SINGULAR TRIAL. 
211 
Singular Trial. 
An Historical Account of Joseph Lesurques, who^ through a judicial 
error j was condemned and executed on the of October ^ 1796. — 
From the “ Drapeau Blanc'* 
Joseph Lesurques was born at Donai in 1763, of an honest and 
respectable family. He received a good education, which inspired 
him with a taste for the arts. After having served some time in the 
regiment of Auvergne, he returned to his country, and was admitted as 
principal in the bureaux of the administration of the district. His con- 
duct in this situation merited and obtained the suffrages of all who 
knew him, and he continued to enjoy the reputation of a worthy man. 
A marriage which he contracted with a young lady of good family 
increased his fortune, and put him in possession of an annual 
income of ten thousand francs, — a considerable fortune this, in a pro- 
vincial town. The father of a family, he determined at the age of 
thirty-three, to settle at Paris, in order that he might himself con- 
duct the education of his children. He had three ; two girls, and a 
boy. He took lodgings in the house of M. Moruet, a notary, and 
amused himself with rendering them convenient and agreeable. — 
Fortune till then had smiled upon him, but, alas ! she aovv prepared 
for him the most fatal reverses. 
It is is well known that people who come to Paris from the provinces 
are almost lost, in so large a town, from their first connexions with 
persons of their own country. M. Lesurques knew Le Sieur Guesno, 
who kept a waggon-office at Donai, and to whom he had lent two 
thousand francs. Le Sieur Guesno came to see him — returned the 
two thousand francs, and invited him to breakfast. Guesno lodged 
at the house of one Richard, born, as well as himself, at Donai, but a 
man of a dissipated character. Richard was connected with an 
individual named Courriol, who was a perfect stranger to Lesurques. 
Richard was present at breakfast ; Courriol came in unexpectedly, 
and remained. This meeting took place four days after an event 
which still occupies the whole capital. The courier of Lyons had 
been stopped^ robbed, and assassinated on the road from Paris to 
Melun. Search was making for the assassins. Courriol was one, 
and consequently not free from terror and anxiety. Guesno was 
gone to Chateau-Thierry on business ; Courriol followed, and took 
lodgings in the same house as Guesno. He was arrested ; all his 
papers, those belonging to Guesno, and even those of Golier the 
landlord, were seized. The two latter presented themselves at the 
police office, appeared free from all suspicion, and were discharged; 
Courriol alone was detained, — Guesno received permission to return 
for his papers. Unhappily Guesno met Lesurques just as he was 
entering the central office of the police; he asked him to accompany 
him; Lesurques consented; each entering with that unsuspecting 
confidence which the peace of a good conscience inspires. Here 
commence all the misfortunes of Lesurques. 
M. Daubauton, officer of the judicial police, was taking depositions 
against the assassins of the courier of Lyons. The antechamber of 
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