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

A CASE OF CIRCrMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE.
The warehouse of VI. Justin Bertrand
was situated on the Rue Madeleine. 1t
was supposed to be burglar proof. 50.
when NJ. Bertrand put up his shutters
and went home, the safety Of his goods
troubled him but little. 1t appears. how
ever, that on the morning of February II.
1S49, as the w%atchman. accompanied by
q fellow officer WAS passing. he noticed
that one of the side shutters had APP
parently been removed. This aroused
the suspicious of the officers. and adj
v~ancing a few steps he stumbled over the
bleeding and inanimatc form of Il young
man. At this moment two men rushed
out of a rear door. The companion of
the officer gave chase and succeeded in
capturing one of the two who had Just
left in such great haste. The Waterman
then summoned assistance, and the limp
body of the young man was borne to tn"
Palais de Justice. Further search
revealed the fact that VI. Bertrand had
been murdered while in his warehouse.
When sufficiently restored to conscious
ness the young man. Henri Gourard by
name, protested hi. innocence. His story
was heard, but not believed.
"Alas." he exclaimed, why did they
not kill me. and save my mother this
great SORROW"
The one captured by the ~watchman'S
companion. Richct. an cX-gallcy slave,
then told his story, on promise Of being
set at liberty.
The three had put up a job to gut ="
NJ. Bertrand's warehouse. Soulc, the one
who had escaped, Gourard and himself.
They had entered the place, and were
progressing admirably when Il noise
startled them. 1t was VI. Bertrand, who
had entered the place to ascertain the
cause of the shutters being down. AS he
approached to where the three were
crouching Gourard struck him trcmcnd-
Gus blow on the head with Il Jimmy"
which felled him ~lifclcss to the floor. APP
parently terrified at his own act, Gourard
then rushed down stairs. and when he
reached the middle he stumbled. his head
striking the corner of the counter. lie
fell senseleSs. They carried him from
the building, intending to convey him to
aplace of secrecy. They had just reached
the street when they remembered that
they had left something compromising
behind, and had goncin scarcho of it when
the officers arrived. The rest is Known.
Gourard was rcmandcd to be tried be-
fore the presiding Judge at the Tribu-
neux. He first, however, sent Il letter to
L.. -~~xln, sf,,,,r lpr nf hip frrpot
trouble and assuring her of his inno-
cence. His mother, Fastening to Paris.
had secured the service of one VI. Belot
to defend her son. The day of trial at
length arrived. It happened, however,
that on that very day Il young lawyer,
Pierre CASTOR, was stopping IN Paris
awaiting the arrival of certain persons
with whom he had important business.
Not having anything to do he sought the
court room for the purpose of passing
the time in observing the proceedings OF
the court. His route led him by the Jail
where Gourard was incarccrated. Just
before reaching the grim recepticlc of
crime and misery, two officers, having in
charge a pale young nan apparently
about twenty-onc, came from the prison,
stepr1A-Hon the walk Immediately in
frol II, and moved in the same
dire Ias going. VI. Castor had
then vs AHnity to observe the fea-
lures of ta1aSS prisoner. His features,
his manners, his respectable bearing. all
struck the young lawyer ~favorably. Fhe
three persons walked with rapid strides
toward the court house. They had pro-
Needed but a short distance when they
were met by a respcctably-appearing
woman of about forty years of age. The
moment she saw him she sprang forward
and clasped him in her arms, cXclaiming:
ooh, Henri! Henri! My boy. my
sonw
The. sudden appearance of the woman
caused the officers to halt.
"Mother, why did you not wait at the
Court House for me-" said the young
man, e~ndeavoring to smother his emo
tons
"Because / did not see you there,
Henri, and I thought perhaps you might
not have your trial to-day after all, and
so I started to see you at the Jail. Oh,
my boy, my darling" said the wretched
woman, her voice now broken with sobs,
"are they going to try you today"
eyes, mother. | am to be tried to-
day. But calm yourself. | trust all will
be well with me, for God above knows
thai I am not guilty"
The m raising herself to her iull
height, with flashing eyes, answered:
"You guilty, Henri. You guilty?
Who dare accuse YOU"
Then hesitating, and seeming to realize
the full situation of the wrctched doom
that threatened her son, she exclaimed;
ooh, no, no, You are not guilty.
You cannot be, you are SO good and
true! There. there. Now YOU looked
Just as you used to, when on your knees
! first taught you your little prayer III
our dear old"
.cCome, come. old woman, stand
aside and don't hinder us any longer.
The young man is wanted yondcr," said
one of the officers, pointing toward the
court house.
"Oh, sir" said the woman, do you
not see that his injurcd-that is inno-
cent? know he is"
.sHow do YOU know that: Maybe
you can swear for him. said the officer,
gruffly.
observation-disclosures 7 am his mother,
and.-and l taught him his prayer, and
eyes. YES. You amt the first good
woman who had a bad boy for Il son.
Come Oh my covcv. Monsicurc lie Judge
will see to that"
Gaston's progress was arrested by this
pathetic scene. Deeply touched by the
appearance of the mother and son, he
followed them to the court house. Just
as they were about to ascend the steps
that led to the court house, the young
man paused a moment.
"Mother," said he, is M. BclOt going
to undertake my Defence"
"Not unless we pay him in advance,
and-and We have not got the money,
you know"
"Oh! God have mercy upon me-" en-
claimed the young man, completely
breaking down.
"What shall I do?'
"Come along: don't stop to blubbcr
here. The Court will appoint some one
W uClShu N""'
He was soon seated in the prisoners
box to await the proceeding of Court.
The young lawyer followed the officer
into the courtroom and seated himself
behind the bar. After scanning more
carefully the features of the prisoner. he
said to himself: eff that young man is
guilty of any seuous crime, then | am no
Judge of features"
Presently the loud tap announced the
approach of Monsieur lie Judge.
"Oficer," said the prosecuting lawyer,
"is Henry Gourard in court"
"He is" was the reply.
"Has the prisoner counscl?" asked the
Judge.
"No, Monsieur; I expected VI. Bclot
to defend me, but he refuses now"
go T. NH H.. L., .f,.aI ~ npl-nI t1n