The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1883-11-09
NIGH UNTO DEATH.

The warehouse of NJ. Justin Bcr
trand Was situated on the Rae Made
lrine. u was supposed 10 be burglar
proof 20 when N. Bertrand put up hi
shutters and went home the safety q
his goods troubled him br. iHllc. I
appears however. that on the mornln,
Of February Is, 1919, as the Waterman
Hccompsaie,l Ivy fellow officer. wa
passing. he noticed that one II the shut
tiers had apparently been removed
This aroused the suspicious OF the OH
Gers, and advancing a few steps h,
stumbled over the bleeding and inani
fnsic form Of Young man. AZ mi,
moment two men rushed out Of n reai
door Tho companion 81 the officer
gave chase aud succeeded IN capturing
one Of the two who had Just left In
such x eat haste. The Waterman then
summoned assistance and the linn
body ~ the Young man was borne a.
~ ralsls DO Justice. Further search
revealed the IA; tia; NJ Bertrand had
been murdered while In his warehouse.
When sufficiently restored To conscious.
moss the Young man. Henri Gourard by
name, protested his innocence. Ills
story was heard but not believed
Ala he exclaimed, "whv did
they not kill me aud save my mother
This great rurrow P'
'tia me csptured by the waichman's
companion, Richct, an cN-gailcy slave.
then told his story on promise Of
being SCI ~ liberty
The thrce had put mp q Job 20 gut
NJ Bertrand warehouse Soule. the
one who had escaped. Gourard aud him
self. They had entered the place aud
were progressing admirably when q
noise startled them. Ii was NJ Bor-
traud. who had entered the place 10 as-
certain the cause Of the shutters being
dpGa. A. be- approached 10 where the
him tremendous blow on the head
with a Jimmy which fellcd him life
less Ia the hoor. Apparently terrified
nt his own act. Gourard then rashcd
downstairs, and when he reached the
middle be stiuabled. his head striking
the corner of the counter. lie fell
scnscless. They carried him from the
building. intending % convey him 90 a
placcof secre-y. They had Just reached
the street when they remembered that
they had left something compromising
behind. aud had gone In search of Il
whcl the officers arrived The rest j.
known. Gourard was rcmandcd 10 be-
tried before the Presiding Judge at the
IribuncuX. lie first. however. sent a
letter 10 his mother informing her of
Lis great trouble and assuring her Of
his Innocence. His mother. Fastening
81 Paris, had secured the services Of NJ
ncloi 10 defend her son. The day of
the trial at length arrived lthappcned.
however, that ON that very same day n
Young lawyer. Pierre tiaston. was stop
ping Ia Paris. awaiting the arrival of
certain persons With whom he had Inn
portant business. Not having any thing
To do. he sought tn. court room for the
purpose OF passing the time in obsery-
ing the proceedings Of the court His
route led him By the Jail where Gourard
was incarceratcd. just before reach
ing the grim receptacle Of crime
and misery two officers, having In
charge u pale young man. apparently
about twonty-one. came from the prison.
stepped upon the walk Immediately In
front OF him, and moved in the Same
direction he was going. NJ. CASTOR had
thcn an opportunity TO observe the fea-
lures Of the young prisoner. His fca-
lures his manners, his respectable
bearing. all struck the young LAWYER
favoRbly. The three persons walked
with rapid strides toward tho Court
House. They had proceedod but n
short distance when they were met by
a respectfully appearing woman Of about
forty years Of age. The moment she
saw him she sprang forward and clasped
him In her arms, exclaiming;
80, Henri' Henri My boy, my
son ~,
The sudden appearance Of the woman
caused the officers TO halt.
"Mothcr, why did you not wait at
the Court House for mep" said the
young man, endeavoring to smother
his emotions.
because | did not see You there,
Henri, and thought perhaps you might
not have your trial to-day, after all, and
so | started to see YOU at the Jail. q.
my boy, my darling, said the wretched
woman, her voice now broken with
sobs, "are they going to try you to-
day."
"Yes, mother, am to be tried to-
day. hut calm yourself. | trust all
will be well with me, for God above
knows that am not guilty.
The woman raising herself TO her
full height, with flashing eyes, an
swered
"You guilty, Henrip You guilty ?
Who dare ACCUSE youP'
Then hesiiating. and seeming 10 real
izo the full situation OF the wrctched
doom that threatened her son, she ex-
claimed;
80, no, no. You are not guilty.
You cannot be, YOU are so good and
true. There, Those. Now you look
Just ms YOU used Ia when on your knees
! first taught you your little prayer in
our dear old ~
Come, come, old woman, stand
aside and don't hinder US any longer.
ohs younH man IN wAnted yondsr,N