de6le of Rippach. In lel3 " was
NEURAL that Ney in his last moments
cbo,,ld link them togethor-Bessleres anu
the old Guard"
'rhese extracts will suffice TO show that
this is book Of unusual interest ne
| Great Marshal played a famous par
| on the worlds stage, mo any ne"
facts regarding him and his career are
| ~ unouestionable value. whether 'hs
author has proved his case or not IN,
rssders OF his work must decide. he
bas certainly taken infinite pains 70 gam
an nossible information on the subject