St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1883-02-24

of friends, and have not had particular
occasion to use one. Any man of decent
reputation can get one at any time.
My cousins carte happened to be lying
on my mantel-piece, and when went
out picked it up and put it in my
poke, for safe-keeping. The blank
carte was one of several odd scraps OF
paper that happened to have about
me, and as it bears no seal is worthless
for any criminal purpose. OF course, if
were guilty, should not lack plaus-
ible papers.
Q. What kind of spurs are you in the
habit of using?
r. have not used any spurs for
more than year. Those that own
are old-fashioned ones, and not like the
spurs used nowadays.
Lesurques' defense outside of testi-
mony to his good reputation. with which
he was well provided. was of course an
abb. He brought fifteen witnesses to
prove his presence in Paris on the sth
Floreal.
Eight of these were persons with
| whom he had dealings on the day in
question:; four. I.egrand, Aldenhof,
Ledru and Baudard, were personal
friends; and his own wife and his cousin
| Andre and wife complete the list Lee
grand and Aldenhof were jewelers.; Le-
| dru and Baudard, artists. All four were
well acquainted with each other, as well
| as with Lesurques. Aldenhof and Le-
dru were both from Douai, and ac-
quainted with Guesno. By these last
seven witnesses alone Lesurques very
reasonably expected to prove his case to
| the court beyond the shadow of a doubt.
His doings on the Sth Floreal, as gath
cred from their evidence, were briefly
as follows:
He passed a part of the morning at
! Legrand's shop, in the Palais Royal,
where he met Aldenhof, and took him
home to dine with him. Arrived at the
house, they found Ledru. ALI three
dined together, and then went out to
walk. Met Guesno on the Boulevard
DIES Italiens at about half-past six and
returned to the house at about half-past
seven. Soon thereafter Baudard APP
peared. Then they separated, and Lee
suraues passed the evening and the
night at home.
Iegrand was the first witness called
| for the defense. He testified that Lee
surques had passed part of the morning
of the Sth Floreal in his shop. When
asked what made him remember this
fact so distinctly he replied that while
Lesurques was there Aldenhof had come
in. and had bought a soup ladle and
sold him pair of earrings; and that
he was confident that this transaction
took place on the Sth Floreal. In proof
4 Of the correctness of this statement he
appealedto his books, and unfortunately
| laid great stress upon the entry made
at the time. He was told to produce
| the book containing the original entry.
4 and accordingly passed it upt to Gohier.
Gin looking at the page indicated. the
! latter started with surprise. and ex-
claimed: This is a gross attempt to de-.
feat the ends of justice! The date has
been tempered with. Arrest the wit
ness
Guinier, esurques's counsel, and Lee
/ grand were thunderstruck. They seized
the book, when it was handed back to
them, and eagerly examined the date.
/ Enthusiastically there were two figures
/ there, one over the other, but, as
Gunner afterwards argued, so clearly
manifest as to disprove at once all
probability of criminal intent.
/ Legrand, still under arrest, continued
his testimony; but the court, proceed
ing after the French fashion, inspired
| him with such terror that he became
very much confused, and contradicted
| himself in such way as hopelessly to
damage Lesurques in the eyes of the
4 court.
Gohier henceforth conducted the trial
as if he were assured of his guilt, in
timidating the witnesses, and sparing
no pains to create an unfavorable opin-
| ion of them and of their testimony in
the minds of the jury. His efforts were
completely successful.
Courriol, Bernard and Lesurgues were
pronounced guilty of highway robbery
and murder. Richard was found guilty
of receiving stolen property. Guesno
and Bruer were acquitted.
Lesurques turned pale with horror
when he heard the une spected verdict,
and raised his hands as If in deprecas
ton. Then, conquering his emotion. he
stood up, ard with the calmnessa and Dig
nifty that characterized his hearing to
the end said :8..Unquestionab the crime
Of which I am accused is 4 terrible one.
and deserves to be punished with death;
but if murder on the highway is crime,
the abuse Of law to strike an innocent
man is no less criminal. The day
will come when my innocence shall
be established; then my blood be on the
heads of the jurors who have convicted
me without due reflection, and on the
Judge who has influenced them TO do
! so.
Courriol now made his first. effort to
save Lesurques. He rose from his seat.
and cried out: Lesurques and Bernard
/ are Innocent. Bernard only lent the