The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser. — 1826-09-29 (London, England)

CRATEAUROUX.—..LOIIis and Etienne Brault were brought before the Court, accused of the murder of the widow Pigekt, a poor infirm old lady, who lived in a lone house at the extremity of the village of Lavernelle ; she bad two daughters, one of them married to one of the prisoners, Brault, anti the other residing also in the same village, some distance off. It was known that the widow Pieelet possessed about eight or ten thousand francs in gold and silver. Her grand-daughter, Marie Brault, aged seven, usually slept with her grandmamtna, and was almost entirely brought up by her. Some time before the murder it was arranged that she should sleep aline, under pretence that it was unhealthy to sleep with an old woman. On the 15th July the little thing came running, and crying'out that grandmamma was dead. She was found stretched on her bed, her head terribly fractured ; an enormous fire-dog hail beets removed from the grate, and being found covered with blood, was unquestionably the instrument with which the fatal deed was performed. The trunks and drawers had been opened and ransacked, her keys had been taken from her pocket, and part of them Rom under some linen where she was accustomed to hide them. The assassins effected their entrance by mesas of a hole made in the oven, the wall of which communicated with a field. Suspicions at first alighted upon some fellows of bad reputation in the village, and at length upon Louis Brault, son-in-law to the victim, and Etienne Brault,. his nephew • they were both corn-dealers, and after the event were observed to deal more largely than before. Louis Brault had been seen, the morning the murder was committed, on a bridge near Laveruelle. Suspicions were heightened against &lame Brault, by his wife having been heard to exclaim, "We are all lost!" His mother had been heard to say, " he has threatened, and done much worse; but he is my son, I must spare him." On his examination, he stated, that on the night of the murder he went to be] at nine o'clock, and rose at four the next morning; but witnesses proved that he had been seen in the streets at 11 at night; his servant also had made use of expressions which tended to implicate his master; among others, one day, his horse having fallen into a quagmire, he exclaimed, " well, lie and rot if you will, the crowns of widow Pigelet will buy another in your place." This servant, named Mari, was arrested, and on his examination a 1,000 franc note was found upon him ; he was not, however, included in the act of accusation. After a patient invcstigaticn that lasted three days, the prisoners were acquitted. The President then addressed them to the following effect:— " Etienne Brault, numerous witnesses have deposed against you. You are about to be set at liberty, to return to your ,tome; let no spirit of vengeance prevail. Endeavour that no complaint be henceforth made against you ; think that, sooner or later, justice will discover the guilty. Louis Brault, justice absolves you. We must think )ou innocent, but remember that there is a justice which cannot be deceived. Descend to the bottom of your heart and conscience ; if you are guilty, behold what an example you have given to this infant: You are free; retire."  On the sth Ult. M. Voisin, a notary's clerk, was found dead in the forest of La Londe, a few feet from the high road; he bail been shot through with a ball ; a pistol was found near the body ; hi■ hat was plated before him ; his horse was found feeding in the wood. The report was at first circulated that be had committed suicide, but his belt, which was faund at some distance cut in pieces, left no doubt but he had been assassinated. Three persons were arrested, namely, Jean Deguet, Jean Heurtaux, and his wife, on suspicion of being concerned, and they arc to be tried in a short time.  We understand that Mr. Charles Egan, professor of the harp to her Royal Highness the Princess Atwasut, has retun ed EoBland, to resume his professional s.