The Sun. — 1840-01-31 (London, England)

DRACIUIONAN, JAN. 14.—Toussaint Chauvet was found guilty on the 11th 01 November, by the Court of Assizes the department of the Var, of murdering his sister, in-law, and was condemned to death. The circumstances under which the crime hid been committed, the untameable temper of the murderer— there, seated on the bench of infamy was his daughtor, aged fiFteen, uttering dreadful declarations against her father, whose accomplice she was accused of being—the touching position of the victim's family, and the attachment of which she was the object from all I,ho knew her—all this excited eat neat attention to the various phases of the drama which the energetic verdict of the jury was to ter urinate. The verdict was received as the work of justice, and not a voice was rai,ed in favour of the murderer, who appealed to the Royal clemency, after having in vain appealed to the Courts of Law. Chauvet heard his sentence without emotion. On arriving at the prison he instantly asked for something to eat. During two months he never softened the savage ferocious nature of his character. Continually protesting against his sentence, and throwing the responsibility of his death upon his daughter, be ar,,,tvered the priests and others who attempted to administer to him the solace of religion. " If there were a God, he wc.uld come down from Heaven to save me ; if I am taken to the scaffold, there is no God." He took his meals regularly, and insisted on having double rations, which he shared with another convict, his companion in captivity. At six a.m., on the 14th instant, the Abbe Court entered Chauvet's cell, and told him that he must prepare to go. " Where ?" replied be. "To Luc," said the Priest. " Well, I am ready," said he," " but I'll first take some brandy and something to cat." He was given what lie wanted, and whilst going in the cart through the multitude which had is. sembled to see him pass. he continued eating with the greatest sang froid until he arrived at the prison. The cort,ge arrived at Luc at hall-past ten. The prisoner, standing up in the cart, apostrophised the people, saying that he was the victim of perjury. On passing before the .Judge he vociferated some horrible exclamations against that respectable Magistrate, accusing him of having caused his death, &c. The prisoner's cynicism excited the disgust and indignation of all the bystanders. On passing under the guillotine Chauvet looked at it and said, " You will soon cut off a good and innocent head." While the executioners were cutting off his hair, preparing him for the scaffold, he uttered the most horrible blasphemies, and was ferocious and savage as a madman. He, however, asked for something to eat, saying it was better to meet death with a full stomach. At length he consented to confess. At half-past one the immense masses which had assembled to witness the execution perceived the prison gates thrown open. The fatal moment had arrived. Chauvet advanced with a firm step towards the guillotine, and mounted the steps unassisted. Whilst the executioners were binding his hands he cried out, with a hoarse, stentorian voice, " Had there been a God, he would have performed a miracle to save me I lam innocent !" In another second he ceased to exist.