Mountain Democrat., 1857-11-07
Always Right but Right or Wrong Our Country"



stranger, who seemed lcsirOus of keep
ing his person concealed, wished to Spcal,
with Mr.. Burnett in private. Mr.. Bur
nett rose, threw on his dressing gown, and
descended to the parlor. The back Of The
visitor was turned to Mr.. Burnett ash,
entered. But when the stranger turned
round and advanced to salute his host
warmly and cOurtcOusly, Mr.. Is. started
back, and uttered loud exclamation OI
surprise and alarm. Well he might; foT
before his eyes stood his friend and debtor,
ClUdomir FrcnoiS, whom he thought he
had bchcld nearly year before mutila.
ted corpse, and whom he himself had
followed to the grave,
What passed ut tlat interview, between
| Mr.. Burnett and the strange visitor, re-
maincd secret. Mr.. u. was observed to
issue several times, pale and agtatcd,
from his dwelling, and to visit the maGiS-
tratc charged with the criminal process
| Of The colony.
In the course Of that day, while John
Moon was rcgailng himself in his garden,
he was arrested and taken to prison by
| the officers Of justice.
On the following day he was brought
before the criminal court, accused Of rob
bing the late Clodomir FrcnoiS, the crime
being conjOincd with breach Of trust and
violence. Moon smiled at the charge with
all the confidence Of II man who had moth
ing to fear. Tie Judge having demanded
Of him if he confessed the crime, the ac-
cuscd replied that the charge was alto
gcthcT absurd that clear testimony was
necessary to fix such crime upon him ;
that so far from there being such evidence
producible, neither the widow of the de-
ceased, nor any person in his service had
| ever heard the, pretended robbery even
once mentioned by Frcnoisduring his life.
do you affirm your innoccnccf" re-
peatcd the judge, gravcly, after hearing
| all the other had to say.
" | will avouch my innocence" replied
Moon.
A signal from the judge accompanied
these words, and Immediately q door
opened and Clodomir FrcnoS, the sup
posed suicide, entered the court. lie all
vanccd to the bar having his eye calmly,
stcrnly fixed on the prisoner, his servant.
Bong called upon to testify he gave his
statement MS lOllOWS:
"Whcn discovered the robbery com
mittcd by John Moon. he had fled from
the Island, and | speedily saw that at.
tcmpts to rctakc him would prove fruitlcss
| saw ruin and disgrace before me, and
came to the resolution of terminating my
life. On the night on which this deter
mination was formed, was seated alOn,
in my private chamber. had writer
the letter which was found on my table
and loaded my pistol. The end of tht
pistol was Mt my head, when knock or
the outer door Startled me. concealed
my weapon and went to the door. \ maj
entered, whom recognized to bc the sex
ton Of the parish in which ! lived. liz
bore q sack on his shoulders, and in it tho
body of man newly buried, which was
destined for my nephew, tho physician
then living with me. Tho scarcity o
bodies for dissection, As the court is aware
compcls those who arc anxious to acQuir,
skill in the medical profession, to procur,
them by any possible secret means. Th'
sexton was at first alarmed when he me
me. did my nephew request you t.
bring this body?' said I. No. rcplie,
the old man, but knew his anxiety t.
obtain one for diSst ct0n, and took it upol
me to offer him this body For mercy.
sake continued the sexton, do not be
tray me, sir, or shall loose my situation
and my tamily's bread
While this man was speaking, q
strange idea entered my mind. stood
for II few moments absorbed in thought
and gave to the rcsurrcctonist tho sun
which he had expected. Telling him tc
Keep his own counsel, and all would bC
well, sent him away and carried tho
body to my cabinet. The body was for
tunltcly the same stature rs myself and
like mc in complexion.
"l then dressed the body in n snit o
my own clothes. This accomplished,
then took up my pistol and fired it close
a the head of the deceased, and at once
caused such Disagreement rs rendered
it impossible for tho kcencSt eye to detect
the substitution which Ind bccn made.
"Choosing the pianist habit | could
get then dressed myself anew, shaved
off the whiSkcrs which was accustomed
to wear and took other means to alter ant
disguise my appearance in case OF hCinl
subjected by any accident to the risk o
any betrayal. Next morning saw m,
on board of II French vessel on my way
to distant land-the native country o
my ancestors. The expectations which
had led me to the execution Of the scheme
were 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 tho Island which would in all prohabili
ty bring him back to it rs soon aS the in
tclligencc Of my death gave him the prom
Use of security. have been equally for.
tunatc in other respects While my I'm.
worthy servant remained here, in imagin'
ary safety, have been successful in dis.
covering the quarter in which, not daring
Mt first to ohctray the appearance Of wealth
he had lodged the whole Of the stolen
money. | have brought sufficient proofs
to convict him of tho crime with which
he stands charged. by the same means
will bo enabled TO restore my family tC
their place in society, and to redeem the
credit of namo on which no blot was
left by those who bore it before me, and
which, please God, shall transmit un
stained to my children and my children,
children"
The prisoner, seeing that denial woult
he useless, confessed the whole, and WA,
sent to prison for his crime.
The news of Clodomir Frcnois' reap
pCarancc spread rapidly, and the high cs
teen in which his character was held, lct
to universal rejoicing ON the occasinn.