Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-01-07
Famous Trials
URBAN CHANDLER

conspiracy was responsible for the
conviction and execution of Urban
Grandier, French priest, of Loudun.
He was connected with tFe Sa1te
Croix church, and in 1889 WAS accus-
ed of witchcraft by some hysterical
novices of the Carmelite Convent,
where the trial, protracted for two
years, was held. he was finally found
guilty and burned alive at Loudum on
the 18th of August, 1884.
He was man of great personal
charm, of good carriage and graceful
figure. He carried himself with an
air of great dignity and was addicted
to gallantry; and hence it came to pass
that among his enemies some were
rivals, some incensed fathers and 9TH
ers enraged husbands. But amongst
all his enemies there was none SO for
midable as Trinquant, the Kings at
torney, who had. a beautiful daughter
whose good graces Grandier had won.
These sworn enemies of Grandier
laid their. heads together to compass
his ruin. They brought a charge against
him Of which he was convicted, but
upon his appeal to the higher court
he was honorably acquitted and given
the power to prosecute his enemies for
reparation. Returning to Loudun with
an air of triumph he treated his enc
| mics with a naughty GOODNESS, which
the latter construed into nothing but
an act Of bold defiance, Gfld they
breathed nothing but revenge.
Not long after reports were whis
pered through the town that some of
the nuns of the Carmelite Convent
were possessed of evil spirits. Mignon
one of Grandier's enemies, called upon
| one of his friends, Barre to come with
| him to the convent and exercise the
nuns who were possessed. Then were
| gathered many of the dignitaries OF
| the Church and the officers of Loudur
and the surrounding towns. When they
arrived at Carmelite they learned thai
two nuns at that moment were possess
ed, one of them the prioressIand she
was then examined.
Mignon then as!t4d the demon
| For what reason have you entered the
| body of this virgin ?"
The Woman-who was supposed tt
be then under the influence of thu
devii-replied: "Out of spite and ami
mostly
Upon the girl being asked by wha
pact, she answered, BY flowers" ant
then under examination, the devil" IL
her told that one had sent her SOM
roses whose name was Urban. AS tn
Pope's name was Urban she was ask
ed his surname, to which she answers
"Grandief."
The girl then went on to tell of wha
church ne was and when the ques
tions were finished she convenient
ly returned to her senses. This wa
not the only exhibition, for almos
every day some of the nuns wer
| possessed of a strange spirit whicl
| 4od 60
being examined, they all replied tina
the devil had been sent by Urba
GFandier. He at first took no motto
of these exhibitions, regarding Their
merely as a farce, but ominous whis
perings began to be muttered, and h
resolved to free himself from gossi
once and for all.
The result Of the public exarninatio
showed that the girls had been promp
ted by the enemies of Grandier, and i
, as one said, the devil really was
them, they would know how to tai
, good and perfect Latin which the nun
, did not in answer to the questions. A
. last three Of the nuns, being tired {
, the long trial before the Kings al
, torney, confessed that they had learn
|, ed their parts and had been instruct
. ed by Barre, Mignon ard one Laubard
!, f, ence the judges who were great
: prejlsdiced against Grandier and de
: termined that he should die.
! ! The trial dragged on for more tina
: two years, and it was on the 18th {
= August, 1884 that the sentence was
last pronounced. Grandier was convict
ed of "the crimes of magic, scorer
9 and the possession entailed by his dee
y upon the persons of several nuns, tt
: gether with other enormities, for whic
he was sentenced to be led with
burning torch around the city, to |
: burnt laiavte the stake, and prey
! GUS to this to be put to torture OF
I binary and extraordinary so that
would confess his accomplices.'
This was carried out, the tortul
\ consisting of the legs being bound /
= two boards and wedges driven b,
7 tween, eight in ALL By this both h
: legs we're crushed and broken.
The next morning he was whsele
e away in cart and tied to the stall
: He persisted in his Innocence to I'll
Il last, saying that he had never know
the nuns, some of whom accused hiI
Il In his sentence it was agreed that
: should be strangled by rope befo
the fire burnt him to death, but tn
l was not carried out for bne of b
prosecutors tied a knot III the rot
n which prevented the moose from Sill
it ping and thereby prolonged the agon
If While the flames licked around
r, body, he prayed until his voice cetl
7 be heard no more, to the last pr
II testing his innocence. and asking 70
t giveness fer his enemies.