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

StOOu lace 10 Iace With a murderer, and
fearing for his own life, lie hurried OH 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, 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. 'fGod 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
| 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 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
recognize the voice as certainly as his mo-
TIERS. 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.
After many long debates, it was decided
by the Parliament that Gervais' evidence
should be admitted. His frank and cir
cumstantial deposition made a deep i'm
preston, but some doubt still remained.
| 1t seemed straining point to place a
| mans life at the mercy Of the fugitive rem
iniscences Of a 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-
ciereerie, Martel among the rest. If, after
| hearing them speak, the blind man spon-
taneously and without once hesitating
struck him SO powerfully, this evidence,
united to what they already had, should be
held conclusive. Christmas eve was pitch
| ed upon for this experiment, and for good
reasons. To have brought up the prisoners
| together on an ordinary day woulo have
awakened their suspicious, perhaps sug-
| gested 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 Parla-
ment, which sometimes out Of respect for
| the day, liberated those who had been i'm
prisan1 trihing offences.
pine to the understanding of
ne Importance of the state
to- make, IAN iron-clad oath
red to him, which he took in
pest manner, that left no
ncerity, and the trial COM
cen prisoners were brought
al the questions put TO
lind man never moved,
S, on perceiving him in
signs of alarm. At last
as introduced. 1t was
sight of Gervais he
i.h horror he leeled
away, so that the turn
Obliged To lead him to seat.
| The President and judges anxiously await