The Sun. — 1847-03-30 (London, England)

FANATICISM AND MURDER.  A young Count Liedekerke entered a village church near Namur, and shot his two sisters while they were engaged in their devotions before a crucifix. We read, in a Brussels paper, that the only motive for this dreadful crime was an insane fanaticism. The prisoner walked all night after committing the murder, and boasted of what he had done to a peasant whom he met on the road. On being arrested he offered no resistance. He was taken to prison, and soon afterwards was onfrontced with the corpses of his sisters, and asked if he recognised them, and it he knew how they had been murdered. His reply was " Yes ; I slew them for their idolatry." He then went on to ascribe the deed to the over-ruling will of Heaven, quoted Deuteronomy to justify the act, and declared that if he had found his father and mother perpetrating the sin of idolatry he would have destroyed them without hesitation. He also added that the elder sister was shot dead at once, but that he had to fire twice upon th© younger. The first shot inflicted no mortal injury ; so he loaded his gun, and fired upon her again. On further examination it became fully evident that the prisoner was a monomaniac. His fixed idea was a furious zeal for the restoration of the Hebrew mode of worship. He called himself a disciple of Moses, and protested against some annuities left to his sisters as violations of the Jewish law of primogeniture. The Eclaireur of Namur gives the following additional particulars of this most extraardit ary case:—" The young Count de Liedekerke, who we hear proceeded on foot to within a short distance of Huy, returned hose yesterday afternoon about three o'clock, without appearing at all concerned about what had taken place. He ordered dinner and sat down at table, but was soon arrested by the gendarmes, who had remained at the Chateau of Garonsart, and was conveyed in his carriage to the prison at Namur, where he was confined. At a later hour he was brought back with proper precaution from the prison to the chateau, to see the dead bodies of his two sisters. An eye-witness of this distressing scene informs us that the murderer had a wild and Curious look, and spoke very decidedly. He recognised the two sisters, saying, " That is Arnoldire, and that is Hyacinthe ;" and then added, that "he had a right to kill his sisters, because he was opposed by them in his religious belief; and that he had read in the Bible that it was lawful to get rid of those who stand in the way of our salvation." We have learnt many other particulars respecting the behaviour of the unhappy lunatic. After going backwards and forwards twice to Namur, he returned to the chateau and looked for the steward, threatening to kill him, but not finding him, he had inquired for his own sisters. Leaving the scene of the murder, where he had remained long enough to be seen by several witnesses, he met a peasant at a little distance ; the latter saluted him, and he coolly told him that he had just killed his two sisters, and that he was going to do the same to the Prince de Lannoy, his brother in-law. At that moment he was still armed with his gun, which he had just reloaded. The only thing that he earnestly demanded at the moment of his arrest was his Bible. It seems that another idea had occupied his mind. He fancied that he had an exclusive right to the fortune of his parents, to the prejudice of his sisters. The Prince and Princess of Reyna-Wolberg arrived at Garonsart yesterday evening at eight o'clock ; the scene was terrible—the Princess tainted as she alighted from the carriage, and the Prince had scarcely strength to support himself. The scene in the chateau was most distressing. The Countess Arnoldine was 36 years of age, and the Countess Hyacinthe 29. The funeral will take place on Wednesday.