Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1878 — How a French Boy Objected to Being Named After Assassins. [ARTICLE]

How a French Boy Objected to Being Named After Assassins.

Louis Jacquin, a boy of fifteen, has been on trial at the Court of Assizes of the Seine, Paris, for the murder of his brother, a lad of fourteen. The murder occurred on the sth of May last, and is certainly a truly French’curiosity of crime. The two boys worked in common in a cabinet-maker’s shop. One morning, in the course of certain jocular exchanges of conversation, Alexander 4acquin, the murdered boy, called his brother “ Biltotr and Magaux.” “ Why do you name me after those infamous assassins?” insisted Louis. ** Because I choose,” returned his brother, laughing. “You are not foolish enough to get angry, are you?” “ But there is Clemence (their employer’s daughter) laughing at me,” demanded Louis. “Pshaw! who would not laugh?” returned Alexander. “ You are a goose. Go on with your work.” Louis complied, muttering and grumbling constantly: “Magaux and Billoir, ell! Oh, lam tn be called an assassin, am I? Then I will be one. One might as well be a murderer as have people call one so.” The next morning, while Alexander was planing down a plank, Louis came up to hiin and asked sharply: “ What is it I am calleu?” * Billoir apd Magaux,” answered his brother. “Then I wilfbe them!” yelled the yoUng assassin, hnd before his brother yould defend hiipuwlf he plunged a long

knife into his abdomen with such force as to literally disembowel him. Alexander rolled on the floor and the murderous boy again and again drove the knife into his body until, when aid arrived, his victim was at the last gasp. The preoociotis assassin gave no reason for his crime other than that noted above. “ He called me Bllloir and Magaux,” he said, “ and made Clemence laugh at me. So I might as well have the crime as-the reputation.” After a long trial he was acquitted on the ground of insanity.