Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-02-07

be biassed by what might prove TO be mere ac-
cldental likeness between person living and one
deceased, and that such an avowal as that of the
prisoner, extracted in moment of extraordinary
terror, was not to be held of much weight.
Before being admitted here as witness" :"
continued the advocate, addressing the resuscia
ted merchant, prove who and what you are, and
disclose by what means the tomb, which so lately
received your body, manged with bullets, has
given up its tenant. and restored you to the world
in life and health" sr
This firm appeal ofthe advocate who continued
steadast to his duty, under circumstances that
would have closed the lips of most men, called
forth the following narrative from Clodomlr FIRE.
nois -
MY story may soon be told and will suffice to es-
tablish my identity. When discovered the rob-
berry committed by the accused, he had then fled
from the island, and speedily saw all attempts to
retake him would prove fruitess. saw ruin and
disgrace before me, and came to the resolution Of
terminating my life before the evil day came. On
the night in which this determination was formed,
was seated alone in my private chamber. mad
written the letter which was found on my table,
aud had loaded my pistol. This done, prayed
for forgiveness from my Maker, for the act was
about to commit. The end of the pistol was at
MY head and my finger the trigger, when
knock at the door of the house startled me- con-
cealed my weapon, and went to the door A man
entered, whom recognized to- te the sexton of
the parish in which lived. He bore sack on
his sholders, and in it the body of man newly
buried, which was destined for my nephew, the
physician, then living with me. The scarcity of
bodies for dissection, as the court is aware COM
pels those who are anxious to acquire skill in the
medical profession, to procure them by any poss-
bic secret means. The sexton at first alarmed
at having met me. Did my nephew request you
10 bring this body No. replied the man. but
knew his anxiety to obtain one for dissection,
and took it upon me to offer this body For mer-
cy's sake continued the sexton, do not betray
me, sir, or shall lose my station and my famiy's
bread
While the man was speaking, strange idea
entered my mnd and brought to my despairing
bosom hopes of continued life and honor stood
for few minutes absorbed in thought, and
then recollecting myself, | gave two pieces of
gold TO the resnrrectionist, the which he
pected Telling him to keep his own counsel, and
that all would be well, / sent him away, and car
ried the body to my cabinet. The whole of the
household had been sent out ofthe way on purpose,
and | had time to carry into execution the plan
which had struck me. The body was fortunately
OF the same stature as myself, and like me in CON-
pleXlon. / knew the man he poor offend
er abandoned by his family. Poor relic Of NOR
talityr said |, with tears in nv ewes, nothing
which man can do, can now injure thee yet par
don me if rudely dsfgure thy lifeless substance.
Ii is to prevent the ruin Of not one but twenty
families. And should success attend nv attempt,
swear that thy children shall be my children,
and, when my hour comes, we shall rest together
in the tomb, TO which thou shalt be borne before
me-"
AT this portion of the merchants narrative, the
most lively interest was excited in the court and
testified even by tears from many of the audience.
Frenois thus proceeded
Il then stripped off my clothes, and dressed
fho holu in hol I han
took up my pistol, and with hand more reluctant
than when | applied it to my person, fired it
close to the head of the deceased, and at once
caused such Disagreement as rendered it impos-
sbe for the keenest eye TO detect the substitution
which had been made.
Choosing the planest habit could get,
then dressed myself anew, shaved off the whs-
keIs was accustomed to wear, and took other
means to alter my appearance, in case of being
subjected by any accident 10 the risk Of betrayal
Next morning saw me on board French vessel
on my way 10 a distant land-the native country
of my ancestors. The expectation of this scheme
was not disappointed. knew John Moon was
the man who had robbed me, and who now stands !
at the bar of this court and that he had formed
connections in this island which would in all pro-
liability bring him back to it, as soon as the intel
ligence of nv death gave him the promise of Sc
curity. In this have not been disappointed. |
have been abundantly fortunate in other respects.
While my unworthy servant remained in magina-
ry safety. have been successful in discovering
the quarter in which, not daring at irst to betray
the appearance of wealth. he lodged the whole of
the money. have brought it with me, and also
sufficient proof, supposing his confessions of this
day to be set aside altogether, to convict him of
the crime with which he stands charged. BY the
same MEANS" continued Clodomr Frenois, with
a degree ofhonorable pride, in which all who heard
him sympathized :" will | be enabled to restore
my family to their places in society, and to re-
deem the credit of name on which no blot was
left by those who bore 1t before me, and which,
please God, shall transmit unstained, to my
chdrens children"
John Moon. whose guilt was thus suddenly and
laid bare to the world, did not retract
the confession which he made, in the extremity of
his terror, and without separating, the court
tenced him 10 confinement in the prison of the
colony.
The news of Clodomr Frenois' temperance
spread rapidly, and the high esteem in which his
character was held led to universal rejoicing on
the occasion. He was accompanied from the
cour. TO his house by dense multitude who vel
coined him with prolonged shouts. 1t would be
vain to attempt any description of the feelings oil
his wife, who had thus restored TO her the beloved
being for whose sake she had Quilted the world.
She was released from her ecclesiastical vows,
and reoined her husband, no more to part tall the
grave really claimed one or the other of them as
lis due. t
y