The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-07-30

They revealed the future they found hid
den treasure; they were alchemists, and
tried to discover the philosophers stone
for converting all metals into gold.
The woman called lie Voisin was a typ
ical specimen of the sorceress of the sew
enteenth century very different from the
more ancient sorceress described by Men
elet She earned annually as much us
10000 francs; she had many lovers, and
save dinners. Among her lovers was the
executioner of Paris, Andre Guillaume,
VINO beheaded Nine de Brinvilliers. lie
Noison was a mere charlatan; she deliv-
cred her oracles 10 persons Of all ranks
in a splendid gown, and with mantle
covered with golden eagles. She was
real believer in alchemy She was also
a doctor. like all sorceresses, and had re-
ceipts for every malady She was known
to help abortive practices, and once, in
a moment of sincerity, she confessed haV-
ing burned or IN erred in her garden the
bodies of more than $500 children, prema-
turely born Curiousiy enough, she in
sisted upon these children being baptised
The crimes of this horrible creature were
such that the lieutenant of police was APP
palled by the confession of them. One can
easily imagine the stupor of Louis XIV,
when they were revealed to him. \ spe-
cial commission was appoin ed 10 inVestl-
gate what was called the affair of the
poisons This commission is known in his
tory under the name of the "chambre ar
dente"
The arrests were made by lettre de each
ct, Four hundred and forty-two persons
appeared before the special commission,
and two hundred and eighteen persons
we're kept in prison. Thirty-six prisoners
were condemned to death and executed,
five were condemned to the gallows, TWEEN
ty-three were banished. The most guilty
prisoners had accompices in very high
places Madame dc Dreux, the wife OF a
member of the Parliament. is a type Of
these accomplices She was in love with NJ.
de Richelieu, and employed the services
Of one Of the CONGRESSES brought before
the chambre ardente. She wished 10 be
relieved by poison Of her own husband, and
by sorcery of Madame de Richeiieu. She
was accused of having herself poisoned
some people-one of her lovers among the
number She was a cousin of two mem
bers Of the special commission, and she
received a mere admonition. IN. de Dreux
and his entire family" writes Madame de
Sevigne went TO get her at the Chambre
de rArgenal 1t was a JOY ana a
triumph aud she was embraced by all her
family and friends. NJ. de Rchelieu has
done wonders in all this affair. What
seems incredible is that, after ha Ting Jeff
the prison Of Vincennes, Madame de Dreux
.
and got from her powders for poisoning
a person whom NJ. de Richelieu "consd-
cred ITO be sure" says NJ. Funck -Bren-
tano. 1.-THE woman Jolly having been arrest
Cd and having made revelations, a new
warrant was issued against Madame de
Dreux; bue she was advised of II and fed"
Madame de Dreux was condemned to BAN
ishnent, but the King allowed her TO re-
main in France, on condition that she
would live with her husband in Paris. The
wife Of President Laferon was also impll-
Gated in the trial. she got powders from
the woman lie Volsin, and her husband
died soon after. She too was condemned TO
Punishment. Madame de Pouiaillon was,
by letter de cachet, shut up in a house of
detention, the Penitentes of Anglers.
The declarations of the vendors Of poi
son before the chamber ardente were OF
such gravity that Louis XIV gave special
orders that they should be kept secret.
The name of Madame de Montespan the
Kings favorite was pronounced. Her am
| bition was extreme; she had made great
efforts to supplant Maderholseile de la Val
liere, and by degrees had esta blished her
| empire over the King Her favor lasted
fourteen years, and she had no less than
seven children by Louis XIV the eldest
being the Duke du Maine; the eldest
daughter. Mademoselle de Nantes, mar
red the Due de Bourbon; another dangh-
| ter. Mademoiselie de Blois, married the
! Duke dOrleans. Marguerite LIE Voisin,