A cry arose that the owner was a Bonapartist, and nothing more was needed.
The house was broken into and pillaged, and the furniture thrown out of the windows.
Two days later it turned out that not only was the merchant no Bonapartist, but that his son had been one of those who had accompanied the Duc d'Angouleme to Cette when he left the country.

The pillagers excused themselves by saying they had been misled by a resemblance between two names, and this excuse, as far as appears, was accepted as valid by the authorities.
It was not long before the populace of Nimes began to think they might as well follow the example set them by their brothers from Beaucaire.
In twenty-four hours free companies were formed, headed by Trestaillons, Trupheny, Graffan, and Morinet.

These bands arrogated to themselves the title of National Guard, and then what took place at Marseilles in the excitement of the moment was repeated at Nimes with deliberation and method, inspired by hate and the desire of vengeance.

A revolt broke out which followed the ordinary course: first pillage, then fire, then murder, laid waste the city.
M.V----'s house, which stood in the middle of the town, was sacked and then burnt to the ground, without a hand being raised to prevent the crime.
M.T----'s house, on the road to Montpellier, was sacked and wrecked and a bonfire made of the furniture, round which the crowd danced; as if it had been an occasion of public rejoicing.

Then cries were raised for the proprietor, that he might be killed, and as he could not be found the baffled fury of the mob vented itself on the dead.