Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1884-07-09
NIGH UNTO DEATH.

The warehouse of NJ. Justin Der
trand was situated on the Rue Lade-
leine. 1t was supposed to be- burglar,
proof, SO when III. Bertrand put up his
shutters and went home, the safety Of
his goods troubled him but little. II
appears, however. that on the morning
of February Is, 1S49, as the watch.
man, accompanied by fellow officer
was passing, he noticed that one of the
side shutters had apparently been re-
moved. This aroused the suspicious OF
the officer, and advancing few steps
he stumbled over the bleeding and in
animate form of a young rnar!!s At this
moment two men rushed out of 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 watchman then sum-
moned assistance, and the limp body of
the young man was borne to the Palais
de Justice. Further search revealed
the fact that M. Bertrand had been
murdered while In his warehouse.
When sufficiently restored to conscious
ness the young man, Henri Goufard by
name, protested his innocence. His
story was heard, but not believed.
Alas !" he exclaimed, "why did they
not Kill me, and save my mother this
great sorrow?" e8lgIEs4s @egak.
The one captured by the watchman,s
companion, Richet, an ex-galley slave,
then told his story, on promise of being
set at liberty. z1fe. S71 v':' - :
The three had put UP a. Job. to .entoa
M. Bertrand's warehouses; aSoule, the
one who had escaped, Gourard.. and
himself, They had entered the place,
and were progressing admirably when
a noise startled them. 1t was M. Ber-
trand, who had entered the place to as
certain the cause of the shutters being
down. As he approached to where the
three were crouching Gourard struck
him tremendous blow on the head
with Jimmy" which tfelled him life
less to the floor. Apparently 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. He fell
senseless. They carried him from the
building, intending to convey him to
place of secrecy. They had just
reached the street when they remem-
bered that they had left. something
compromising behind, and had gone in
search of it when the officers arrived.
The rest is known. Gourard was re-
manded to be tried before the presid-
ing judge at the Tribuneux. He first,
however, sent letter TO bis mother in
forming her of his great trouble and
assuring her of his innocence. His
mother FASTENED to Paris, and had Sc
cured the services ofsone M. Belotto de-
fend her son. Thesday sof trial at length
arrived. It happened, however, that on
that very day a 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
courtroom for the purpose OF passing
the time In observing the proceedings
of the court. His route led by the Jail
where Gourard was incarcerated. Just
before reaching the grim receptacle of
crime and misery's two officers, having
in charge pale young man, about
-twenty-one, came from the prison,
stepped upon the walk immediately in
front of him, and moved in the same
direction he was going. M. CASTOR
had then an opportunity to observe the
features of the young prisoner. His
features, his manners, his respectable
bearing, all struck the young lawyer
favorably. The three persons walked
with rapid strides toward the court
house. They had proceeded but
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: .slis5lTH
"Oh, Henri! Henri! My son, my
son!"
The sudden appearance of the wom-
an caused the officer to halt.
"Mother, why did you not wait at the
courthouse for me ssssaids the young
man, endeavoring to; Smother his EMO
tions.
Because I did not see you there,
Henri, and I thought perhaps you
might not have your trial to-day, after
ali and SO I started to see you at the
Jail. On, my boy, my darling" said
the wretched woman, her voice now
broken with sobs, "are they going to
try you to-day2"