Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-03-31

=
moment that he was awaiting the mail, aud had
preserved distinct recollection of his person.
M. Daubenton, OH nscertaining the day Of Dur
ochals approaching trial for robbery, went to the
administration des postes, aud obtained through
the Chef The permission 10 send Tor the inspector
who had seen tho false Laborde, and who was no
longer in Paris.
the suspicious which rested on Durochat. The
day of trial arrived, and he was condemned TO
fourteen years imprisonment, and was about being
led from the court when the Inspector arrived,
and declared that Durochat was The man whom
he had seen on the 9Th FIoreA mount beside the
courier under the false name OF Laborde. Duro-
chat only opposed feeble deniuls to this declara-
lop, and was consequently taken 10 the Concier-
gerie.
On the morrow, Durochat was transferred TO
Versailles, where he was to he Judged. Danben-
ton aud huisser departed with the prisoner and
four geudarmes AS they reached the village OF
Grosbois he demanded some breakfast Tor he had
eaten nothing since tie preceding day. They
stopped at the first duberge and there Ourochat
manifested desire 10 speak to the magistrate in
private.
Daubenton ordered the gendarmes to leave
them together, even the huisser though ne made
him TO understand by sign the danger of being
alone with so desperate u villain, WINS begged to
retse. A breakfast svas ordered for the Two. Ii
was brought but by the order OF The hussier,
only one knife was placed on the uble. nauben-
ton took it up, and began carcessly to breuk an
egg with II.
and said.
Monsieur lie luge, you are arad?'
Afraid I" replied he calmly, "and Of whom"
"Of me-" said Durochat
"Folly = continued the other breaking his egg.
&" You are. You arm yourself with kne,'
said he sarcaslcally.
"Bah I" replied Daubenton presenting him the
knitu ritt ma n uiepa of brand and fell ma what
you have to communicate to me respecting the
murder OF the courier of Lyons"
There is something in The collected courage OF
a brave man more impressive than any menace;
and courage is thing which acts upon all ma.
lures, however vile Strongly moved by the calm
audacity OF the magistrate, the ruffian who had
seized the knife with menacing vivacy, now set
it down upon The tube, and with faeriDg voice
said, " FouS etes an brave citoyen !" then after
pause, 4" | am a Iosi nlan-it's all up with me but
you shall know all"
He then detailed the circumstances OF the crime,
az have related them above, and confirmed Rll
CourOfs declarations, naming ColIriol, Rossi, Vi
da, and Dubosq as his ucconplices. Before the
tribunal he repeated the account adding " that no
had heard an individual named Lesurques had
been condemned for the crime, hut that he had
neither seen him at the lime of the Decd nor sub
seQueuiy. lie did not know him"
He added, that il was Dubosq whose spur had
been broken, and was mended where they had
dined for he had heard them talk about it, and
that he had lost 1t during the scuffie. he had seen
the other spur in his hand, and heard him say
that he intended throwing il in the river. He fur
Their gave description OF Dubosqs person, aud
added that on that day he wore a flaxen peruke.
Toward the end of the year s. four years after
the murder Of the courier of Lyons-Dubosq was
arrested for robbery; and was transferred TO Ver-
saies, there to be judged by the Tribunal COrrec-
tionnei. The president ordered that he should
wear haxen peruke and be confronted with the
witnesses from Mongeron and Lieulsnnt, who
unanimously declared that he was the man
they had seen. This, coupled with the declara-
tioae of Courio, Durocha, and Eiadelains Bre-
ban. suiced to prove the identity and he did
deny his acquaintance with The other lprIIs. He
was therefore condemned, and persisted on the
scatfold TOR The crime.
Vidal was also arrested and executed though
persisng in his innocence and, finally, Rossi
was shortly after discovered and condemned. He
exhibited profound repentance, and demanded the
succors OF religion. To his confessor he lett this
dsclaraon--"l ssser. that Lesurques is innecent
but This must only DO made public six months af-
ter my DEATH"
Thus ends this strange drama thus were the
proofs of Lesurques innocence furnished beyond
shadow of doubt and thus, we may add were
seven men executed fer crime committed by
five men; two therefore were innocent vic
Tins of the law
VIlf-THE WAY IN WHICH FRANCE REcTiFIEs
AN ERROR.
1t is now forty years since the innocence OF LIE.
surques has been established, and little has been
done toward the rehabilitation OF his memory, the
protection Of his children, and the restitution OF
his confiscated goods Forty years, and his wretch
ed widow has only recently died, having failed in
he object Of her life! Forty years has the gov
eminent been silent.
M. Daubenton who took so honorable and &C
tive part in the detection of the real criminals,
consecraed great part of his life and fortune 10
the cause of the unfortunate widow and her chill
dren. The declaration he addressed to the NJ in
lister Of Justice commenced thus:
"The error on which was founded the con-
denration of Lesurques, arose neither with the
Judges nor the Jury. The Jury convinced by the
dispositions Of The Witnesses manifested that con.
victOn udicialy; and the judges, after the dec
Isrsllen Of the Jury, pronounced according to the
law.
"The error Of his condemnation arose from the
mistake OF the witnesses-irom the fatal resem-
bance 10 one OF the cuprlls not apprehended--
Nothing gave reason to suspect, at that time, the
cause Of the error in which the Witnesses had fall
len"
We beg 10 observe that the whole trial was
conducted in a sovenly and shameful manner A
man is condemned on the deposition Of witnesses
Witnesses ne 1t observed, OF such dizziness OF per-
ceptiou, and such confidence in their notions that
they persisted in declaring Guesno TO be ore of
the culpris as we'll as Lesurques. Yet the abb
OF Guesno ives proved beyond doubt How,
them could the jury, with this instance of mstake
before their eyes and which they themselves had
condemned as mistake by Acquiring Guesno-
how could they place such firm reliance on those
self same testimonies when applied 10 Lesurques?
II they could convict Lesurques upon such evil
dence why not also convict Guesno on il Cues.
no proved an aiibi-so did Lesurques, but because
one foolish friend perjursd himself TO serve Lee
surques, The jury hastily set down all his friends
ms periurers; they had no evidence of this, il
was mere indignant reaction of feeling, and, as
such, violation OF their Office. The case ought
to have been sfed. II was shufled over hastily
verdict, passed in anger, was executed, though
at The time strong doubt existed IN the minds Of
the Judges as TO lis proprety
Neither the Directory nor the Consulate, neither
the Empire nor the Restoration mid atteniinn IN