The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-25

/ eiN pOb ipl MAI No vi NlOlNhNCl
or still more if he ordered post mortem.
Thus, in the great majority of poisoning
cases which occur, (and they have been
very numerous of late years, the crime
has only come to light through the gossip
or neighbors, which has begun aftef the
body has been buried. How many mur.
ders have remained undiscovered through
the laxity in the system of verifcation is
point upon which one need not specu-
late.
DR.. Lenoir had certified that Madame
Barberon's death was due to natural
causes As soon, however, as the Pub
lie Prosecutor heard of the sinister re-
ports that were flying abroad, he acted
with the vigilant promptitude which
characterises officials of his class, and
issued an order for exhumation. At the
same timed he summoned DIR. Barberon,
and, after questioning him in private,
bade him hold him at the disposal of jus
tice-in other words, made him prison
er at large with injunctions not to leave
the town. Next, the Prosecutor issued q
search warrant, which consigned the
doctors house to the custody of detect
ives, who forthwith took possession of all
papers, phials, instruments, ETC., and for
bade the owner to enter any room but
the bed-chamber and dining-room, both
of which they had previously over
hauled.
All this took place one fine-day in
August, and in the evening repaired as
usual to the club, where everybody was
discussing the startling event. 1t was
in sitting hot weather, but this did not
prevent the conversations from being
highly animated. Already two parties
had been formed, some feeling convinced
that Barberon was guilty, whilst others
scrupled to believe him capable of COM
mitting an atrocious cold-blooded crime.
Among those who held out most stoutly
for the doctors guilt was an old half-pay
officer, Colonel Tranchot. who was the
most excellent creature alive, but very
obstinate when he had conceived preiu-
dice. He had never liked Barberon.
Stuff, sir!' said he to the leader of the
local bar, Maitre Farcy, who had taken
Barberon's side. Stuff sir! if my wife
were to die tomorrow, nobody would ac-
cuse me of numbering her. There are
only certain sorts of men upon such sus-
picions fall, and they are alway black
sheep
Maitre Farcy remarked that justice
sometimes made errors, and that he had
himself had often pleaded for wrongly
accused persons whom juries had acqut-
ted.
That only proves that you can manage
juries, said the Colonel. Il don't believe
that justice commits errors. 1t may
sometimes charge man amiss with some
particular offense, but he will be sure to
have been guilty of something else.'
I should not like to see you chief Judge
in our Court observed the barrister
smiling.
4 have sat as judge on courts martial,
sir, responded old Tranchot, and l have
never met with a prisoner yet who had
not foul antecedents when you looked
into them. Charge man with stealing
pig, and it's odd but that he will be
proved to have stolen whole drove be-
fore he was ever suspected
That comes of the habit which our
Procurers have of raking up all the mnd
in prisoners past life,' maintained
Farcy.
They might rake up all my past life,
and the would not find one fake of mud
cried the Captain, striking his bosom.
NO, sir; my notion of good character
is thing clean as the plate off which you
eat. | wish to be known among my
friends and enemies, not only as a man
who has never committed crime but
as one who could under no conceivable
circumstances commit one; SO that even
if evidence pointed against me, my good
name should be enough to bear me inno-
cent. Yes, SIR and the Colonel, who
was red in the face, wagged his head at
the lawyer.
Maitre Farcy made no answer, for at
this moment the door of the card-room
where we were talking was abruptly
opened, and Dr. Barberon walked in.
His entry produced as much sensation as
if it had been that of a wolf. shall
never forget the look he cast at us, one
of defiant inquiry, contempt, and exas-
peration. His featutes were flushed, and
he mode step or two, then paused, with
his hat in his hand, as if he were an actor
on the stage.