Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-07-31

the guests present to join him in drinking
ITO the happy return of the absent father,
and may his innocence soon be established"
Strange to say, this wish seemed in some
measure fulfilled, not many days after its ut
terance, in manner that deeply affected
him who uttered it. A cart was stopped one
night at the city barrier, by one of the col
lectors ofthe imposts. No contraband goods
were found in the cart, but in the act of
search small box fell off, and was crushed
ny one of the wheels. The collector assis-
ted in gathering up its contents, and while
doing so picked upa brilliant diamond brooch.
The collector had been once in the service
of the Count de st. Mature, and instantly re-
cognized the brooch, which was of great
value, as having belonged to that noblcman.
The carter was taken into custody, and, on
examination, stated that he had been en-
ployed by gentleman to carry trunks and
various articles of furniture to a country
house about mile distant from Brussels.
Being asked the gentleman's name, the man
readily gave it as "Monsieur Darancourt, the
younger, residing in the Grand Square,"
Charles Darancourt was ere long, as his
friend Dc Valmont had been before him,
consigned to prison, on the charge of MUIR
dering the st. Maurcs. The strange fate
which had thus caused suspicion to fall on
the very dearest friends Of the deceased,
made the case most remarkable in the ewes
of all men. Charles Darancourt was fairly
brought to trial. lie defended himself with
equal calmness and ability, declaring the
brooch TO have been given to him III pre-
sent by the Count de st. Maure.
Charles Darancourt solemly protested his
innocence, and continued to repeat the as
sertion during the interval spent in awaiting
the fufillment of his sentence. The fatal
day at length arrived, and the prisoner was
led out to the scailold, to die an ignominous
death, in the presence of assembled thous-
ands, who looked on with strangely mingled
feelings of pity and satisfaction, caused by
the ambiguous and mysterious nature of the
case. The majority of the spectators could
not bring their minds to believe in the COM
mission of such Wholesale murders by one
man, and that man an ingenious youth. On
the other hand, the collector proved that the
Count had ever seemed to regard the brooch
once most valuable of his family jewels, and
had refused it, in the witnesses hearing, to
his only son. There was, on the very face
of it, an improbability in the notion that
man Of small fortune like the Count, should
give away jewel of such value, as mere
friendly present. 1t was further proved that
Ernest de st. Mature had been last seen en-
tering the prisoners house on the night be-
fore his disappearance; and on being called
forward to tell what they knew, Charles
Darancourt's three servants were found to
have been sent out Of the way on various
errands, on the night in question. A chain
of presumptive evidence of this nature was
established against Darancourt, and, in de.
spite of the talent with which he defended
himself, he was condemned to die for the
murder of the ST. Maures, and a dear friend
of the sufferers. But the decision of the law
though it could not remove doubt, was not to
be opposed. When all was ready on the
scailold, and eternity Immediately before
him, Charles Darancourt pulled from his boz
som sealed packet, and handed it to the
priest in attendance, with directions that it
should be given after his death to his father.
The fatal cord was about to be fixed, when a
loud shout arose from the populace, and a
crowd was seen opening up to premit the
passage of horseman, accompanied by sew
eral soldiers. "a respite!" was the cry
The populace already excited by this event,
were still more so, when they behcld the
horseman spring to the scatlold, embrace the
prisoner, and then advance to address them
selves. 1t was Theodore dc Na!mon! He
spoke at some length to the multitude, tell
| ing them that on hearing Of Darancourt's
condemnation, he had flown to Paris, and
had detailed the whole circumstance to the
Emperor, who had been thus moved to grant
a respite. ~ knew my own innocence"
| continued THEODORE, "and could not doubt
that my beloved friend was equally innocent
with myself Our intimacy with the untor.
tunate deceased has we'll nigh brought death
on both of us, for that intimacy is our sole
crime. The mystery which hangs over this
sad story heaven will clear up in his own
good time" The shouts of the people arose
joyfully on the air, for the words of De Val
mont carried conviction with them
What were the feelings of Charles Daran-
court on being thus snatched from the grave!
He retained all his calmness, and merely
uttered "A few broken sentences, expressive
Of gratitude to heaven for his Liberation
from the charge of being murderer and
robber. He then turned mildly to the priest
and requested the restoration of the packet.
The priest was about to comply, when one
Of the attendant officers snatched it from the
holy fathers hand, declaring it to be his duty
to retain and show it to his superors. The
prisoner quietly demonstrated against the
seizure of papers relating only to private
family affairs. But the officer was obstinate.
Darancourt and De Valmont were then con-
vcycd to prison, as the respite ordered, till
the empcrors will should be further known.
On reaching prison, Charles Darancourt
Immediately communicated with his friends,
and protested anew against the seizure of his
papers. The authorities did not listen to his
request.
Well might Darancourt struggle for the
repossession of that fatal packet Believing
death inevitable, Darancourthad there made
a confession and what confession. A
confession of five cool and deliberate MUIR
Il L.