Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 14.pdf/261

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The Green Bag.


Such, in brief, was the argument for the defense. On the sixteenth of July, 1676, the Court of Parliament rendered its decision, finding guilty " la dame Marie Marguerite d'Aubray, wife of the Sieur Marquis de Brinvilliers." She was condemned : "To make amende honorable before the

having been done, she will be conducted and taken in the said tumbril to the Place de Greve, to there have her head cut off upon a scaffold, which for that purpose will be raised in the said place. Her body will be burnt, and her ashes scattered to the winds. She will first be put to the torture ordinary and extraordinary for the purpose of extort-

DEMONS APPLYING THE TORTURE OF THE WHEEL.

principal gate of the Church of Paris, whither she would be led in a tumbril, feet bare, a halter around her neck, holding in her hands a lighted torch of the weight of two pounds, and there, while on her knees, to declare that wickedly and in revenge and to obtain their property, she had caused her father and her two brothers to be poisoned, as well as attempted the life of her sister, now dead, of which she repents and asks par don of God, the King and of Justice. This

ing from her the names of her accomplices. She is declared attainted and incapable of succeeding to the property of the said father, brothers and sister from the day of the said crimes by her committed. All her goods are confiscated. From them, as well as from property not subject to confiscation, there will first be taken the sum of four thousand livres fine for the King, five hun dred livres for masses for the repose of the souls of the said departed, her father,