The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-07-29

Kings advocate, on the body of the long
missing Zambelli. This Jealous officer,
in his search for traces of crime, had
visited every village and hamlet on the
road from Rouen to Paris, and had ques-
toned every officer of police he encoun-
tered. but all in vain. In despair OF ac-
complishing his object, he was about to
return to Rouen, when he was informed
that some months before q corpse had
been discovered hid in vineyard near
Argenteuil. Bigot fastened thither, and
the state of preservation of the remains
enabled him, on viewing the body, to
perceive that it tailed exactly with the
description given by his brother OF the
missing Zambelli.
The Magistrate, having taken down
the evidence, proceeded, III accordance
with custom, to read it aloud, when he
was interrupted by piercing cry, and a
blind man, whose presence in the room
no one before had perceived, presented
himself. His name was Gervais, and
himself a professional beggar, born IN
the neighborhood, well known and much
liked. 1t was his custom to wander trom
place to place, begging his way, but he
always returned three or four times a
year to Argenteuil. There he met a
kind reception, and was invariably al
lowed lodging at the hotel. Having ar.
rived that day from tramp of several
months, he had entered the house and
seated himself unnoticed in a corner
When, however in listening to the Mag
istrate, he heard that corpse had been
discovered among the vines, he sprang
up with a loud exclamation, and was
quickly interrogated. Several months
before, he sad, he started from Argen-
teuil on one of his tramps, and had just
gained the high ground beyond the vii
lage when he heard the violent baying
of dog. He stopped and listened, and
soon distinguished mans voice, feeble
and suppliant, exclaiming, "Monster
thy MASTER thy benefactor; mercy |"
."Must die so far from my country, my
brother; mercy, mercy !" Then the
blind man heard fearful cry, like that
of dying man in his last agony, and all
was silence.
After time he distinguished the steps
of one who seemed to stagger under a
heavy burden. Gervais advanced, ask
ing what was the matter-who had been
moaning SO? Nothing, nothing" re-
piled an agitated voice, "only sick man,
who is being carried home and has faint
ed on the way" Then the voice added
in lower and more menacing tone
"You may thank God you are blind, or |
would have done the same to you" He
now perceived that a terrible crime had
been committed; trembling as he real
lied the fact that he stood face to face
with a murderer, and fearing for his
own life, he hurried on his way, resolved
never to breathe word of his adventure
to any one, lest, haply, it might come to
the ears of the unknown, and awaken
his vengeance. When, however, he had
heard Of body being found IN the very
place where he had heard the voice, he
could not avoid an expression of sur
prise, and, when interrogated, frankly
told all he knew. "God grant," he ex-
claimed in conclusion, that no evil
comes to me through it."
The Kings advocate listened attent-
lively to this story; he had now got hold
Of clue, but what reliance could he
place upon its power to guide him? He
Interrogated Gervais very strictly as to
he thought he could recognize
the voice if he heardit again. The latter
insisted that he could, Several months
had passed, it was true, but this terrible
adventure seemed only to have hap
pened a few hours ago. So great had been
his terror that, night and day, he seemed
to hear the murders words always ring
ing in his ears; he could recognize the
voice as certainly as his mothers. The
bystanders also testified that, deprived
Of one sense, the others had increased in
power; his knowledge of the human
voice was wonderful; they often tried to
play tricks on him by addressing him
in disguised voices, but the blind man
never failed to detect The identity of his
interrogation,
After many long debates it was decided
Dy the Parliament that Gervais' evil
lence should be admitted. His frank
md circumstantial disposition made a
leep imprt ssion, but some doubt still re-
NAMED. 1t seemed straining point to
1laCe mans life at the mercy of the fu-
,itive "reminiscences of blind man, who
,ould only trust to his hearing. 1t also
seemed almost impossible that Gervais
should recognize faithfully voice which
ne had heard but once. The Parlia-
nent, therefore, determined to prove
lin by bringing into his presence sue
,essively all the prisoners in the Con-
.iergerie, Martel among the rest. If,
!fter hearing them speak, the blind man
spontaneously and without once hest
ating, should recognize the voice which
lad struck him so powerfully, this eyi-
lence, united to what they already had,
hould be held as conclusive. Christmas
Eve was pitched upon for this expert
nent, and for good reasons. To have
up the prisoners together on an
,rdinaly day would have awakened their
uspicions, perhaps suggested to them
,arious stratagems, and thus left the sue
ess of the novel experiment to chance.
i'll NuIloIludn DNOt nOWOECl, CuC OIucE
excited no surprise, as it was customary
o bring all the prisoners of the Concier-
,erie before the Parliament. which some-
lines, out of respect for the day, liber-
tied those who had been imprisoned for
rihing offenses.
To bring nome to the understanding
# the witness the importance of the
statements he was to make, an iron-clad
,ath was administered to him, which he
ook in truthful, honest manner, that
eft no doubt of his sincerity, and the
rial commenced. Eighteen prisoners
we're brought up and answered the ques-
ions put to them, but the blind man
lever moved, while the prisoners, on per-
,erceiving him in the room, gave no
igns of alarm. At last the nineteenth
vas introduced. 1t was Martel, and at
he sight of Gervais he seemed stupefed
With horror; he reeled and nearly tainted