The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1850-02-28

averred that if Codomir Frenois, in hi.
existing correspondence, had thrown
any injurious suspicious on him Moon
the whole was but a pretext to account
for deficiencies Of which the merchant
himself was the sole cause and author
This declaration, made by man who
seemed to fear no injury, and whose
worldly circumstances remained to ap
pearance the same as they had evel
been, had the effect of silencing, if i,
did not satisfy, the examiners; and the
affair soon fell. in great measure, ou,
of the public recollection.
Things remained for a short time in
this condition, when one morning Mr..
William Burnett principal creditor oi
the late Clolomir Frenois, heard a
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 in
telligence, that stranger, who seemed
desirous of keeping his person con-
cealed, wished to speak with Mr.. Bur-
| nett in private. Mr.. Burnett 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 attitude upon a sofa,
with number of the Morning Post in
his hand. The back of his visitor was
turned to Mr.. Burnett as he entered.
Rather surprised to see stranger con-
duct himself so like an old friend of the
house, Nh. Burnett said aloud, "Sir,
may | beg to know your business with
mew
The stranger turned round, and ad-
vanced to salute his host warmly and
courteously Mr.. Burnett started back,
and uttered loud exclamation of sur
lkise and alarm. Well he might; for
before his eyes stood his friend and
debtor, Clodomir Frenois, whom he had
beheld nearly year before mutilated
corpse-whem himself had followed to
the grave!
What passed at that interview be-
tween Mr.. Burnett and his strange visi-
tor remained a secret. Mr.. Burnett
was observed to issue several times,
pale and agitated, from his dwelling,
and to visit the magistrate charged
with the conduct of the criminal pro-
cesses of the colony. In the course of
the day, while John Moon was regaling
himself with tea, under the palm-!rees
of his garden, with Circassian female
whom he had bought some time previ-
ously, he was arrested and taken to
prison by the officers of justice. On
the following day he was brought be-
fore the criminal court accused OF rob-
bing the late Clodomir Frenois, the
crime being conjoined with breach
of trust and violence.
Moon smiled at the charge with all
the confidence of a man who had no
thing to fear. The judge having de-
manded 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
producible, neither the widow of the
deceased, nor any one person in his
service, had ever heard the pretended
robbery even once mentioned by Free
nois during his life.
$50 you then affirm your innocencem
repeated the judge, gravely, after hear
ing what the other had to say.
"I will avouch my innocence" re-
piled Moon, "even before the body of
my late master, if that be necessary"
(Such q thing often took place under
the old colonial law.)
aJohn Moon" said the judge, in q
voice broken by some peculiar emotion,
"it is before your late master that you
will have to assert your innocence; and
may the God of justice make the truth
appear"
"A signal from the Judge accompanied
the words and Immediately a door
opened and Clodomir Frenois, the sup
posed suicide, entered the court. He
advanced to the bar, with slow and
deliberate step having his eyes calmly
but firmly fixed on the prisoner, his
servant A great sensation was caused
in the court by his appearance. Ut
tering shrieks Of horror and alarm, the
females fed from the spot. The accused
fell upon his knees in abject terror, and
shuddering, confessed his guilt. For
time no voice was heard but his. How
ever, as it became apparent that q living
man stood before the court the advocate
for the prisoner gained courage tospeak.
He demanded that the identity Of the
merchant be established, and the ex-
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