The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-12-06
young man, endeavoring to smother

/
4 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. O.,
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. But 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 hesitating, and seeming to real
ize the full situation of the wretched
doom that threatened her son, she ex-
claimed
30, no, no. You are not guilty.
You cannot be, you are SO good and
true. There, there. Now YOU look
just as you used to when on your knees
first taught you your little prayer in
our dear Old
aside and don't hinder US any longer.
The young man is wanted yonder, ~
said one of the officers pointing toward
the Court House.
20, sir, said the woman, "do you
not see that he is injured-that he is in
nocent? / know he is. y
''How do you know that Maybe
You can swear for him. said the Off
/ Observation-Disclosures am his mother,
and-and | taught him his prayer
and
'Yes, yes. You amt the first good
woman who had a bad boy tor SON.
Come on my coyey, Monsieur lie Judge
will seeto that
Gaston's progress was arrested by
this pathetic seene.s 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, sis NJ. Belot 60
ing to undertake my defense ?''
mot unless we pay him in advance,
and-and we have not got the money,
you know
| 20, God, have mercy upon me, :"
exclaimed the young man, completely
breaking down. ..What shall 1 do P''
Come along; don stop to blubber
here. The Court will appoint some
one to defend you =
He was soon seated in the prisoner s
box to await the proceedings of Court.
The young lawyer followed the Off
Ger into the Courtroom and seated
himself behind the bar. After scan
ming more carefully the features of the
prisoner he said to himself "If that
young man is guilty of any serious
crime then | am no Judge of features
Presently the loud tap announced the
approach of Monsieur lie Judge.
"Offieer, said the prosecuting law
yer, lis Henri Gourard in courtp"
''He is, was the reply.
''Has the prisoner counsel?" asked
the Judge
mo monsieur; expected M. Belot
to defend me, but he refuses now
"Why does he refuse?' asked the
Court.
"Because I have no money to pay
him. was the reply.
''Then, as you have no means to en-
ploy counsel, the Court will see that you
have counsel.
The Judge now addressed respect
ably appearing lawyer present, but he
declined under the plea that he had
| pressing business. The Court then ad-
dressed several other lawyers, with the
same result. At this moment another
lawyer entered, to whom the Judge
said:
Mons. Mordaunt, the Court desires
| you to undertake the defense of Henri
Gourard, the prisoner at the BAR
''Ah, yes. Your Honor can always
command my poor services; but in view
of the prisoners means-I mean the
nature of his great offense-4I think that
he had better plead guilty and be done
| with it.
i A sob of deep, broken-hearted an
/ guish resounded through the court
room. 1t was from the poor mother,
who heard in this the knell of her son s
1 doom. h
''lf the Court please will undertake
the defense of the young man, said NJ.
Castor in o voice whose. tones attracted
the attention of every one in the court
room.
With some surprise at the youth of
the young lawyer, the Judge asked if
he desired assistance, to which CASTOR
replied that he would undertake the
entire charge of the defense.
The case was then adjourned one day
to give M. Castor an opportunity to con-
suit with the prisoner.
4 The prisoner was the only son of the
poor woman present, and she was a
widow. A few DAYS before the com
mission of the crime to which he was
charged he came to Paris for the pur-
pose of obtaining employment He
soon made the acquaintance of 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 accompany him and examine
some personal property he had in the
Rue Madeleine in certain building he
had rented. Although twas quite late
Henri assented. On their way his
friend overlook another person with