The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1867-03-29

the medical profession to procure
them by any possible secret means.
The sexton was ut first alarmed at
seeing me. 'Did my nephew request
You to bring this body2' SAID l.
NO replied the man; but | know
his anxiety TO obtain one for dissec-
tion, and took it upon me to come
and offer him this body. For mercy's
sake, continued the sexton, do not
betray me, sir, or / shall lose my
situation, and my family's bread
"While the man was speaking, q
strange idea entered my mind, and
brought to my despairing bosom
hopes of continued life and recover.
cd honor. stood for q few moments
absorbed in thought, and then recol.
lccting myself, gave two pieces OF
gold to the resurrectionist--the sum
which he bad expected. Telling him
to keep of his own way, and he carried
the body 10 my cabinet. The whole of
the household had previously been
sent out of the way on purpose, aud
had time to carry into execution
the plan which had struck me. The
body was luckily of the same stature
as myself, and like me in complex.
iCn. knew the nan; he had been
a poor offender, abandoned by his
family. Poor relic of mortalitv,'
said /, With tears in my eyes, moth.
ing which man can do can now iniure
thee; yet pardon me if | rudely dis
figure thy lifcless substance. 1t is
to prevent the ruin of not one, but
twenty families. And should sue
cess attend my attempt, swear that
thy children shall he my children !;
and when my own hour comes, we
shall rest together IN the tomb to
which thou shalt be borne before
me-"
AT this portion of the merchants
narrative the most lively interest was
excited in the court, and testified
even by tears from many of the au.
dience. Frenois then proceeded: 81
then stripped oil my clothes and
dressed the body in them. This ac
complished, j took up the pistol, and
with a hand more reluctant than
when | had applied it to my own
person, / fired it close to the head OF
the deceased, and at once caused
such n diligurement as rendered it
impossible for the kecnest eye to de-
tect the substitution which had been
made.
Choosing the plaincst habit l could
get, l then dressed myself anew,
shaved Off the whiskers which | was
accustomed to wear, and took other
means 10 alter and disguise my ap-
pearance in case of being subjected
by any accident to .he risk of being
betrayed. Next morning saw me on
board French vessel on my way TO
q distant land-the native country
of my ancestors. The expectations
which led me to the execution of this
scheme were not disappointed. !
knew that John Moon, the man who
robbed me, and who now stands at
the bar of this court, had formed
connections Ill this island which
would in all probability bring him
back to it as soon as the Intelligence
of my death gave him the promise of
security. In this | have not been
disappointed. | have been equally
fortunate in other respects. While
my unworthy servant remained here
in imaginary safety, | have been sue.
cestul in discovering the quarter in
which, not daring at first to betroy
here the appearance of wealth, he
had lodged the whole of the stolen
money. l have brought it with me,
and also sufficient proofs, supposing
his confessions of this day to be set
aside altogether, to convict him of
the crime with which he stands charg.
ed"
SPY the same MEANS" continued
Codomir Frenois, with degree Of
honorable pride in which all who
heard him, sympathized, "will / be
enabled to restore my family to their
place in society, and to redeem the
credit OF q name on which no blot
was left by those who bore it before
me, and which, please God, shall
transmit unstained TO my children,
and my children children"
John Moon, whose guilt was thus
suddenly and strangely laid bare to
the world, did not retract the con.
fession which he had made in the ex.
tremity of his terror; and, without
separating, the court sentenced him
10 confinement Tor life in the prison
of tho colony,
The news OF Codomir Frenois' re
appearance spread rapidly, and the
high esteem in which his character
was held led to n universal rejoic.
ing on the occasion. lie was nc.
companied from the court to his
home by dense multitude, who wei.
coined him with prolonged shouts.
II would be in vain to attcmpt any
description OF the feelings of the
wife, who thus saw restored to her
the beloved being for whose sake she
had Quilted the world. She was re-
leased from her ecclesiastical vows,
and rejoined her husband, no more
to part till the grave really claimed
one or the other of them us its due
Several years since, before the
Drp1 Scott decision n slaVo loft tho