The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-08-14


profession entered heart and soul
into the question; one party wrote
pamphlets TO prove that lethargy has
frequently simulated death to +, the
point of causing still living person
TO be buried; while the other side as
| warmly maintained that It. was not
possible that life could be restored
after the body had been buried for
fourteen hours, as had been the case
IN this instance. Authorities were
consulted, and minute calculations
made, and each party maintained its
own view of the case. .p
The first hearing of the cause
brought Monsieur de Garran hinself
before the public. He declared that
at the first sight of his wife he had
been startled by her strong resem-
blance to Mademoisclle de Ia Faille,
and even Jet ho said it sometimes
struck him forcibly, although not (he
added to the point of making him
30 mad as to imagine that they could
| possibly be one and the same. He
gave his words such an accent of
truth and reason, and so pointed his
speech by q pitying glance at his
excited opponent, that few doubted
that Monsieur de Servins had indeed
lost his reason, and felt sure that the
strange scene must end at once.
Nevertheless, the cause came on
for hearing before the Courts, and
Madame de Garran, who during the
preliminary steps had been permitted
to remain in retirement, was COM
PEELED to appear and answer the
questions put to her. On being con-
fronted with Monsieur de Servins,
she maintained the utmost compo-
sure consistent with the astonish-
ment she displayed at his persisting
in his story, and the energy with
which she repudiated it. Monsieur
de 10 Faille, summoned from Tou-
louse, was quite overcome by o sight
OF woman so closely resembling his
lost child, and who yet so coldly de-
MED all knowledge of him. The
perplexed judges looked at each
other, while Madame de Garran quite
simply and calmly told the story of
her life. She had been born at Pom
dicherry, of parents of French ex-
traction, Monsieur aud Madame de
Merval, who had left her an orphan
while still q child. She had then be-
come the ward of gentleman and
lady of wealth and position, from
whose house she had been married
to Colonel de Garran. She had never
been in France till she accompanied
her husband thither, aud in support
of these statements she produced the
baptismal aud marriage certificates of
Mademoiselle Julie de Merval, as
well as several other papers and let
ters, which seemed to establish her
identity beyond dispute.
When she had finished, there was
but one opinion, and that favorable
to her and her husband, in the minds
of her judges. This day terminated
all the pleadings on both sides; but
as the French are cautious in their
legal proceedings, it was decided
that judgment should not be deliv-
cred for twenty-four hours, during
which time all parties should be kept
under strict surveillance. The solemn
day of the final decision found all
assembled; clear and rapid sum-
mary of the case was stated, and it
was evident that the balance of
opinion was strongly in favor of rid
ding Monsieur and Madame de Gar
ran of the singular persecution di-
rected against them.
At this juncture, Monsieur de Ser
wins left the Court, and Immediately
returned, leading by the hand beau
tlful child, seven years old. Madame
de Garran, screened by her advocate,
Monsieur de Moizas. from the eager
eyes of the audience, and still further
shaded by the hand on which her
head rested, failed to notice the
coming of her enemy; but all at
once she felt little soft hand clasp
hers, and a sweet, childish voice
said:
"Ah, mamma! dear mamma! will
you not kiss me?"
She started, looked wildly at the
child which clung to her, and then
she clasped it in her arms. and
covered it with tears and kisses.
The wife and daughter had resisted
successfully, but the mother betrayed
herself. From this moment, the
proceedings took new turn. Speak
ing for his clients, Monsieur de
MOiZas admitted that tho dead and