Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1841-01-23


you after being once convinced Of your guilt
, now think Of the unfavorable inference tina
would be drawn from my refusing to plead
addressing a young man, with quick pIefcin!
!, eye, and witty smile that misfortune had no
been able TO restrain.
: Il have here n copy Of your Indictment. SAID
seating myself near him. This is serious ALTAR
The 27th Of last August, between utno and tel
O'Clock, T. NJ. n very dark night, You were 81
the way from Pierrefitte ST. Dennis; you Their
stopped n cabroef, having first found means t.
turn IL IA side out of the highway; YOU then pro
coded to hamstring the horses, and Afterwards
murdered farmer named Giraud, and his wife
who were returning TO ST Dennis. You robbed
them and then went calmly your way. Vt t
short distance, not nCre than one hundred PAGES
from the Of murder, you were arrested, ant
fon your person were found gold watch, ana Il
leather purse containing one hundred 61ten francs
both Of which you had taken from Your VICTIMS.
You had We, IN YOUR pocket the knife with which
you committed the murder Were you alone! 1t
appears YOU not; for although some Of the
tracks around the place Of the agreed
with the size OF your shoe, there were others that
had been made by foot much wider and longer
than yours. Your nccompIice has escaped from
Justice. This is your indictment, Pierre Fournel.
What reply have you to make?
a. exclaimed the prisoner, with an appearance
Of truth which at once moved and charmed ule,
Il, Il murderer! | thief, robber! Eli? Great
Godi | have not the heart to harm a child. and |
have never stole so much as pin in my life! y
Very well, very well, my boy; that is right; il
is just rs / wished: but pray tell re what you
were doing between nine and ten O'Clock IN the
evening of 9th of August
MY good gentleman said he with the satrica
smile spoke of before, Il was born at Beaumont:
| am twcnty-iv years of age; have been an
orphan from my childhood: have lived nineteen
years with father Richard, farmer at ficrreiitc.
and work for him. For the last two years faith
Richard has employed a dairy maid; she Is
beautiful as the day. Do you not know Lisou?
Not a, all; bu, take care, beautiful girl is
very different thing from this indictment tor rob
berry and murder
There is no murder about il, Monsieur YOU shall
see. Now then love Lson, and we to be
married Tho 9th of August was Saturday,
and received some money rom father Richard.
[ intended 10 90 in the evening to ST. Dennis
and buy Lieon a pretty knitting sheath; the poor
child had nothing but cross Ia Jeanette.
set out at nine o'clock, when my work was done,
and walked merrIiy on, saying nothing to any
person. About half way between Plerrehtte and
ST. Dennis my foot touched something that did not
appear to be stone. put my hand on 1t; 1t was
that cursed purse. | put 1t IN my pocket, looking
all around as | did SO, to see If could not find
some more IN the road. Then, though the night
dark, saw shining, knew not what, some
thing like glow worm-It was the watch had
not walked ten steps with II when was arrested.
1t seems iIc tHiCNeS hld nOieS IN ttlfir pHckefS
a sensible person. continued Arthur would
not have believed word of the recital he
would have seen but the feigned simplicity of
adep; high wayman; but this was not the part
for me to play; | was delighted to fed that | had
not TO fight against confession, or struggle a
ganst my own convictions But sald | 10 him,
what were you going to do with purse and
watch which were not vOursE
Really, Monsieur said he, Il had not
time to think what | should do with them when |
arrested
Appearances were altoce Their against Pierre
FourneIl the size of his shoe correspondent eN
actlv with that of the track left by the murderer,
and knife found upon hire, the blade of
which agreed perfectly with the appearance Of the
wounds of the victims. The knife 1t Is bore
no marks of the blood, but it had been newly
and carefully cleaned, and Pierre did not deny
this fact. | obtained what information could IN
the neighborhood of Picrreftte. 1t was true
that the accused loved Iison, and tina, he had
lived nineteen years with father Richard. All
this, however, could not explain has nocturnal
visit 10 St. Dennis, under the turtle project OF
purchasing u baubie which he had never promis-
ed, and for which one had asked him.
The story Pierre Fournel had at FIRST told
he always persisted in. In his subsequent rope
ttlons of il could detcc, nothing like discrep-
ancv. even IN It's most minute details. OF course
| plead his cause with perfect freedom of spir
1t, and opposed to NJ, the Kings attorney, argu-
ments drawn from my own convictions
You were convinced? asked little fairhaired
lady, who listened to the young advocate with
the greatest attention.
Yes madame replied Arthur, Il had strived
hard 10 believe that Pierre was, innocent, and his
simple tale and artless demeanor had greatly
strengthened my faith. gained the cause, and
the accused was acquitted
'Acquittedr cried madame de L..
Yes in default of proof; and after all, Pierre
Fournnel's story was possible, nay even reasona-
bic. | had forgotten the trial, and fifteen days
had passed since his acquitted, when one morn
ing Pierre made his appearance at my house and
was shown into nv library. He was no longer
the man | had seen in the prison; he sad
and pale, his cheek hollow, and his piercing eye
sunken and DIM
Monsieur said he, Il am ruined; have just
come from Pierrefitte. where | shall never 90 a
gam. IIson refuses TO see me: she lov es anoth-