The Placer herald., 1858-01-30
A Thrilling Narrative.

The subjoined narrative, published origi-
nally in Chambers Journal, is said to have
been translated from foreign newspaper
1t is necessary to remind the reader that the
Island Of Mauritius, appertaining at this day
to the English, was originally colonized by
the French, and that the population yet con
sists in a great measure of persons of that
nation to whom, by a formal treaty of the
powers concerned, their ancient laws and
usages were preserved without any material
alterations.
About twelve years ago the Sieur Clodoml
Frenois, rich merchant OF the Island, was
found dead and frighfully disfgured in his
own habiation. His body was discovered
lying on the floor, with the face and head
mutilated by pistol, and all doubts as to
the cause of the catastrophe was dispelled
by he discovery of the fatal weapon by the
SIDE of the corIes as also piece of paper in
the handwriting OF the deceased. This paper
contained the following words
81 am ruined A villain has robbed me
of twenty-five thousand lvrc sterling; dis
honor must be my portion and cannot sur
vive it. leave to my wife the task of dis
tributing among my creditors the means
which remain to us; and play God, my
friends aud my enemies, may pardon my
selfdes'ruclion. Yet another minute and |
shall be in eternity CLoDoMIR FRENo1s."
Great CONSERVATION was caused by this
tragic event, which was the more unexpected
as tie loss alluded to in the above note had
never been made public. The deceased had
been held in great esteem over the colony,
as a man of strict honor and probity, and
was universally latnented. Two months after
the sad end his widow entered convent,
leaving to the nephew of the late merchant,
the charge Of completing the distribution of
the effects of Frenois among his creditors.
minute examination of the papers of
the defunct led to the discovery of the period
when the unfortunate merchant had been
robbed; and this period was found to cores
pond with the date of the disappearance Of
a man named John Moon, being in the en-
ployment Of Frenos. On this man, on whom
suspicion not unnaturally fell, nothing could
be learned on inquiry; but shortly after the
division of the merchants property, Moon
re-appeared in the colony. When taken up
and examined as to the cause of his fight,
he stated that he had been sent by his mas
ter to France to recover certain sums due to
the merchant there, in which mission he had
been unsuccessful. He further ayerred that
if Clodomir Frenos IN his existing cores
pondence had thrown any injurious SUSPECT
ons upon him, the whole was but pretext
to account for the deficiencies of which the
merchant was the cause and author. This
declaration, made by man who seemed to
fear no injury, and whose worldly circum-
stances remained to appearance the same as
they had ever been, had the effect Of silenc-
ing, if it did not satisfy the examiners; and
the affair soon fell, in great measure, out
of the public recollection.
| Things remained for several months in this
condition, when one morning, Mr.. William
Clodomir Fenois, 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 con-
cealed, wished to speak with Mr.. Burnett in
private. Mr. Burnett rose, threw on his
dressing gown, and descended to the parlor.
The back of the visitor was turned to Mr..
Burnett as he entered. But when the stran-
ger turned round and advanced to salute his
host warmly and courteously, Mr. B. started
back, and uttered loud exclamation Of sur
prise and alarm. Well he might, for before
his eyes stood his friend and debtor, Clodo.
mir Frenois whom he thought he had beheld
nearly year before mutilated corpse, and
whom be himself had followed to the grave
What passed at that interview, between
Mr.. Burnett and the strange visitor, remain
ed secret. Mr.. B. was observed to issue
several times, pale and agitated, from bis
dwelling, and to visit the magistrate charged
with the criminal processes Of the colony.
In the course Of that day, while John Moon
was RECALLING himself in his garden, 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 robbina
the late Codomir Frenois, the crime being
conjoined with breach Of trust and violence
Moon smiled at the charge with all the con