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

written the letter which was found OF
my table, and had loaded my pistol
This done, Iprayed for forgiveness from
my Maker, for the act that was abou
to commit. The end of the pistol wa.
at my head, and my finger on the trig
ger, when a knock at the door of the
house startled me. | concealed my
weapon. and went to the door. A mar
entered, whom | recognised to be the
sexton of the parish in which I lived
He bore a sack on his shoulders, 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, compels those who
are anxious to acquire skill in the medi-
cal profession to procure them by any
possible secret means The sexton was
at first alarmed at having met me-
Did my nephew request you to bnng
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 mercy's sake continued
the sexton, sdo not betray me, SIR, or |
shall lose my station and my family's
bread
"While the man was speaking, a
strange idea entered my mind, and
brought to my despairing bosom hopes
of continued life and honor. l stood
for a few minutes absorbed in thought,
and then recollechng myself, l gave
two pieces of gold to the resurrectionist.
the sum which he expected. Telling
him to keep his own counsel, and that
all would be well, sent him away, and
carried the body to my cabinet. The
whole Of the household had been sent
out of the way on purpose, and l had
time to carry into execution the plan
which had struck me. The body was
fortunately of the same stature as my
self and like me in complexion. knew
the man he was poor offender, aban-
doned by his family. Poor relic of
mortality 2 said l, with tears in my eyes,
nothing which man can do, can now
injure thee; pardon me if rudely dis
figure thy ifeless substance. 1t is to
prevent the ruin of not one but twenty
families. And should success attend
my attempt I 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 mar
rative, the most lively interest was ex-
cited in the court, and testified even by
foare f.osn ..>sy of tho sudionoo. Fro
noir thus proceeded
II then stripped off my clothes, and
dressed the body in them. This accom-
plished then took up my pistol, and
with hand more reluctant than when
Iapplied it to my person. l fred it close
to the head of the deceased, and at
once caused such a Disagreement as
rendered it impossible for the keenest
eye to detect the substitution which had
been made.
"Choosing the plainest habit l could
get, / then dressed myself anew, shaved
off the whiskers l was accustomed to
wear, and took other means to alter my
appearance, in case of being subjected
BY any accident to the risk Of betrayal.
Next morning saw me on board French
vessel on my way to a distant land
the native country of my ancestors.-
The expectation of this scheme was
not disappointed. l 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 proba-
bility bring him back to ii, as soon as
the intelligence Of my death gave him
the promise Of security. In this have
not been disappointed. l have been
abundantly fortunate in other respects.
While my unworthy servant remained
in imaginary safety, l have been sue
cessful in discovering the quarter in
which, not daring at first 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
ST the crime with which he stands
charged. By the same MEANS" con-
tinued Clodomir Frenois, with a degree
Of honorable pride, in which all who
heard him sympathized, .will I be ena-
bled to restore my family to their places
in society, and to redeem the credit of
= name on which no blot was left by
those who bore it before me, and which,
please God, / shall transmit, unstained,
10 NV children,s children.n
John Moon whose guilt was thus sud-.
denly and strangely laid bare to the
world, did not retract the confession
which he made in the extremity of his
terror, and without separating, the court
sentenced him Do confinement in the
prison of tho colony.
Tho news of Clodomir FrenoiS reap
pearance spread rapidly, and the high
esteem in which his character was held
led to ! universal rejoicing on the oc-
casion. He was accompanied from the
court to his house by . dense multitude,
who welcomed him with prolonged
shouts. Il would be vain to attempt
any description Of the feelings of his
vide, who had thus restored to her the
beloved being for whose sake she had
omitted tkn wnr1d She waG rploa nod