The Osceola times., 1880-08-14
TRUE TO HIS OATH.

IktE 1U HIS UAlH.
One morning about ten years ago the
Partisan public were made aware of the
fact that the confidential clerk of Mon
sieur Laurin, a well-known banker had
absconded with the sum of nearly ,000,-
600 francs. Large payments were due
that day by the banker, to meet which
he had been relying upon this sum. A
run upon the bank followed, and that
evening his name was among the list OF
bankrupts. Detectives had, of course,
instantly been put upon the track of the
absconding clerk, and just as he was
stepping ON the boat at Calais to cross
the channel, he was arrested and con-
veyed back TO Paris.
When arrested he seemed Mortified
at the charge against him, and earnestly
protested his innocence. This was but
natural under the circumstances, and did
not have the least impression upon the
officers; but one thing that did puzzle
| them was the fact that no trace OF the
money he had stolen could be found. AT
| his trial the evidence against him was
| too strong TO admit OF any doubt of his
guilt. The banker swore that on the
previous day he had given the clerk
several orders upon the treasury,
amounting in all to between 900, 900 and
| 100000 francs, with instructions, after
getting them cashed, to return to the
| bank, and deposit the money in the
vault, of which he alone, beside the
banker himself. knew the combination.
Evidence was forthcoming from the
Treasury Department that he had re-
ceived the money, but the evidence OF
| the other employees was definite that he
had not returned to the bank during
business hours, while the janitor was con-
| fident he had not done so afterward.
This, taken altogether, and added to the
fact of his sudden flight, seemed con-
elusive to the Judges that he was guilty
| The prisoners defense took the form OF
an accusation against his employer. He
acknowledged having received the
| orders, and also getting them cashed
but denied that he had been told to de-
post the amount in the bank vault In
stead he averred the banker had told
him to retain the money in his posses
| sion until evening, when he was TO adj
nit himself by key the banker gave
| him to his house, and deliver the money
into his own hands. This the prisoner
| declared he had done, when the banker,
unlocking drawer in the desk at which
he sat, took out large envelope, and
| told the clerk to address it TO a well.
known banking firm in Leadenhall
street, London,
Having done as he was desired, his
employer took folded paper from the
drawer and placed it in the envelope
sealed it securely and gave it into his
hands, telling him that he wished him
| to start for LONDON at once to deliver il
| to the firm to which 1t was addressed
and receive in return some securities oi
value laying in their hands. As he had
on more than one former occasion beer
thus sent on similar secret missions by
his employer, he thought there was moth
| ing strange in the request, and, setting
out in less than an hour, had Travelled al
night to Calais, arriving there Just il
time TO catch the boat, was stepping OF
board, when he was arrested anC
brought back to Paris to be charged
with a crime of which he had neyei
even dreamed.
The officers testified to having founC
the envelope upon him, directed as h,
had stated but, on opening it, the in
| than several sheets of blank paper. Iii,
story, though told with earnestness o
truth and conscious innocence, seemed
so widely far-fetceed and improbabl,
that it only influenced the Judges still
more STRONGLY IN the belief of his guilt
To be sure, the main proof against hin
was the bankers word, but the whole
chain of circumstances also favored his
assertions. Where or how the clerk haC
hidden the money was certainly an un
explained mystery, but the suppostior
was natural that he had laid his plan,
well beforehand, and made arrange.
ments so that it would still be secure II
case he was arrested before he couc
make good his escape. Weighing tn,
evidence carefully, though not perhaps
without taking into account high socia
standing the banker had always occupie,
the Judges pronounced the clerk n
guilty, and sentenced MIN to the galleys
for term of twenty years.
When the prisoner heard this doom
to which even death would have beer
preferable, his head fell upon his breast
| and an understandable wall OF agony
broke from his lips. The following day
he was sent to the galleys at Toulouse
four years passed away, during which
time the banker had resumed his busi.
ness, and had reached an even higher
social position than he had occupied be-
fore. His only child, a daughter OF
more than ordinary beauty and sweet.
ness Of disposition, had blossomed into
womanhood. The wealthy young Mar.
quis de Beaunois was smitten by hei
charms, and ambitious hopes were en-.
tering the bankers mind that through
her he might even enter higher grade
of society and become associated will
the nobility. He could now afford &c
laugh at the threat of vengence uttered
four years ago by convict whose rivet
ed chains were clanking in the galleys AT
i Il I L.. 1