The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-08-25
JEAN SEZRAlN.

Henri yalur owned small vineyard
near St. Dizier, in the department OIL
Grouse, France. He was widower, will
son and daughter, the latter Is and th,
former 10. On the adjoining land liyet
Jean sezrain, retired sea captain, oflarg
frame, unmarried and over 20 years o
age. He was seemingly genial, kind
hearted man, and appeared much attached
to Valur's children, Charles and Marie.
On the morning Of May IL, 1868, Jear
called at valur's house. and said he wal
going out Tor the day, and wanted Charles
to look alter the stove and keep up the
fire. Charles agrned TO do so, and Jear
started down the road TOWARD Bourganepf.
Shortly before noon Charles went oyel
to jeans dwelling, opened the back dool
with the key which had been left with
him, land attended to the stove in the kitch.
en-. AS he was about to leave the house
he saw a large leather pocketbuok lying on
the floor. He picked itup and without ex.
aiming 1t, put itinto his pocket, intend.
ing to keep it until Jean returned, on
reaching home, Charles found his father
there, and told him about tho pocketbook.
The elder Valur asked 10 see II, aud exam.
inedi It.
SIS there money in III" the son asked.
"No," the father replied; "only papers"
and then seemed 10 be absorbed in the
contents.
Charles went out to the foot Of the hill, a
couple OF hundred yards away, to help his
sister draw water. Having done this, the
two stopped to examine the bushes on
which buds were beginning to show. Thus
they passed few steps into the thicket
near which footpath ran down to the
main road. Hearing step, they paused,
and through the branches and foliage OF
some evergreens they saw the figure OF a
man pass hastily along the footpath to the
read. ..-
"Ii it had been possible" said Charles,
u should have said that was Jean See.
rain"
Ten minutes later they returned 10 the
house with the water. On entering the
kitchen dreadful sight met their gsze.
Their father was lying on his face on the
floor in pool Of blood. Gently lifting
him they placed him on couch, and found
that his head was crushed in. Life was
still in hin, and Charles, quickly saddling
q horse, started off for doctor, leaving his
sister IN charge OF the. wounded man.
AS Charles reached the main road he
saw Jean Sezrain approaching. Hastily
informing him OF what had happened,
Charles stuck spurs into his horse, and was
soon out Of sight.
While Marie was watching her father
and moistening his lips with wine, jean
Sezrain entered the kitchen.
II know it all, he said, making a sign
with his hands for her to be silent; Charles
has told me-"
Then he examined the wound in valur's
head, and made q gesture OF despair, as
though he would say, "There Is no hope"
In an hour Charles returned with sur.
geon, who happened 10 be an old army
doctor. This man thoroughly understood
his business, and saved the life Of Valur,
though his reason was gone.
As to the perpetrator Of the deed all was
mystery. 1t was supposed that some tramp
or outlaw, or an escaped convict, had ap.
preached the house, and seeing Valur ex-
aiming the contents OF pocket book, had
Drained him and decamped with the sup.
posed booty.
Jean sezrain called every day and asked
after Valur. He offered the children
money II they required it, but they de.
clined aid, saying that their father had
money in bank, and that, moreover, they
were able enough from the vineyard 10
support themselves and their father. As
for the latter, he regained his bodily health,
but though he ate and drank and walked
about he knew no one and never spoke.
"If we could remove the pressure from
the BRAIN" said the dector, "his reason
might return, but he might die under the
operation" At length 1t was determined
to attempt the operation, and an eminent
surgeon from Paris was summoned. The
operation was performed, and the piece Of
bone pressing on the brain was success
fully removed In a few hours the patient,
awakening out OF sound sleep, reCog
nized his children. From this time the
man improved mentally, and the same day
everything came 10 bis memory, including
the pocketbook and its almost fatal relation
to him. Then he revealed to the doctor a
strange story.
Vslur's father, brought upto the sea, was
engaged for some years in cultivating q
vineyard, and, having made little money,
was induced to start sailors boarding
house in Havre de Grace. Success attended
this venture, and al the end OF twelve years
the elder Valur had amassed over 10000
francs. When he had reached bis 60 b year,
and his son had attained his 18th, the
elder Valur resolved TO buy vineyard and
resume his former business. The house
which he occupied in Hayre was one oil
those high, narrow dwellings close to the
water, which have attracted the attention
Ot 10 many visitors to the old seaport.
There was only one entrance, and at the
right hand side was small room, which
Yalur used as an ,flice. In II was
counter, behind which Valur usually
sat and transacted his business with
hiS guests. The door to this room opened
right at the foot OF the stairs, go that Valur
could see and be seen by all who passed up
and down. He had sold his interest in the
boarding house, and on June II, 1913. re-
ceived the money. The same day he drew
his money from the bank with the excep-
ZION Of about 10000 francs, On the even
ing ofthat day he was counting his money
and arranging his notes according to their
value in his Office, and his son Henri was
with him. The inmates OF the house aud
their friends had kept coming and going all
the evening, but about 10 o'clock the place
became quiet,r. A big, burly sailor with
full beard and grutf way, entered the
Office and said:
Monsieur, one OF your boarders has
fallen intothe water, aud may be drowned,
for what know"
said the elder Yalur, "and-see what is the
Henri instantly quilted the Office and
hastened down toward theharbor not many
hundred feet away. No sooner had hc
Quilted the office that the sailor already
spoken Of, and another man Of slighter