Causes Célèbres. said to them, " Well, do you still think that these two men are two of the assassins of Lieursaint?" "Yes, Citizen Judge," replied they; " they are two of the four cavaliers who dined at the house of the Citizen Everard.and took coffee at the house of the Citizeness Chatelain." "Be careful what you say," replied the magistrate. " One of these two men has been suspected, and nothing obliged him, if he were guilty, to come here. The other, the blonde, has never appeared before in the case, and his presence here is still more in explicable. Criminals ordinarily do not come to the bureau of police after committing a crime." The two women persisted; they recog nized both of them, but were most certain as to the blonde, who was Lesurques. The Citizen Daubanton made Guesno and Lesurques re-enter, and this time confronted them with their accusers. Both were sur prised at this confrontation which neither of them could comprehend. When they had again retired, the judge once more recom mended the women to reflect and think of the terrible consequences if they were mistaken; they still insisted. The magistrate, not wish ing to act hastily, obtained from the gen darmes of Lieur-saint and Melun a description of the men who had been seen. Two of these descriptions seemed to correspond with the appearance of Guesno and Lesurques. The last especially answered the description of the large blonde of whom all the witnesses spoke. The magistrate requested Lesurques to exhibit his papers. Lesurques, although established at Paris for a year, had neither papers nor carte de sftretc"; in his pocketbook was found a carle de sfircte" which bore the name of his cousin, and another one in blank; this raised a strong presumption against the man. Daubanton did not hesitate, but at once arrested both men. The crime at Lieursaint produced in Paris a profound sensation. The numerous bri
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gands who at that time infested the high ways of France rarely had the audacity to attempt their crimes at the very gates of the capital. The Citizen Daubanton entered upon the examination of this affair with the most ardent zeal. In regard to Lesurques and Guesno, however, he acted with the greatest circumspection. Further facts developed by the investigation seemed to throw grave doubts upon the probability of their guilt. Joseph Lesurques was born at Douai, of a very honorable family. While he was yet a mere youth he enlisted in a regiment of Auvergne, and served with great faithfulness and obtained the rank of sergeant. He left the service in 1789. Active, intelligent, and ambitious, he found in the great disorders consequent upon the revolution an oppor tunity to make his fortune. At first em ployed in the district bureau in his natal town, he erelong became its head. He had made large sums in fortunate specu lations, and at the time of his arrest he enjoyed an income of about 10,000 livres, — a fortune for those times. Rich, the husband of a devoted wife, the father of three children, a great student of art, he decided to establish himself in Paris, where he could enjoy a life in accordance with his tastes, and could educate his children as he desired. He left Douai early in the year I79SLesurques referred to all his friends, wellknown and honorable men, who gave a good account of his reputation. " The 27th of April," said Lesurques, " I passed the fore noon until two o'clock at the house of the Citi zen Legrand; from there I went to the Rue Montorgueil. In the evening, at six o'clock, I went to walk upon the boulevards with the Citizen Ledru. I met my friend Guesno, and we then entered a cafe at the corner of the Comedie-Italienne, where we each drank a glass of wine. The citizens Hilaire, Ledru, and Legrand confirmed these statements. On his part, Guesno accounted satisfac
