Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1839-12-26
EXTRAORDINARY TRIAL IN FRANCE.
A VIE WIN TWO nUsBAN0a.

'i'i''As' iA1A11Nf-@+lHHr tue particulars o.
"hlch are OF so extraordinary character, tina
we lose no time in condensng the principa
facts for our readers.
It appears that al Antiques, a country ham.
let, few miles from the residence of Du lib
lived a little farmer by the name Of Martin
.Guerre, who married, a modest, handsome
young woman Of The neighborhood, by whom
ne had little son, for whom he cherished al
the paternal affection Of husband and father
aHtli about ten years after their nuptuals when
III consequence o! dispute with his lather-in
law, he suddenly abandoned his family and
country to lead the life OF a wanderer, and was
not heard from for eight successive years
winch served 10 cool his affection towards his
WIG, although her conduct had ever been one
oil exemplary Propriety.
II was during this time, that Arnold du lib
the hero OF our narrative, who greatly resem.
bIed IN age and appearance the absent Guerre,
meditaed a most Pertidous and cruel strata
gem.
Owing to this long absence and silence Of
VI. Huerre, 1t was concluded that he was dead,
winch was more strongly confirmed by report.
Our hero taking advantage ofthis, and making
himself acquainted with all the circumstances,
connections aud general habits Of Gucrre, with
whom he had continual intercourse during
two campaigns as private soldier, he boldly
represented himselft0 the wife and family as
her long-IoSt husband
The supposed Martins return was welcomed
by all the neIghb0rhood with dance and song
and ne enjoyed the privileges and pleasures,
and shared the emoIumeRts and cares Of
husband, Tor three happy years, during which
Time, Two children were added to their fam
lily.
But al Lenglh his tranquility was gradually
interrupted from some suspicious Of the uncle,
first excited bySa traveller through the village,
who had heard the name, aud had convorsed
with Martin Guerre eighteen months before,
IN distant province in France, where he IN.
formed him that he had wife and child in Ian
guedoc, 10 whom he intended not to return, I'M
I'll the death OF his uncle. And that he MI
duerre, had lost one of his legs in the battle of
ST. Qmntin.
This reused the suspicions Of the family, and
they thought they now saw many little circum-
stances that had before escaped them, tending
TO prove that the man with whom Mrs Guerre
cohablted, and by whom she had two children.
was not IN fact, her lawful husband. Though
Mrs. q. herself could not without extreme diff
Guilty, be made 10 believe but that her present
domestic companion was her real and original
husband.
lie was, however, taken into custody, and
Imprisoned by the Judge Of Rouen and day
liked for his examination.
On the day appointed, du Tib was brought
nto Court, followed by the uncle, the sisters,
md many OF the inhabitants of Sagais, all of
'hom were closely questioned on their oath
ONE dePosed that the prisoner was not Martin
'uerre, while others positively insisted that
q was the identical person, corroborating their
by many collateral circumstances;
'hIe others ayerred without Scruple that the
esembIance between the two, if two they we're,
0 greal, that II was not in their power to dis
ngulsh; the deposition Of tho absent traveller
'as also read, but the weight Of the evidence
5emed to preponderate in favor OF the pris-
ler.
The Judge demanding Of him what he had to
ny IN defence, ne answered without hesitation, ,
lat the whole affair was conspiracy Of the ,
ncIe, who had for some time taken a dislike +,
hum, and had contriyed the story in order to
ct rid orhim, and to get possession of his prop 4
'ty. 4
Du lib then proceeded TO inform the court n
the reasons which first induced him to quit h
S family; related infinitely where, how, and y
IN whom, he had passed his time, that he SER il
ID IN the French army for seven years, and c,
the dlsbanding Of his regiment, had entered "
to the Spanish service, but becoming impa- a
3nt TO see his wife, and repenting that he had S,
er quilted her, he at considerable expense liz
occurred his discharge, and made the best of la
S way to Antiques, where, Notwithstanding Vi
S. long absence and the loss of his hair, he
IS Immediately recognised, not only by his if
| acquaintance, but by his wife and sisters, h,
d particularly by his unnatural uncle, who
d now thought proper TO strip the present if
osecutlon against him. lee
lie also gave u minute description of the le
zee OF his birth, and mentioned several pecu-
circumstances connected with his relative, te
re- giving their names, ages and occupations, to
year and day he left, the month ofhls mar plj
60, and the persons present. All which on an
was found to agree. lol
IN The other hand, lorty-fye creditabIe wit
ses, who were well acquainted with Martin
ere, and Arnold du lib, swore that the pris-
r was not and could not be Martin; one OF
SO, maternal uncle, acknowledged his ne ny
" with tears, and bitterly lamented finding .ne
| Ietered like a malolactor, and the disgrace ,or
oud bring upon his family. Those persons zee
, insisted that Martin Guerre was tall, Of a ing
lder make, and OF an awkward and STOPPING
!, that his nose was fiat, and that several l;ce
rs were TO be seen on his left eyebrow, and e;o
or parts OF his face. And that on the con a, :
y, Du lib was a middle-sized, we'll SO. man, G,r
en', "el',lo'' ns n9so' anu without any era
,ed, however, that his counlonance exhibited !
same scars as that of Martin. in