The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-12-17
n HERO-CRIMINAL.

A French correspondent writes The
old saying that truth is stranger than fiction
has rarely received more striking illustra-
ton than in case which has just been
brought before one of the French tribunals.
Thirteen years ago a soldier named Jean
Lastier was sentenced to five years penal
service and ten years surveillance by the
police for having insulted one of his su-
perior officers and stolen few shirts He
was sent to Africa to undergo his sentence.
and his conduct was SO exemplary that he
wss employed as book keeper to the prison.
At the expiration of his sentence he was
ordered by the police to reside in a small
town in the south, but as everybody knew
he was returned convict it vas with the
utmost difficulty that he could obtain any
kind of employment. The commissioner
of police, knowing how well be had behaved
while in prison, interested himself on his
behalf, and induced a tradesman OF the
town to employ him as messenger. He
fulfilled his duties so Zealously that the
tradesman promoted him to the post of
cashier, and in course of time the returned
convict married his daughter and entered
into partnership. Three months after his
marriage the war broke out, and Laster,
anxious to rehabiitate himself completely
volunteered his services, and Joined regi-
ment of the line. He was taken prisoner
at Gravelotte, but managing to escape lie
rejoined his corps i'll time To take part i'll
the battle around Orleans. From thence
ha inf J,a Df IL.
Bourbaki, and received no less than eight
wounds. AT the end of the campaign he
had become sub lieutenant, and had re-
ceived the military medals, which had
been given him on the battle field. He
was almost hero in his regiment, and
house nearly all the town turned out to
meet him. Soon afterward his fathey-in-
law died, and Lastier, with his wife and |
two children, determined to reside in Paris. |
His term of surveillance had not expired, |
but the local police had ceased TO treat the |
as a returned convict, and |
placed no obstacle in bis way. lie had |
lived quietly in Paris for nearly a year, |
when few weeks ago he was accompany
ing friend to the Orleans railway station.
The latter had dog with him, aud this
dog was attack cd in the street by another.
The respective proprietors while attempt
ing to separate them came to high words,
and at last to blows. Jean Laster, who |
took his friends part, was, with
the other two arrested by the police, and
was of course compelled to show his ''pa-
pers," etc. His antecedents being known,
the Paris police finding that he had left
the place of residence assigned to him be-
fore the expiration of the ten years, had no
choice but to proceed against him and be-
ing brought before the correctional tribunal
Of the Seine, he has just been condemned
10 two months imprisonment for breach of
regulations. This is unfortunately the
aw, but it is not justice, and your readers
will, | am sure, be glad to learn .hat an
who happened to be acquaint-
ID with the facts of the case has brought
he matter before Marshal MacMahon, and
las reason to hope that the poor fellow will
receive the free pardon to which he is SO
'ully entitled.