The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-07-16

! stood face to face with murderer, and
fearing for his own life, he hurried OH his
way, resolved never to breathe a word of
his adventure to any one, lest, haply, it
might come to the ears of the unknown,
and awaken his vengeance. When, how
ever, he heard of a body being found in
the very place where he had heard the
voice, he could not avoid an expression of
surprise, and, when interrogated, frankly
| told all ne knew. "God grant, he ex-
claimed, in conclusion, 'that no evil comes
to me for it,
| The kings advocate listened attentively
to this story. He had now got hold of a
clue, but what reliance could he place
upon its power to guide him? He interro-
gated 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 adventure seemed
only to have happened u few hours ago.
So great had beer his terror that, night
and day, he seemed to hear the murderer's
words always ringing in his ears he could
iiZC biO NpISC DO SSi laiuiy dS LID llO-
theirs. The bystanders also testified that,
deprived of one sense, the others had in
creased in power his knowledge of the
human voice was wonderful. They often
| tried to play tricks OH him by addressing
him in disguised voices, but the blind man
never failed to detect the identity of his
interrogation.
ctor lahafoc Ial
| by the Parliament that Gervais' evidence
should be admitted. His frank and cir
cumstantial deposition made deep inn
preston, but some doubt still remained.
| 1t seemed straining point to place a
mans life at the mercy of the fugitive rem
iuiscences of blind man, who could only
trust to his hearing. 1t seemed almost
impossible that Gervais should recognize
faithfully voice he had heard but once
| The Parliament, therefore, determined to
prove him by bringing into his presence
successfully all the prisoners in the Con-
cierGerie, Martel among the rest. If, after
hearing them speak, the blind man spon-
| taneous]y and without once hesitating
| should recognize the voice, which had
struck him powerfully, this evidence
united to what they already had, should be
held conclusive. Christmas eve was pitch
ed upon for this experiment, aud for good
reasons. To have brought UP the prisoners
together on an ordinary day would have
awakened their suspicious, perhaps sug-
gestcd to them various stratagems, and
thus left the success Of the novel expert
ment to chance. On Christmas eve, how
ever, the order excited no surprise, as it
was then customary to bring all the prison
ers Of the Conciergerie before the Paria-
ment, which sometimes, out Of respect for
prisOned for trifing offences.
To bring home to the understanding of
the witness the Importance of the state
ments he was to- make, Fan iron-clad oath
was administered to him, which he took in
| n truthful, honest manner, that left no
| doubt of his sincerity, and the trial com
menced. Eighteen prisoners were brought
up and answered the questions put TO
them, but the blind man never moved,
while the prisoners, on perceiving him in
the room, gave no signs of alarm. AT last
the nineteenth was introduced. 1t was
Martel, and at the sight of Gervais he
seemed stupefied with horror he leeled
and nearly tainted away, so that the turn
keys were obliged to lead him to seat.
The President and judges anxiously await
ed the result. At the first words that
Martel uttered i'm reply to question, the
blind man, who, Ignorant of his presence,
had hitherto remained quiet and immov-
able, suddenly leaned forward, listening in
tently then, shrinking back with horror
and fear, he cried out ''It is he it is the
voice heard on the heights of Argenteuil.' -
The President then, in a loud voice, Or
dered the removal of the prisoner and the
introduction of another. The first part of
this order was complied with, but in ac-
cordance with prearranged plan, Martel
! was again brought in and intcrrogated
under another name. Fresh questions
elected fresh replies, but the blind man,
after listening few minutes, exclaimed
"You are deceiving me that is the voice
of the man conversed with on the heights
of Argenteuil.
The mystery was soon solved. Despair
ing, as we'll he might, the prisoner stam-
mered out q full confession, and was
promptly convicted of the crime. The
scaffOld followed the sentence quickly in
those days, and in twenty-four hours
Martel expiated his crime under the hands
of the executioner.
A ROCHESTER wife being caught by hel