Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-12-30
Bold Robber.es.

/
not know whether he had read the story
where the prowess of Gil Bias was put
to the test when he was left alone to do
daring deed on the road, while the
| bandits looked on from the distance to
ascertain the amount of pluck which the
neophyte would exhibit, but if not, the
GROWING feat of the hero OF the bagne
was more remarkable. He determined
-he alone-would rob the diligence,
and he succeeded. At night-fall he
placed number of sticks through the
bushes by the way-side, which had
the appearance of muskets and were
intended TO represent number of rob-
bers concealed behind! AS the
diligence approached voice was heard,
as if haranguinga body of men. Ready!
obey orders mo firing if there be no
resistance-no, needless bloodshedl"
An armed man walked forth from
behind the bushes, stood before the
horses, cri, out, "a restez vous, con-
ducteur down. yentre terre
Comrades, attention. eyes on the alertl''
The horses stopped, the postillion and
the conductor descended; they lay with
their faces in the dirt. The screams of
ladies were heard from the carriage.
Ladies, be1not afraid, there is no cause
for alarm. We are too gallant to do any
mischief to the beau sex. Lads, no
firing p The robber opened the door
of the interior Besides ladies', there
were three military officers, of whom
two we're colonies, among the passengers.
"One at time, messieurs, and as they
came out, one after another sur
4. hi n
terre" was the command given to each.
All they saw in their confusion and in
the half darkness was the musketry
pointing at the vehicle; all that was
heard were the appeals of the women,
the cries for mercy, '.Don't hurt us,
take all we have" Assurances were
repeated that their lives were safe, the
commands were reiterated, mo fringl
no firing r'1 .@I}g8 Ttt 30
There was not single passenger who
was not lying with his face on the
ground when the robber marched away
with gracious "Adieu messieurs and
mesdames," apparently to join the rest
of the band. 1t was some time before
any one of the PROSTATE ventured to
raise his head. The first who did so
observed the barrels of the muskets still
directed menacingly toward them, and
hid his face in silence AS all noise had
ceased, they took courage, a consulta-
ton took place, the terrible bushes
were approached, the firearms were
found to be sticks, with nobody near
them. The robber was afterward arrest
ed, large portion of the property was
traced to him, and it was found that he
alone had feeced the whole company.
It was said that the officers had. their
swords with them, and it may well be
supposed that many joke was launched
at the spirit they had displayed. No
wonder that such performance should
be admired in community of rlffians,
and that such a performer should be
looked upon with respect and aamira-
ton. 1 -rn.f -
There was another felon whose his
tory was yet more remarkable, for 1T
was one distinguished by succession
of frauds, carried on in high places, and
with success which might have seemed
incredible. The man had been brought
up in convent, of which, at the time
of the French revolution, he lad become
q pursar. He disappeared with all the
money which belonged to the brother
hood, and his steps were never traced.
Some time afterward, person wearing
an Episcopal dress, and bringing letters
of recommendation to the high clergy
of one of the remoter provinces, appear
ed as the bishop of x forget the
title) and was received with all the
attention due his supposed rank. In
those days travelling was difficult and
tardy, and communications between
distant departments unfrequent. His
reverence baptized, married, and buried
those whose friends were delighted to
have the rights performed by SO eleva-
ted dignitary the combinations were
numerous, and many priests applied to
him for ordination, which he graciously
conferred. He became the distributor of
private and public charity, and had a
considerable sum of money in his hands
secured from many sources. One fine
morning the bishop. was everywhere
sought aud no where found. Inquiries
were instituted and the sad discovery
was made that the credentials were
| foreed--that the father in God" was q
SOD of perdition = that his acts were
something worse than invalid; that the
most serious consequences to persons
and properly had resulted from his mis-
doings, and it was long before the law
and the lawyer, the church and its
instruments, could repair, land they
4 znI- .w,x~1~fooklxv ravNosrA ha v,1ia-