The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1883-11-28

Young lawyer, the Judge asked if he de-
sired assistance, to which Castor replied
that he would undertake the entire charge
of the defense.
The case was then adjourned one day
to give VI. Castor IN opportunity to con-
suit with the prisoner.
The prisoner was the only son Of the
poor woman present, and she was a
widow. \ few days before the commits
sion of the crime with which he was
charged. he came to Paris for the pur-
pose of obtaining employment. He soon
made the acquaintance of Il very friendly
appearing man, who took much interest
in him. and kindly offered to assist him
in obtaining employment. One evening
he WAS invited by his friend to accom-
pany him and examine some personal
property he had in the Rue Madeleine in
Il certain building he had rented. AL
though it was quite late, Henri asscntcd.
On their way his friend overlook another
person with whom he was acquainted.
and whom he also invited. His friend
now informed him that he greatly de-
sired to cntcra buildinywhichhc pointed
out. SAYING that was his store, but as he
had forgotten his key he produced Il
small iron bar which he handed to Henri,
telling him to pry open one of the shut
tiers. In Il moment the Young mar UNI
dcr>tood that he was in the presence of
burglars. and. horror-Strickcn at the
thought. he attempted to run away: but
ere he had made two steps he received Il
heavy blow on the head which fcllcd him
to the earth inScnSiblc.
When he returned to consciousness he
was in the office of monsieur. the cNamln-
iny magistrate. From the testimony of
Richct he learned that the building had
been broken open and entered. and that
VI. Bertrand. the proprietor. had been
murdered. OF all that he knew abso-
lutclv nothing. The friendly person
whom he had started out with had made
his escape. while Richct had been
captured.
The next morning the trial began.
The cx-gallcy slave repeated the same
story that ne had originally told. On
the croS>-cXamination by VI. Castor, how
ever. ut first he sustained himself but at
length he stumbled, hcSitated. and be-
came confused. and it was evident that
his testimony was considerably shaken.
The chief clerk of the murdered man was
then put on the stand, and to the qucs-
tions put by VI. Castor, it was learned
that no blood had been found on the
floor below the one where VI. Bcrtrand's
body was found, and where Richct had
testified that the prisoner had struck his
head on the counter.
The officer who first discovered the
prisoner testified that on the spot where
| iiourard's head rested there was a great
pool of blood. VI. Castor then called
the surgeon, who testified that the wound
ON the head of Gourard could not have
been made as Richct had sworn that 1t
was inflicted by Il club or some heavy
instrument.
With this evidence the Young lawyer
rested his case. and it went to the jury.
The jury retired. and after al hours
absence returned into the courtroom with
Il verdict of not guilty. The great, the
rich reward of VI. Castor was the almost
frantic Joy of the mother and son.
The God of the widow and orphan
has sent you to us, sir, in our distress, and
his blessing will descend upon youthrough
all your days"
Some day I shall reward you,' said
Young Gourard. The glittcring drops
which stood in his eyes evidenced his
great gratitude. And thus the mother
and son took their lcaveo of their generous
bcnefactor.
Years rolled on; the coup dctat of
December .. 1851. had made and unmade
many. VI. Pierre Castor had devoted all
his energy and %cloqucncc against the
usurpcr. But like many others. he had
been crushed. His great practice in the
law. that he had been years building up,
had been swept away, rs had been his
fortune and his friends. AS he sat one
day in his own dingy office, bordering
over his misfortuncs and crowding his
brain for some means toobtaina sufficient
sum with which to start again in lifc-for
he was still a young nall gcntlcmanly
appearing man entered.
do vounot remembrance, VI. GastonI"
Il do not" was the reply.
NV name is Gourard-IIcnri Gourard
whom YOU once defended on a serious
charge in this city"
Another glance at the visitor convinced
Castor that it was the prisoner that he
had defended years ago.
Gourard then III Il few words Informed
his bcncfactor that he WAS a wcll-to-do
merchant, that fortune had smiled udon
him and given him prosperity. After
~convcr>ing half an hour he rose to take
his leave.
"IIcrc Is Il small package that my
mother. my wife and myself have made
up for YOU. Do not open it until | have
left. ! trust that it will convince you
that my words to YOU have not been for
gotten. May God bless YOU. Good
bye
He was gone.
With trembling hands VI. CASTOR
opened the package. 1t was with diff
Guilty that he could suppress his emotion.
There, spread out on the table were 5000
francs.
This is, indeed. a rich reward. In
turn | saw, God bless the widow and or
phan."
With this small fortune VI. Castor
soon built up his practice and rcgaincd
his friends among whom he chcrishes
nonc dcarcr than Madame and Henri
Gourard.