Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1884-01-02

him" was the reply.
"Then, as you have no means to EN-
ploy counsel, the Court will see that yol
have counsel.
The Judge now addressed respect
ably appearing lawyer present, but ht
declined under the plea that he hat
pressing business. The Court then adj
dressed several other lawyers, with tn,
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 az the bar. "
"Ah, yes. Your Honor can always
command my poor services; but in view
of the prisoners means L mean the
nature of his great oilense-I think that
he had better plead guilty and be done
with it"
A sob of deep, broken-hearted an
guish resoundcd through the court
room. II was from the poor mother,
who heard in this the knell cf her SON
doom.
"lf the Court please will undertake
the defense of the young man, - said Nj.
CASTOR in voice wi Jose tones attracted
the attention Of ever one in the court
room.
| ~ itn some surprise at the youth of
the young lawyer, the Judge asked il
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 Nj. CASTOR an opportunity TO con
suit with the prisoner.
The prisoner was the only son of the
poor woman present, and she was n
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 n 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 n certain building he
had rented. Although twas quite late
Henri assented. 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 enter building, which
he pointed out, saying that it was his
store, but rs he had forgotten his key
| he produced a small iron bar, which he
handed To Henri, telling him to pry
open one of the shutters In mo-
ment the young man understood that
he was in the presence of burglars, and
horror-stricken ut the thought, he at
tempted to run away; but ere had made
| two steps he received blow on the
head which felled him to the earth in
sensible.
When he returned TO consciousness
he was in the Office of monsieur, the
examining magistrate. From the testi-
mony of Richct he learned that the
building had been broken open and en-
tered, and that NJ. Bertrand, the pro-
prietor, had been murdered. OF all
| friendly person whom he had started
out with had made his escape, while
Richet had been captured.
The next morning the trial began.
The cx-galley slave repeated the same
story that he had originally told On
the cross-examination by NJ. Castor,
| however, Mt first he sustained himself
but at length he stumbled, hcsitated
and became confused and it was evil
dent that his testimony was considera-
bly, shaken. The chief clerk of the
murdered man was then put on the
stand, and to the questions put by M.
CASTOR il was learned that no blood
had been found on the floor below the
one where NJ. Bertrand's body was
found, and where Richet 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
Gourard's head rested there was great
pool of blood. M. CASTOR then called
the surgeon, who testified that the
wound on the head of Gourard could
not have been made as Richet had
sworn-that it was inflicted by q 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 an hours
absence returned into the courtroom
with verdict of not guilty. The
great. the rich reward of Nj. CASTOR
was the almost frantic joy of the mother
and son.
1.-The God of the widow and orphan
has sent you to us, sir, in our distress,
and His blessing will descend upon you
through all your days
"Some day shall reward you," said
young Gourard. The glttering drops
which stood in his eyes evidenced his
gratitude. And thus the mother and
| son took their leave of their generous
benefactor.
Years rolled on; the coup Getm of
December 2, 1851, had made and UNI
made many. M. Pierre CASTOR had de-
voted all his energy and eloquence
against the usurper. 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, as had been his fortune and his
friends As he sat down one day in his
own dingy office, bordering over his
misfortunes and crowding his brain for
some means to obtain sufficient sum
with which to start again in life-for he
was still young mana gentlcmanly
appearing man entered.
"Do you not remember me, Nj. Gas
tonp''
~ do not" was tho reply.
my name is Gourard-lIenri Gou-
rard--whom You once defended on n
serious charge in this city"
Another glance at the visitor con-
vinced CASTOR that IL was the prisoner
he had defended four years ago.
Gourard then in few words in
formed his bcnefactor that he was n
well-to-do wine merchant; fortune had
smiled upon him and given him pros
perity. After convcr>ing half an hour
he rose to take his leave.
"Hcre is q small package that my