Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-02-07
THE DEAD ALIVE.
A Thrilling Sketch.

+ ioreigh newspaper. 1t is necessary to REMIND
the reader that the island Mauritus, appertaining
} al ms day TO the English, was originally colon
lzeo oy the French. and that the population con-
slsts IN great measure of persons of that nation
10 whom by formal treaty between the two pow
ers concerned, their ancient laws and usaees were
preserved without material alteration.
About three or four months ago, the Sieur Clod
omlr Frenois, a rich merchant of the island, was
found dead, and frightfully disfigured in his own
haoltalon. His body was discovered lying on the
floor, with his face mutilated by pistol, and all
doubt as to the cause of the catastrophe was dis
PEELED by the discovery of the fatal weapon by the
side OF the corpse, as also of paper in the hand
writing OF the deceased. This paper contained
the following words:
am ruined Ia villain has robbed me OF
twenty thousand livres sterling dishonor must
be my portion. and cannot survive it. | leave
my vile the task Of distributing among my credit
ors the means which remain to US, and pray that
GOD, my friends, and my enemies, may pardon my
seii-destrucilon. Yet another minute and shall
oe Ia eternity. (Signed)
CLODOMlR FRENOIS."
ofeat was the CONSERVATION caused by this
tragic event, which was the more unexpected as
the loss alluded to in the note had never been
made public. The deceased had been held in
great esteem over the colony, as man of strict
honof, and was universally lamented. His at
lacheo widow, alter endeavoring faithfully to full
Nil his last Wishes found her gre too powerful to
mingle longer with the world, and took the resou-
ton TO consecrate her remaining days to the SER
vice OF religion. Two months after the SAD end of
her husband she entered convent, leaving to
nephew OF the merchant, physician, the charge of
completing the distribution of The effects of Fre-
! noiS among his creditors.
/ minute examination of.ihe papers Of the de-
ceased led to the discovery of The period at which
the unfortunate merchant had been robbed and
that period was found to correspond with the date
OF the disappearance OF a man named John Moon,
long In the employment of FIenOis. OF this man,
on whom suspicion not unnaturally FELL nothing
could be learned inquiry; but shortly after the
division of the merchants property Moon appeared
in the colony. When taken up and examined re-
Specilng the OF his flight he stated that he
had been sent by his master TO France, to recover
certain sums due to the merchants there, in which
mission he had been unsuccessful and he further
averred that if Clodomr Frenois, in his existing
/ correspondence, had thrown any injurious suspi-
cons on him (Moon) the whole was but preteXt
to account for deficiencies of which the merchant
himself The sole cause and author. This
declaration, made by man who seemed to fear
no injury, and whose worldly circumstances re-
mained to appearance the same as they had ever
been, had The effect of silencing if it did not sat
isiy; the examiners and the affair soon fe in
great measure, out of the public recollection.
Things remained for short time in this condi-
tion, when one morning Mr.. William Burnett,
principal creditor Of the late Clodomir Frenos,
heard knocking at his gate at very early hour.
He called up one Of his servants, who went down
and opened the door, and Immediately returned
with the intelligence, that stranger, who seemed
desirous OF keeping his person concealed, wished
to speak with Mr.. Burnett in private. Mr.. Bur
nett arose, threw on his dressing gown, and de-
Scended to the parlor. He saw there a stranger,
OF tall person, seated in an easy and familiar atti
tude upon SOFA, with number of the Morning
Post in his hand The back of his visitor turned
TO Mr.. Burnett as he entered. Rather surprised TO
see stranger conduct himself so like old friend
of the house, Mr.: Burnett said aloud, Sir, may
beg 10 know your business with me %
The stranger turned round, and advanced TO sa-
late his host warmly and cOurteously. Mr. Bur-
nett started back, and uttered loud exclamation
OF surprise and alarm. Well he might; for before
his eyes stood his friend and debtor, Clodomir
Frenois, whom he had behed nearly year be-
fore mutllateo corpSe--whom himself had fol-
lowed to the grave!
What passed at that interview between Mr.
Burnett and his strange viser remained secret.
MIR. Burnett was observed TO issue several times,
pale and agta.ed, from his dwelling, and to visit
the magistrate charged with the conduct of the
criminal processes OF he colony. In the course
OF the day, while John Moon was regaling himself
with tea, under the palm trees OF his garden, with
a Circassian female whom he had bought some
time previously, he was arrested and taken TO
prison by the officers OF justice. On the follow
ing day, he was brought before the criminal court,
accused of robbing the late Clodomir Frenois, the
crime being conJoned with breach Of trust and
violence.
Moon smiled at the charge with all the conf
dence OF man who had nothing to fear. The
Judge having demanded Of him if he confessed
the crime, the accused replied that the charge
was altogether absurd that clear testimony was
necessary to fix such charge upon him; and that,
so far from there being any such evidence PRODUCT
BILE, neither the widow of the deceased, nor any
one person in bis service, had ever heard the pre-
tended robbery even once mentioned by Frenois
during his life.
" So you then affirm your innocence ~ repeat !
ed the Judge, grarely, after hearing what the 9th
er had to say.
:" will avouch my innocence" replied Moon,
" even before the body of my late master, If that
be necessary" (Such thing often took place
under the old colonial law.)
John Moon," said the Judge, in a voice bro
ken by some peculiar emotion, " it is before your
late master that you will have to assert your in
nocence and may the God of Justice make the
truth appear"
A signal from the Judge accompanied the words,
and immediaiely door opened, and Clodomir
Frenois, the supposed suicide, entered the court.
He advanced to the bar, with slow and deliber-
ate step, having his eyes calmly but firmly fixed
kie sonc ofInfai