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


Hl9 For the light and the shade
OF thy green forest glade
Thy churchyard with moss-covered stone
81 E --------- FL 'a
CONVICTED BY A BLIND MAN.
About the middle of the seventeenth
century Nicholas zambelli, citizen of
Lucca, visited England on business, and,
pleased with the country, settled there.
His affairs prospered, and by the time
he was fifty years of age he had accumu-
lated a handsome fortune, and felt de-
sire to end his days at Lucca, where a
brother of his still resided. He wrote
to his family announcing his intention,
and soon after sent them, another letter,
dated at Rouen, stating that he had ad-
vanced thus far on his journey; that he
had some business to attend to at Paris,
and might be expected to reach Lucca in
about two months. Nearly half year
elapsed, however, and nsthing was heard
OF him. His brother, extremely anxious
as to his fate, set out for Paris in search
of him. He visited every place where
the missing man was likely to have pre-
sented himself In the course of his bust
ness, and in his search seemed, at first,
to meet with success. Many of those he
encountered stated that they had seen
and conversed with the missing man he
had claimed and collected the amount
due on various securities to consider
able amount. When, however, the re-
ceipts signed "Zambelli were exhibit
ed, the brother exclaimed at once that
they were forgeries, and it was plain that
there had been foul play of some sort
robbery, at least, if not murder. No
clew could be obtained, however, to the
guilty parties; none Of those who, paid
their money to the false Zambelli would
undertake to describe an individual they
had seen six months before, and but for
a few minutes. Investigations at Rouen
revealed the fact that Zambelli had ar
rived there, and had left for Paris ac-
companied by valet. The latter, how
ever, had been but little noticed, and as
so long time had elapsed since his de-
parture, no one could undertake to
identify this single domestic of the
many who in that time had passed
through this hotel, the most frequented
in Rouen. ...-.-
Cornelius Zambelli thereupon brought
the matter before the lieutenant of
police, but even his acumen, sharpened
by long experience, was at fault. I'm
doubtedly crime had been committed
somewhere between Rouen and Paris,
but where, when, and by whom? Rea-
soniwas at fault, but the lieutenant was
brilliant example of the Darwinian
theory of the acquisition of instincts.
Long years of contact with crime, in
Vulnerable searches for criminals, had
engendered in him o sixth sense, which
enabled him to detect the presence of an
offender against the law w,where there was
no palpable evidence of his existence.
Six or seven months before a goldsmith
named Martel had opened q shop at
Rouen, where'he was entirely unknown.
There was something strange, awkward,
and embarrassed in his appearance and
manner he was very retieent as to his
antecedents; inqnisitive neighbors who
ventured. to ask him any questions
about himself were put off with evasive
answers, while his manner when thus
interrogated became painfully embar
rassed. These circumstances, joined tc
the fact that his business was the same
as zambelii's, and his appearance al
Rouen synchronous with the latter s dis
appearance, awakened a suspicion IL
the heutcnant's mind that he was the
man Of whom they were irf search, and
that official at oEce set to work to obtair
corroboration of his hypothesis.
With those artful preparations to in
trap the unwary which are the charac
teristics of French criminal law ant
police, he sent an individual to Martel'i
store, who, under pretense of purchas
ing some trinkets, entered into conver
sation with the goldsmith and incident
ally mentioned the name of Zambelli
At this Martel grew pale and showed
signs of disquietude, looking earnestl,
at his questioner, who, however, giyinl
no sign of any ulterior motive in hi
remark, finished his purchase and lef
the shop. The lieutenant now felt sur
that he was on the right track. His ncx
step was an ingenious one. He coun
terfeited Martel's signature to bond
and sent a sergeant of the police to th
suspected man to demand payment o
it. Martel, of course, replied that
was forgery, and refused to pay, bu
the officer insisted that he must talk
him into custody until he had sworn t
its falsity before the proper officer.
Martel, at first, accompanied the sci
geant with all the calmness of an innc
cent man, but suddenly suspicion tha
all was not right flashed upon him
Trembling with fear, he seized the off