The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1838-03-03
Mill Hall, Pa. Fsbuary /, 1898,

Z. V. Es*&****.
Mill Hall, Pa. Fsbuary l, 1898,
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STRANGE SToRY.-It is IS years since
the commune of Laudum, in the department
Of Gard, was the scene Of a most bloody
deed. A woman, the mother of several
children, was murdered in the night, and
her body was found buried in field close
to the house of her brother-in-law, upon
whom many other circumstances conspired
to fix the guilt Of this crime. He was tried,
found guilty, and condemned to perpetual
hard labor This man was in his 56lh
year. The letters "T. p" (trayaur
perpetaite J were branded on his shoulder,
but his last words to that society which cast
him from ii were, 81 am innocent
For IL years the unfortunate Bertrand
continued an inmate ofthat scene ofherrors,
French bagne, and during the whole Of
that time his conduct was calculated to gain
for him the esteem of his superiors. He
never ceased to proclaim his innocence, and
his confidence that one day the truth of his
declaration would be acknowledged. At
the end of the 18th year of confinement,
when he had entered his 6sth year as a re-
ward for his good conduct, the term of his
Imprisonment was reduced TO 10 years, thus
afording him the prospect that in the sOth
year of his age he might be allowed to turn
his back on the gates of his prison. Ber-
trand was not, however, satisfied; it was the
vindicaton ofhis character for which alone
ne wished to live, and to which he never
ceased TO look forward with confident hope.
On attaining his 10Th year, Bertrand was
excused from further labor, and confined
to the Central House of Confinement in
Rennes. Nt
About three weeks after letter address
sed to Bertrand arrived from his native vii
lage. Ii was written by an officer of rank,
who had been his neighbor, andhad fre-
quen1y befriended him before the fearful
stain had been thrown on his character.
This letter informed the prisoner that his
innocence would in a short time be openly
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS by order of the Procu.
reur-General fresh inquiry had been inst-
tuted-.and that there was no doubt that in
a few days his (Bertrand's innocence would
be fully established. "My poor Bertrand"
said HE correspondent ."you will be re-
stored to society, when am sure you will
conduct yourselves in your happier days.
Courage, Bertrand! you will behold again
the mountain Of Plauzolies, that of Saint
Pierre, and my old Chateaude Be-"
1t had been ascertained that the murder
bad been committed by the husband of the
victim, and that he had buried the body near
Bertrand's house, to divert suspicion from
himself The children of the murderer
were aware of the truth, but during their
fathers life they had Kept the secret inv-
olate. On his DEATH however, they be-
came less reserved; some hints were at first
dropped, and public attention having been
recalled to the almost forgotten affair Of Ber-
trand, an inquiry was set on foot, the result
Of which was a complete vindication Of his
character from the horrid charge that had
so long weighed upon it.
Poor Bertrand, however, was not desii-
ned to behold again his native mountains,
nor his aged wife, nor his friend the officer,
to whose zeal he had been mainly indebt-
ed for the recognition OF innocence. The
iormalities required by the French system
Of Capitalization before the order for the
prisoners discharge could be made ont oc-
cupied several days, and when it reached
Renns poor Bertrand had already been e.
mancipated from captivity. lie disd on the