The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-03-20

time he was sent to Cherbourg, whence
he escaped in 1909, fleeing to Paris, and
cnlisting in the cavalry. He served ia
Spain, as in Italy, with marked heroism
and faithfulncss, and won the confidence
of General Laverdiere, who made him
his orderly, and selected him to at
tend him in the Russian campaign. Pass
ing by Chalons on his road to the front
Dubois could not resist the temptation
to visit his family. His brother in-law
denounced him to the authorities. and
Dubois was sentenced to twenty tour
years at the galieys! They sent hirn to
Anvers, whence, in 1918, be escaped TO
rejoin the army, IS we have already said,
and vainlY seek death.
Retaken in 1914 by vidocq, the priso.
ner was sent to Rochefort. After seven
or eight years he was pardoned. A mis-
cradle thing was freed convict in those
days. For ten years he was condemned
to police surveillance; his yellow ticket
of-leave announced his disgrace to every
one; he ceuld find no employment, or
even shelter. They hunted him from
place to place like wild beast or a lep
er. He tried to shoot bimself-and fail
ed Refused work, and lacking bread, he
stole the means to purchase meal. The
Court only looked at his record OF es-
capes, and sentences; counsel were as
signed him too dull to see the magnif
cent opening such case presented, and
the poor devil got ten years more.
For thirty years now he had been con
vict and soldier, but he had not lost
strength-possibly even some hope sur
vived in him that the luck would turns-
At any rate, he broke Jail again-ho asd
been confined at Dijon-and made his
wey to Paris, where August 10, 1923, Ia
detective recognized him on the Rue ST.
Martin, and hauled him before the Com
missioner OF the Second Division. M
Henry. 1t was before M. Henry that
Dubois had been arrested at Bondy in
1914; to him the soldier had intrusted
the 1000 francs placed In his hands from
the regimental chest; he knew oil about
his case. To his indelible disgrace the
official only recalled that Dubois had
been before him ON previous occasion,
and the prisoner was sent to Bicetre.
Bicetre and La Force were then literal
hells. There was no classification oil
i prisoners the strongest snd most brutal
ruled his ward without interference by
the keepers The prisons swsrmed With
vermin aud reeked with malaria, and the
prisoner who could not bribe the tnrn.
keys ran an imminent risk of dying ol
hunger. Dubois remained here faul
years, slowly sinking in health and snir
its. Justice seemed to have foreotsen
} him, when he was taken back to Dion
He had been condemned in contumactam
for his escape in 1922. The prison-doors
opened for him as inexorably as ever
this time Mont ST. Michel being his des
tination. On his way thither, while pass
ing Prez en-Pail, be escaped sgain.
VI.
i He was subsequently asked why h
had so frequently escaped, and answer
ed:
| 81 nad lost hope. / began to believ,
that was destined to end my days un
der the lock and key, and sought to es
cape because every day of liberty was {
} day saved from inevitable captivity. I
, had been for more than thirty years my
luck to be rearrested and committed, ,ant
, since it had to be so i .ried when coult
to cheat it, =
Il Yes. 1t was his luck. November Is
J 1881, he was entering the diligence, Ru,
du Bouloi, when a hand was laid on hi
} shoulder. 1t was the inevitable polio,
: officer. For the first time, gaining
3 strength and eloquence from his despe
ration, Dubois resolved to plead his owl
case. He told his story; insisted on hi
, innocence Of the original crime laid tt
. his charge, recounted his honorable ser
, vice in three armies of France, showet
his scars. The Court heard him partly
through, yawned and sent him back t,
Bicetre.
II XIII.