Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-06-12


sion, "that no evil comes to me for it. "
The kings advocate listened attentive
ly to this story; he had now got hold of
clew, but what reliance could he place
upon its power to guide him9 He in
terrogated Gervais strictly as to whether
he thought he could recognize the voice
if he heard it again. The latter insisted
that he could. Several months had
passed, it was true, but his terrible adj
venture seemed only to have happened
few hours ago. So great had been his
terror that night and day he seemed to
hear the murderer's 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 indentity of
his interrogator.
After many long debates it was de-
cided by the parliament that Gervais'
evidence should be admitted. His
frank and circumstantial deposition made
deep impression, but some doubt still
remained. 1t seemed straining point
to place a mans life at the mercy of the
fugitive "reminiscences of blind man,
who could only trust to his hearing. 1t
seemed almost impossible that Gervais
should recognize faithfully voice which
he had heard but once. The parliament,
therefore, determined to prove him by
bringing into his presence successively
all the prisoners in the conci.rgerie,
Martel among the rest. If, after hear
ing them speak, the blind man sponta-
neously and without once hesitating
should recognize the voice, which had
struck him SO powerfully, this evidence,
united to what they already had, should
be held conclusive. Christmas eve was
pitched upon for this experiment, and
for good reasons. To have brought up
the prisoners together on an ordinary
day would have awakened their sus-
picions, perhaps suggested to them
various stratagems, and thus left the sue
cess of the novel experiment to chance.
On Christmas eve, however, the order
excited no surprise, as it was then Gus
tomary to bring all the prisoners Of the
conciergeriet before the parliament,
which sometimes, out of respect for the
day, liberated those who had been i'm
prisoned for trifing ofenses. s,
To bring home to tae understanding
of the witness the importance of the
statements he was to make, an iron clad
oath was administered to him, which he
took in truthful, honest manner, that
left no doubt of his sincerity, and the
trial commenced. Eighteen prisoners
were brought up and answered the ques-
tions put to them, but the blind man
never moved, while the prisoners, on
perceiving him in the room, gave nc
signs of alarm. At last the nineteenth
was introduced. 1t was Martel, and al
the sight of Gervais he seemed stupefied
with horror; he reeled and nearly tainted
away, SO that the turnkeys were obliged
to lead him to seat. The president
and judges anxiously awaited the result
At the first words that Martel uttered in
reply to question, the blind man, who
ignorant of his presence, had hitherto
remained quiet and immovable, sudden
! ly leaned forward, listening intently
] then, shrinking back with horror anC
fear, he cried out: cit is he; it is the
voice / heard on the heights of Argen
teuil. "@'The president then, in a louG
voice, ordered the removal of the pris
oner and the introduction of another
The first part of this order was complied
with, but in accordance with q prear
ranged plan, Martel was again brought
in and interrogated under another name
Fresh questions elected fresh replies
but the blind man, after listening q few
minutes, exclaimed, You are deceiv
ing me; that'is the, voice of the man
conversed with on, the heights of Argen
teuil." .l2" .a."7 ....l. l'
1.-The mystery was soon solved. De
, spairing, as well he might, the prisone
! stammered out full confession, ant
! was promptly convicted of the crime
The scaffold followed the sentence quick
ly in those days, and in twenty-fou
hours Martel expiated his crime unae
, the hands of the executioner. a.