The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1877-02-14

Passing by Chalons on his road to the
front. Dubois could no. resist the temp
,a;ion TO visit his family. His brother
in-lsw denounced him TO the authori-
ties. and Dubois Was sentenced 70
twenty -four years 81 the galleys They
sen: him 70 Ayers. whence, IN 1913. he
escaped 10 rejoin the army; a. We have
already saii, and vainly seek death
Re,aken in 1914 by Vdoc,,. the
prisoner Was sent 10 Rochefor,. After
seven or eight years be was pardone3.
\ miserable thing was r freed convict
in 'hose days. For ten years hs WAS
committed TO police surveillance his
yellow ticket-of- leave announced his
disgrace TO every one; be could find 10
employment, nor even shelter They
hunted him from place TO place like .
wild baest or leper. lie tried 10 shoot
hinself-and failed. Refused work,
ab1 lacking bread, he stole the means
~ purchase q meal The court only
looked at his record Of escapes and SEN
tences counsel were assigned him too
dull to see the magnificent opening
such case presented, and the poor
devil got ten years more.
For thirty years now he had been
convict and soldier. but he had not lost
strength-possibly even some hope
survived in him that the luck would
turn. At any rate. he broke Jail again
lie had been. confined at DUon-and
made his way to Paris. Aug. 10, 1893.
detective recognized him on the Rue
st. Martin. and hailed him before the
Commissioner of the Second Division,
NJ. Henry. 1t Was before N. Henry
that Dubois had been taken when be
was arrested at Bondy, in 1914; TO him
the soldier had entrusted the 1900
francs placed in his ha IDS from the re-
gimentsl chest he knew all about his
case. To his indelible disgrace the
official only recalled that Dubois had
been before him on a previous charge.
and the prisoner was sent to Bicetre
Bicetre and La Force were then liter
al hells. There was no classification Of
prisoners the strongest and most bru-
tai ruled his ward without interference
by the keepers. The prisoners swarm.
ed with We ermin and reek ed with malaria
and the prisoners who could not bribe
the turnkeys ran an imminent risk Of
dying Of hunger. Dubois remained
four years, slowly sinking i'll health and
spirits. Justice seemed to have for
gotten him, when he was taken back to
Dijon. He had been condemned IN con-
tamaciom for his escape in 1922. The
prison-doors opened for him again as
inexorable as ever. this time Mont St
Michael being his destination On his
way ,hither. while passing Prez-en
Pail. he escaped again.
He was frequently asked why he had
SD frequently escaped, and answered
II had lost hope. began to believe
that l was destined to end my days
under the lock and key. and sought
to escape because every day Of liberty
was day saved from inevitable cap
tivity. 1t had been for more than
thirty years my luck to be rc-arrested
and committed. and since it had to be
so, | tried when could to cheat it,"
Yes 1t was his luck. November
%. 1881. be was entering the diligence,
Rue du Bouloi, when hand was laid
on his shoulder. 1t was ths inevitable
police officer For the first time, gain
ing strength and eloquence from his
desperation, Dubois resolved to plead
his own case. He told his story, in
sisted OH his innocence of the original
crime laid to his charge, recounted his
honorable service in three armies of
France. showed his scars. The Court
heard him patiently through. yawned,
and sent him back to Bicetre.
Small wonder he gave up Tor awhile
and abandoned himself to despair He
was almost sixty, and luck had run
cruelty against him for nearly forty
years under the Republic, the Consul
ate. the Empire, the Hundred Days,
two Restorations. and one Revolution.
He was destined to Mont st. Michel.
most horrible of the prisons of the day.
The monarchy of July was then in its
first flush. and inclined to be merciful,
and a. a last hope he wrote out the
whole story of his life from the time
that he entered the school at Brienne.
He did not omit an incident. his escapes
the petty theft he committed after vain
ly attempting suicide.
You will find it all in the Ga,etfe d,s
TriInaeaux of the time. 1t ccnclud,s
thus
Advanced III age. my strength is
failing. There remains to me but one
hope and the sorrow Of never seeing the
end 10 my evils. Still the soversigns
mercy is great have never commit
ted crime that should make me dc
spair of pardon cannot survive the
hardships of the fearful route from
Paris TO Mont ~. Michel. l beg there
fore. tha. my position may be anchor
ated by sparing me that terrible jour-
uey and severe treatment, and that |
may be sent 10 place Of detention
nearer Paris. as Poissy or Meluu. where
my brother, who will give security for
me. can find tie wctk at my trade,
,>sddleryl. and can ~~aI, in patience
the moneu, when Your Majesty will
deign 10 take pity on my n,sfortunes.
This plea he sent to Queen Amelia,
most pious aud venerable Of sovereigns.
And now with tender hearted
woman. and she queen, on his side.
Dub3is luck turned. The Qucea la!
the whole story hunted out.
Il was all true
The reginen'al records at,ested the
bravery AMI >crupulous honesty Of
Franco,s DahoIs
OH NArsasl Mor,i.r told how the
tussar had Giiden iss. and heailong
into the tss;'ery of Bout ds Lain
The Duke lie rresiso bore witness
before the Queen If tie hussar's re-
peate.l sallantry and ot hIs services to