Maryland free press., 1867-04-25

man entered whom recognized to be the sex
ton of the parish in which ! lived. He bore a
sack on his shoulders and in it the body of a
man newly buried, which was destined for my
nephew, the physician then living with me-
The scarcity ofbodies for dissection as the court
is aware, compels those who are anxious TO ac-
Quire skill in the medical profession, to procure
them by any possible secret means.
The sexton was at first alarmed at seeing me.
sDid my nephew request you to bring this
body?" said I. t.II.r
"No, 'replied the man, but know his anxi-
ETY. to obtain one for dissection, and took it mp
on me to come and offer him this body. "For
mercy's sake" continued the sexton edo OF
betfar me, sir, or shall lose my situation, and
my fhmily's bread" 80 . H, ... ........,
"Whe the man was speaking strange idea
entered my mind, and brought to my despair
ing bosom hopes OF continued if' and recovered
honor. | stood for u few momcnts absorbed in
thought, and then rccollectinG myself gave
two hieces of gold TO the rcsurrection;st the sum
which he expected Telling him to keep his own
way, and that all would be well. sent him
away and carried the body to my cabinet. The
whole ofthe household had previously been sent
ont OF the way on purpose, aud had to carry
into execution the plan which had struck nae.
The body was luckily of the same statute rs my
SELF and like me in complexion. I knew the
man; he had been n poor offender abandoned by
his family. ''Poor relic Of mortalityl' said l
with tears in my eyes, ''nothiug which man can
do can now injurc thee; yet pardon me if rude
|y disfgure thy liIcless Substance. 1t is 10 pre-
vent the ruin of not one, but twenty familics.-
And should success now attend my attempt, 7
swear that thy children shall he my children; and
when M own hour comes, we shall rest togcth-
er in the tomb TO which thou shalt be borne be-
fore me- ....
At this portion ofthe merchants narrative, the
most lively interest was excited in the court a~d
testified even by tears from MANY of the audi
euce: 81 then stripped off my clothes and dres-
scd the body in them. This accomplished, | took
ap the pistol and with n hand more reluctant
than when had applied it TO nv own purpose,
fired close to The face of the deceased and Mt once
caused such n disbursement as rendered it i'm
possible for the kecncst eve to detect the sub.
stitulion which had been made.
Choosing the plnincSt habit | could get, ] then
dressed myself anew, shaved off the whiskrrs
which was accustomed to wear, and took 9th
er means TO alter and disguise my appearance,
in case being subjected by any accident to the
risk of being betrayed, Next morning saw me
on board a French vessel on my way TO dis
innt lnnd-the native country of my ancestors.
Tee expectations which led me to the execution
of this scheme were not disappointed. ] knew
fhat John Moon the man who robbed me, and
WHO now stands Mt the bar of this conrt, had
Grmcl ccnnocti1nsin this,,islani, which could in
uii 10 IL us SOOl rs Tue
intelligence Of my death gave him the promise
of security. In this have not tean disappont-
ed have been equally fortunate Ia other res
pecis. While my unworthy servant remtined
here in imaginary safety, | have been successful
il discovering the quarter in which, not daring
at first TO bctrav tere the appearance Of wealth,
he In lolgel the whole of the stolen money. !
have brought it win me, and also sufficient
proofs, supposng confessions of this day to be
set aside altogether, to convict him of the crime
with which he star ds charged.
'By the same means" continued ClohomiI
frcnois, with degree of honorable pride in
which NJ who heard him svmpathiz, d, twill be
enabled 10 restore my family to their place in So
cietv, and 10 redeem the credit of name on
which no blot was left by tllo.e who bore it be-
fore me, aud which, please God, shall trans
nit ursaincd TO my children and my children's
children"
John Moon, whose guilt was thus suddenly
and strangely laid bare to tie world, did not re-
tract the confession which he had made in the
extremity of terror and, without separating, the
court sentenced him to confinement for life in
the prison of the COLONY.
The news OF Frcnos's reappearance spread rap
idly, and the high esteem in which his character
was held led to au universal rejoicing on the oc
casion. lie was'accompanied from the court to
his home by dense multitude, who welcomed
him with prolonged shouts. 1t would be vni 4
to attempt 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 relcaTed from her ecclesiastical VOWS
and rejoned her husband, no marc to part til
the grave really claimed one or the other Of them
rs its due