The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1867-07-05

ness with me ?"
The stranger turned round and advanced
to salute his host warmly and couneously.
Mr.. Burnett started back and uttered
q loud exclamation Of surprise and alarm.
Well he might. for before him stood his old
friend and debtor, Clodomir, whom he
himself had followed to the grave.
What passed Mt that interview between
Mr.. burnett and his strange visitor remain
ell for the time n secret Mr.. Burnett was
observed to issuc several times, pale and
ngitated. from his dwelling, and to visit the
magistrate charged with the criminal pro.
ccsses Of the colony.
IN tho course OF that day, while John
Moon was regaliug himself with tea under
the palm trees Of his garlen, in company
with Circassinn female whom he had
bought some time previously, he was ar-
rested and taken to prison by the oficers
Of Justice. On the following day he was
brought before the criminal court. accused
OF robbing tho late Clodomir Frenois, the
crime being conioined with breach Of trust
and violence. Moon smiled at the charge
with all the confidence Of man who had
n,thing to fear. The judge having dc.
mnndcd Of him if he confessed tile crime,
tho accused replied. that the charge was
altogether absurd, that clear testimony was
necessary to fix such n crime. upon him
nn,l that, so far from there being any such
evidence pro,lucible, neither the widow Of
tho deceased nor any person In his service,
had ever heard tho pretended robbery even
once mentioned by Frenois during his life.
"l)o you then affirm your innocence r.
rcpcatcd the judge, gravely, after hearing
all the other had TO say.
81 will avouch my innocence" replied
Moon, seven before tho body of my late
innstcr. if TINT be necessary" Such a
thing often took place under the old coloni-
al law ]fri
"Jolin Moon" said the Judge, in voice
broken by some peculiar emotion; tits be-
fore yowlae master that you will now have to
nsscrt your innocence; and may God make
tho truth appear!" a...
A signal from the Judge accompanied
these words, and Immediately door open.
cd and Clodomir Frcnois, the supposed su.
icide. entered tho court. lie advanced to
tho bar, with slow and deliberate step |
having his eye calmly but sternly fixed on
tho prisoner, his servant. A great scnsa
ton was caused In the court by his appear
ance. Uttering shrieks OF alarm and hor.
ror. the females present fled from the spot. |
Tho accused fell OF his knees in abject ter
ror. AMI shudderingly confessed his guilt.
For n time, no voice was heard hut his
However, ns Il became apparent that a liy.
ing man stood before the court, the advo.
cate for the prisoner gained courngc to
speak. Tie demanded that the identity of
The merchant be established, and tho mys.
terry Of his existence be explained. Tie
said that the court should not bo biased by
what might prove to bo mere accidental
likeness existing between man living and
one decensed and that such an avowal as
that Of The prisoner extracted In moment
Of extraordinary terror, was not held Of
much weight. ''Before being admitted
hero rs acc,,ser or Witness" continued the
advocate, and addressing the resuscilated,
"prOve who and what you ARE, and disclose
by what chance the tomb which 30 lately
received your body, mangled by bullets,
bas given up It's tenant, and restored you
to the world, in life and IN health"
The firm appeal Of the advocate, who
continued steadIast to his duty under cir.
c,in,s,ances that would have closed tho lips
of most mcn, called fo1h the following
narrative from CIOdomir Frenois: "My
story may lc soon told, and will suffice to
establish my identity. When | discovered
the robbery committed by the accused, he
had then fled from the island, and spootli'
ly saw that NIL attempts to rotake him
would prove fitlitlea. saw ruin and dis
grace before me, and came to tho resolu
ton Of terminating my life before the evil
,lny came. Tn the night OF which this do
termination was f0rme,l, was seated alone
In my private chamber had written a
letter which was found on my table, and
had loaded my pistol. This done, pray.
cd for forgiveness from my maker for the
net of despair WINS about to commit. Tho
end Of the pistol was at my head, and my
finger on tho lock, when knock at the
outer door Of the house started me. COLI
cealed tho weapon, and went to the door.
A man entered whom ] recognized to be
the sexton Of the parish In which lived.
Ho t,ore sack on his shoulders, and in Il
the body Of man ncwly buried, which
was destined for my neighbor. tho physi.
chm, then living with me. The scarcity OF
lodics for dissection, MS the court Is aware.
colnpels those who are anxious TO acquire
skill in The medical profession to procure
them by any possible secret means. The
sexton was at first alarmed at seeing inc.
did my nephew request you to bring this
t,oIy? said l. no. replied the man; but
know his anxiety to obtain ono for dssec.
tior, an,l took II upon me TO come and OF.
fer him this body. For mercy's sake, con-
tinue,l the sexton, do not betrny me, sir, or
shall loso my situation, and my family
brea,l.'
"Whie tho man was speaking, q strange
idea entered my mind. and brought 10 my
despairing bosom hopes Of continued life
and recovered honor. ] stood fora few
moments absorbed In tho,ight, and then
rcollecting myself, | gavo two pieces of
gold To the rcs,lrrccti0nist, the sum which
ho had expected. Telling him 10 keep his
own way, and that all would he well,
sent him away, aud carried the body to my
cabinet. The whole Of the household had
been sent out Of the way on purpose, and
] had time to carry into execution the plan
whicl, had struck me. The body was
luckily OF the same stature as myself, and 1
like Inc in complexion. ! knew tho man
he had becn q poor offender, abandoned
by his family. Poor relic Of morality 81
sai,l with tears in my cys, nothing which
man can do can now irjure thee /; yet
pardon Inc if ridcly disfgure Thy liieleas
substance. Il Is to prevent tho ruin OF not
one, but twenty families. Aud should sue
cess attend my attempt, swear that thy
children shll be my children; and when
my own hour comes, wo shall rest together
in the tomb to which thou shalt bo born
before me-"
Al this portion Of tho merchants nat.
rnlivo the most lively interest wns excited
in the court, and testified even 10y tears hon
many Of tic audience. Fcnois thus pro.
ceedcd: n then stripped of my clothes,
and dressed the body In them. This &C.
I took mp the pistol, and with
a hand moro reluctant than when had aP
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