Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-11-19
Story OF o French Convict.

Old saying that truth Is stranger tnan nctlOn
has rarely received more striking illustra-
ton than in a case which has just been
brought before one of the French tribunals
Thirteen years ago soldier named Jean
Lastier was sentenced to five years penal
servitude and ten years surveillance by the
police court for having insalted one of his
superior officers and stolen few shirts. He
was sent to Africa to undergo his sentence,
and his conduct was so exemplary that he
VT employed as bookkeeper in the prison.
At .he expiration of his sentence he was
orcered by the police to reside in a small
town in the south, but as everybody knew
he was q returned convict it was with the
utmost difficulty that he could obtain any
kind of employment The commissiaire of
police, knowing how well he had behaved
while in prison, interested himself on his
behalf, and induced tradesman of the
town to employ him as messenger. lie
fulfilled his duty so zeslously that the trades
man promoted him to the post of cashier.
and in course of time the returned convict
married his daughter and entered into
partnership. Three months alter marriage
the war broke out. and Lastier, anxious to
rehabilitate himself completely. volunteer
ed his services, and i)ired the regiment OF
the line. lie was taken prisoner a: Grave
lOlbC, bub ~ N'ShPC ltiucA
corps in time to take part IN the battles
around Orleans. From thence he past into
the army of the East under Bourbaki. and
received no less than eight wounds. At the
end Of the campaign he bad become sub
lieutenant, and had received the military
medal. which had been given him ON the
battlefield. lie was almost hero IN his
regiment, and when he returned to his
father in.law 5 house nearly all the town
turned out to meet him. Soon a.terward
his father-ia-law died, and Lastier. with his
wife and two children. determined 10 reside
in PARIS. llis term of surveillance had
not expired. but the police had ceased to
treat the slb-lieutenant as q returned con-
Wet, and placed no obstacle in his way.
He had lived quietly in Paris for nearly
year. when few weeks ago he was accom-
panying friend 10 the Orleans railway
station. The latter had dog with him,
and this dog was attacked in the street by
another. The respective proprletors while
attempting 10 sepera.e them came TO high
words. and at last to blows, Jean Lastier.
who naturally took his friends part. was.
with the other two. arrested by the police,
and was of course compelled to show his
papers, etc. His anteccdent- being known,
the Paris police finding tia; he had lett
the plsce OF lesidenee assigned to him be-
fore the expiration o. the ten years, had no
choice but TO proceed against him. and be-
ing brought before the correctional trl-
bunal ol the Seine, he has lst been con-
dsmned to two mOntbs' imprisonment Tor
breach of regulations. This - unfortunate
ly the law. but it is not Istice, and your
readers will, | am sure, be glad to learn
that an Englishnaa who happens 10 be
acquainted with the facts of the ease has
brought the matter before Marshal MAcMa-
hon, and has reason to hope that the poor
fellow will receive the pardon to ~hich he
Is s. fully entitled
ILors Az HoyEsT PoY There's Ger
mau who keeps 2 corner grocery in heokuk,
and he had a call from little boy the other
night who had been sent to get two d0,-
lar bill changed. The boy received the
change and walked home with it. when it
was discovered tha, there was a quarter
which was rather ragged, though good, in
the change, and als0 that the quarter was
lust twenty-five cents more change than the
folks who sent the change were entitled to.
The bay was sent back to return II, and Of
course the ragged fractional was sent
with him Entering the store and holding
the ragged money, the boy said - You
changed two dollar bill for me, here's a
quarter r--" Our German friend, seeing
the ragged money, and iancying lie would
have to take it back, interrupted the boy by
exclaiming - Shanged nodinks shanged
no pills init YOU -
" Yes you did, and here's a quarter"
" Mein Gott, you vas liaar Nefer in
my life did see such poys. del.slou,
you nefer -hanged ne init any pill.
'' Why. was in here not half an hour
ago. and You gave NE quarter--,
" Git y0l some quarters-gIf you some
/ quarters Dunlerwetter, young fellow
/ You dink | bin gone crazy NIT my prains ,
/ l don't gif YOU some quarters. Now make
1 yourself seldom, ride away, before | put
shoulders on your head 20 and he commenc-
cd 10 move out from behind the counter.
a. Oh. you tiia't give ne no quarter,
hey Al right squire. I'm just quarter
ahead =" and be started to 60 out
" Now. said the German. putting him
/ self in an attitude OF admiration, - dot is
I what ike TO see petteras nottings else.
1 lo!c an honest gov, and | shOost pin trying
you, sonny. Yaw, it was me what makes
shange nit der pill, and knows Is oil der
same, put | vas trying you. You peesh a
cheney poy. and gii, you Mise big ap-
pies for your honesty and pocketing tie
quarter he led the boy back to the rear end
OF the store, and selecting an apple abou;
the size Of marble. he presented it TO the
hoy, and, ratting him on the head. said
" Now. run along home, sonny, and del
your folks y0t nice, p-e-a-u-t-i-i-u-l old
shentleman it vas who gif you dot nice ap
| PIE - Hcotnk Consfrfnflonnlsf.