Volume IV
Number 5
July 4
1936
THE STATE
A Weekly Survey of North Carolina
Entered lecood ela» matter. Jane 1. 1933. at the
РоеМве»
at Raletch. North Carolina, under the
Ле1
of March 3. 1879
To Exhume Mey’s Body
DETECTIVES and scientists will en¬
deavor to settle for once and for all
whether Peter Stuart IMey was
Michael Ney. marshal of Franee and
one of the world's greatest soldiers.
By Charles Vance Colter
MODERN detective science is
now called in at I lie reopening
both of a grave and a t|Uestion
that lias (HTph-xcd historians of at
least two continents. Toward proving
whether a Marshal of France, Michael
Neyj lies buried in North Carolina —
instead of in France after facing a
tiring stpiad on a charge of high treason
— permission has just Is-eti granted to
exhiinie the body.
Detectives ere now have fitted to¬
gether segments of skeletons to deter¬
mine the factor of body length. This
time, also, the skull will lie examined
for signs of a small silver plate, or
"trepan,” that Marshal Ney is known
to have worn after treatment for a
wound on his head. Certain evidence
points to the possession of such a silver
plate hv the man in the American
grave. Great expectations revolve
around this plate ns a means of solving
the riddle. Then each grain of dirt
in the grave will
!«•
sifted and other
tests applied a la Herlillon in order
to relieve this, one of history’s im¬
portant doubts.
Grave is Near Statesville
The grave to he opened is that of
the romantic figure who, in America
at least, called himself Peter Stuart
Xey — Peter being the Christian name of
the father, and Stuart the surname of
the mother, of Marshal Xey of France.
Those who believe the grave to he that
of Marshal Xey say he kept the name
Xey to preserve identity ever in the
hope of rejoining Napoleon. The grave
is in the cemetery of Third Creek
Presbyterian Church, near Statesville.
Permission to open it was obtained
through the pastor. Rev. K. D. Drown,
through a church session he called to¬
gether on dune 14. The work is to Is*
done some time this mouth.
Besides the detectives and the under¬
takers’ workmen, several surgeons, col¬
lege professors, writers and others are
to |h* present. The movement to ex¬
hume the body is headed by Charles
W. Allison of Charlotte, nioniher of
whose family were in touch with Xey,
and who has written a book about the
ease. Several years ago he placed a
protecting fence alniut the grave, lie
is enthusiastically joined by a detective
chief who distinguished himself in his
calling (among other activities) hy
jailing three members of the notorious
Touhy gang after a vigorous North*
and-South chase. This is Frank X.
Littlejohn of the t'harlotte police de¬
partment. These two easily enlisted
numerous others who in various ways
were interested in the affaire AVy.
Supposedly Executed in 1815
Marshal Xey (according to French
History) was executed December 7,
1815. In January 181G, Peter Stuart
Xey lauded at Charleston, South
Carolina.
Wellington had put Louis XVIII
back on the throne. Wellington did not
The grave of Peter Stuart Ney, near
Statesville, which is to be opened
some time this month.
want Xey executed, but the government
announced the execution would take
place at a certain location; it took
place elsewhere, at an unfrequented
spot, practically private. Xey’s wife,
thirteen years his junior, and a most
beautiful and accomplished woman,
loved him with deathless affection.
Xey’s IhmIv lay in a hospital all day
until about six o'clock of the next
morning, when it was with much
secrecy conveyed to the cemetery. Hi*
loving wife was not there.
Some French refugees stated they
( Continued on page hrenlipon- )
