The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-11-15
AN AMERICAN LYNcHING
 IN A VILLAGE OF FRANCE
vkllagera Stoned wosnan Who Was Suspected of Murderlmg Her
 Husband.

Vhlagers Stoned Woman Who Was
 Suspected of Murdering Her
 Husband.
 Paris. Nov. 14.--Tavaux, a prosperous little place situated between Dole and Chalons, has been the scene of ter- rible village tragedy, three women, two children. and an aged man having been stoned. and their house smashed in because enc of the women. after being tried and acquitted, is nevertheless popularly suspected of having helped to murder her husband. The butcher of Tavaux, named Martin, was found dead. tn front of his home last January. diaetly suspected of having murdered him. They were arrested and tried. and the wife was acquitted recently, while her brother was found guilty and sentenced to ten years hard labor. The woman returned to Tavaux where she had her house and some land, and where lived her father and mother. both very aged, two little children. and, sister, all of whom practically de- pended on her. Her return caused great indignation among the villagers, who persisted in considering her guilty. Their idea was to lynch her, and 1t is a wonder they did not kill the entire family The evening when 1t was known that the. woman had arrived, crowd gathered in front of the house. and threatened her with death. She had murdered her husband, they said, and now came back to enjoy possession of his house and lands. On the follow Ing night a still greater crowd gath, cred, and set to work pelting stones at the house.
 In q few minutes all the windows were smashed in. The three women in- side were in mortal terror. the chil- L the furniture, and the old father of the unfortunate woman. though scarcely able to move, asked for c gun with which to defend himself. The crowd outside became only more excited, big stones continued to hall on the house, the tiles on the roof were smashed, and the doors battered in. The three wo- men escaped in terr0f by the back of the house. dragging the old man and one of the children with them across the fields. to seek shelter in the woods When they got there they found the youngest child, q mere baby, missing. Back went the old grandmother to save the innocent creature. whom dhs found asleep in the cradle. She reached 1t just in time to save It from death, the stones continuing to be hurled on the into the room of the child. The mob then broke into the barn. pulled out all It's contents. including the carts, implements, and the entire harvest, and threw everything Into the river. They then intended to set fr6 to the house and barn. but at the last moment were prevented by gendaFmes. As a result of this scene. forty of the villagers have been indicted, and will have to appear for trial, The animosity most likely owes It's origin to a few ring. leaders, the boon companions of the dead butcher. Tn his life time. 1t was said. as he had plenty of money. he spent 1t freely, and passed most of his time in drink shops. On the oth CT hand. 1t is alleged that he neglected and ill-treated his wife at home. and had several times driven her out of the house. It was to avenge this .ill- treatment, it was alleged, at the trial, that shis brotiler-in-law murdered him. tssr sf ~-a---------ua--@a--------@- II What vnui ara today van viii ba tns