Alexandria Gazette & Daily Advertiser

SUPERSTITION IN FRANCE.

From the Paris Courier.

The following fact is an example of the ignorance and superstition which still exist in our western departments.

Three persons, named Ricou, Fayet, and Du Vacher, living in the Commune du Trambly, near Legre, were brought up at the last assizes at Maine et Loire, the two first accused of having wounded and committed other violence on the person of a man named Moreau, by which he was incapable of working 20 days, and the third of having counselled and advised the two others in doing the same.

In the month of March last, Ricou and his family suffered very much from vermin, and could not by any means get rid of them; besides which, the milk of his cows produced no butter. Ricou believed himself to be under the influence of sorcery, and consequently consulted two learned men of the profession, one of whom advised him to throw salt in the fire, and the other to throw bran in the stable where the cows were kept. Neither of these plans had any effect. Ricou then consulted Du Vacher, who, without being of the profession, enjoyed the reputation of being a wise man throughout the neighborhood. Du Vacher said he must consult a book which had been left at his house by a soldier. He afterwards informed Ricou that his family was threatened with new misfortunes, and that his wife and children would die in a few days; the only remedy was to force the sorcerer to undo the work of fate, and, in order to do this, Ricou must put the sorcerer in the fire, and hold him there until the thing was accomplished. The individual pointed out by Du Vacher, as the sorcerer and author of Ricou's misfortunes, was a man named Moreau, an honest journeyman in the neighborhood. Ricou did not easily consent to use such violent means; but at length he yielded to the fear of losing his wife and children, and procured the assistance of Fayet to put Moreau on the fire; the latter easily consented, being himself a victim to sorcery, as he believed, in consequence of drinking a glass of cider at the house of Moreau. Ricou sent his wife and children out of the way, and on the evening of the 25th day of March last he enticed Moreau to his house; a large fire was prepared; Ricou and Fayet seized Moreau, and commanded him to undo the fate which he had cast upon them, or they would throw him into the fire. Moreau, in vain, protested that he was no sorcerer; he was seized and laid across the fire. The fire had already burnt his clothes, and injured his leg and left thigh, when his cries somewhat frightened his persecutors. Fayet ran away with all possible speed. Ricou took up a gun, and threatened to shoot Moreau unless he suffered himself to be broiled alive; at length he also was frightened at the cries of his sufferer, and permitted him to make his escape.

On the trial, Ricou affirmed very seriously, that in a few days after this deed, the milk of his cows produced good butter, and he also got rid of the vermin; in short, his fate had altered.

Fayet said, "that, as far as regarded himself, he was always the victim of sorcery, & he had the cholic every day from 2 to 4 o'clock."

The counsel for Ricou and Fayet contended, that the ignorance and barbarity of these unfortunate men ought not to be punished; enlighten, but do not punish them. These principles were opposed by M. Gauthier.

Ricou and Fayet were sentenced to two years' imprisonment, and Du Vacher was acquitted on the 12th of August.

A similar case will come before the assizes at Sarthe. In this case the sorcerer is killed by the person suffering under his supposed influence. The murderer accuses his victim of having given the smallpox to his infant, and caused the death of his sheep.