The Press. — 1857-01-10 (London, England)

ASSASSINATION OF TILE ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS.  The Archbishop of Paris was assassinated on Saturday last in the Church of St. Etienne du Mont. The circumstances of this distressing occurrence are as follows :—Monsignor Sibour, having assisted at the service of the mass in celebration of the " neuvaine " of St. Genevieve, in the Church of St. Etienne, after walking in procession fro:n the chancel to the sacristy, was in the act of turning :►t the door to give his benediction to the congregation, when a person near him suddenly rushed forward, lifted the cape of his robe, and crying out "A bas los Deesses," dealt him a heavy blow in his side with a " catalan " knife. The prelate, uttering a frightful scream that was beard above the pealing tones of the organ, fell mor.  31  tally wounded. He was taken into the sacristy, and, having received absolution from the Grand Vicar, M, Surat, died almost immediately. His last and only words were, Ali !le malheureux." The assassin was arrested on the spot. Upon being asked the motive for the heinous act, he replied that " he bad been unjustly suspended from his clerical office," and explained the words " pas de Deesses " by saying, " I do not believe in the Immaculate Conception, I have preached against such foul doctrine, for which I have been suspended, and I desired once again to protest publicly against this impious worship." (" J'ai voulu protester une foil de plus contra ce culto impie.") The murderer is a Roman priest, named Verges. Ile was horn in 1824 at Neuilly sur Seine, of uncertain parentage, and was brought up for the priestly cflice by the cure of St. Germain l'Auxerrois, who lavishel upon him all the affectionate cares of a father. Having conducted himself contumaciously towards his superior ho was sent for two mouths, en retraite, to a seminary in the diocese of Meaux. Afterwards he was appointed to the curacy of Servin. On the 11th of November last Verges was examined as a witness in a trial for poisoning, at the assizes of Melun, and, taking up the cause of the accused with headstrong violence, published a pamphlet defamatory of the judge and jury. For this offence he was removed from the curacy of Servin, and in revenge preached against the Immaculate Conception, for which he was finally suspended. Verges was taken to the prison of Mara., where he is kept au secret. His conduct is wayward and excited. At times, when more calm and composed, lie expresses himself mysteriously as to some future event; whilst at others he raves and utters the most blasphemous imprecations. It is certain that he has no accomplices, but many of' his irregular observations lead to the supposition of his having been connected with what is commonly termed " bad company." Since his suspension he is said to have visited Brussels.  Mgr. Sibour was sixty-four years old, having been born in 1792, at Pont Saint Esprit, in the department of Gard. ln 1840 he resigned the benefice of St. Sulpice to become Bishop of Dique ; and on the 16th of October, Im-Ps, he was translated to the Archbishopric of Paris. The deceased prelate was most amiable in the private relations of life, eminently liberal in his ecclesiastical opinions, and swayed by strong anti Jesuit tendencies. The murder has caused a great sensation throughout France.