The New Hampshire Gazette And General Advertiser

The MEDLEY.

The following extract from a late European publication, shows that the most distressing consequences may result from judgments founded on circumstantial and presumptive evidence, however strong.

AN AFFECTING ANECDOTE.

A young lady named D'Au Mont, was executed in the city of Lyons about six years ago, for the supposed murder of her uncle, the Chevalier de la Poulone, with whom she lived in the most affectionate harmony from her infant years. Having conceived a passion for a very deserving young officer, who was quartered in the town, and between whom and the young lady, a mutual affection subsisted, she came to a determination of eloping with him unknown to her uncle, and only admitted one female servant to her confidence. It unfortunately happened that this woman was leagued with a private soldier, who meditated the plan of murdering the Chevalier, with a view of plundering the house on the night the intended elopement should take place, in order that the unhappy niece should be judged the perpetrator of the horrid deed which was accordingly effected with every degree of savage barbarity. The young lady and the officer were immediately pursued, brought back, and committed to prison. The former was tried and executed on the false evidence, of the female servant; and the latter was cashiered, and condemned to the galleys for life. About five months ago, the servant being taken ill, threatened to divulge the whole matter before a magistrate; to prevent which the soldier who had married her put an end to his wife's existence: But at length feeling sincere remorse for these repeated murders, he voluntarily surrendered himself up to justice, confessed the whole affair, and was publicly executed amidst the execrations of the enraged multitude. What adds to the dreadful recital is, that the young lady was not less remarkable for her beauty than her unaffected piety and sweet simplicity of manners. A broken heart soon terminated the miserable existence of the wretched officer, who died six weeks after the execution of the most amiable sufferer, in most excruciating tortures. A most superb monument is to be erected at public cost, in remembrance of this melancholy event.