Connecticut western news., 1872-01-12
A SingMlar.t'0se.

press to similar case that occurred over three hundred years neo. It is SO interesting that we give 1t to our read- CTS. It seems that in 153O Martin Guere, nntive of Biscay, belonging to the class of we'll -to-do peasant pro- rrietors, married girl, by name Ber- trande de Rols. They were only II years of age at this time and it wns nine years before Martins son was born tt' them. The son, proved to be very bad boy. He married, however, and it was believed had settled down anl reformed. Robbing his father and fearing detection he ran away, desertipg his home. Mean while his father died, leaving his estate and four daughters in the hands of a brother who managed it ill the name of Martin. At the end of eight years the lost Martin or one whom every one at once recognized as such, reappeared. and was welc0 0med by his wife Bertrande. by his sisters. by his uncle, aud by all his friends and acquainiances, living with them for three years without raising shadow of suspicion. His wife, who had been warmly attached to her husband before his disappearance, was overjoyed at his supposed return, clung to tue new conner with redoubled affection, and bore him two children, one of whom died in tender age. Presently, however, Il soldier happened to go through the village of Artigues, who, at private in- terview, communicated to Bertrande the startling intelligence that her real hus- band, Martin Guerre, wasliving in Flau- ders that he had been Q soldier like himself, and had lost leg, carried off by cannon-ball at the Battle of St Laurent. No notice was taken of this scandal as it was believed to be and all parties lived happily for three years when dispute arose between Martin anl his uncle about the property, and violent quarrels took place, the uncle frequently assaulting the nephew. Uncle Pierre and four of his sons-in-law endeavored to prevail on Bertrande tn denounce Martin as an impostor. But sne withstood all their arguments, and to every doubt urged against the man now personating her husband, she in stantly replied that he must "either be Martin Guerre or the devil in his skin. " Her impri- oned husband was presently released on bail, and on his return to his village he was again received by her with every mark of coniugal attachment But on the following day, early in the morning, his uncle Pierre, with his four sons.in-law, broke into Martins house with arms in their hands, and, profess ing to act by power Jf attorney in the wife's name, arrested Martin, charging him with fraud and deception. The power of attorney, however. as it was proved, was only signed by Bertrande in the evening of that same day.
 A IOnr trial oncuo1 in wbioh r,,ov, wifi nesses testified to the identity of Martin, while others asserted that he was an imposter. His wife would not or could not give evidence either for or against the man, her mind having become con- fused by this perplexing state of afflirs.
 Everything, however, combined to in cline the Judges to give their sentence in favor of the prisoner, when q man calling himself Martin Guerre, and with a wooden leg, answering the description given by the soldier to Bertrand,., ap peared in court. He was immediately arrested and confined to 0 cell, depriv- ing him of all communicat with the outer world, anl, being secretly examiu- ed, he entered into all the particulars respecting his family, his village. and acquaintance with considerable accuracy, but yet not with the minuteness, with the promptness and certainty which had been dis played by the first prisoner throughout the transaction. The two Martins were then confronted, and both stood the test of crOss-exanination with hrmness but it was observed that the new conner, although consistent anu positive, was in frequent instances, and especially in matters of domestic and Rnh than his adversary. They were piled separately with questions on topics which had hitherto never been alluded to ill the trial, but the answers were equally ready and fully satisfactory on either side. Witnesses were then called-frst, the brothers, next the sisters of Martin Guerre, who, as they en'erel one by one and cast glance on the new conner, threw their arms around his neck, burst ing into tears, calling him their real brother, and asking his pardon a thou sand times for having allowed themselves to be the dupes of gross deception, which had equally imposed upon all their neiShbors. Bertrande came Iext. and Ill her case also the first sight of the man with the wooden leg seemed to cause the scales at once to fall flom Ter eyes. She sank on her knees before the Gus- oand she had so grievou>ly and yet so unwlttingly wronged, and she urged in her exculpltion the astonishing resem. b.ance between him aud the villain who had deceived her, and the readiness with which his own sisters and all the village of Artigus had fallen into her own de- lusion. The same revulsion of feeling m infested itself in all the witnesses who were brought in In succession, especially ill those who had been foremost ill ac- kuowledging the first pretender and to give evidence minis favor. The pass ion ate accent and flowing tears of the low ing wife carried conviction to the hearts of the judges. The man with the wood en leg was reinstated in all his rights as Martin Guorre. and the impostor, Arnauld de Tilh, was condemned to be hauged and burnt. Before he was led out for execution he avowed that he had served as a sollier with Martin Guerre ; that he had livel with him on such terms of friendship as e1ablel him to gain possession of all his secrets, and that upon his return from the wars, hay ing accidentally fallen in with some persons who had mistaken him for his friend, he had conceived the scheme of taking that friends name and place a scheme which had at first succ ,eded to the full extent of his expectation.
 An Ef9ht.AOur Law.