The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-10-09
JUSTICE AT FAULT.

Following IS q Drue IlLLle nai&ttVb anu curl
ously illustrates the fact that Justice is occa
siOnally quite the reverse of being absolutely
infailibie. In France, in the year 1919, died
Launcolot lie Nome. who left his three child
ren, Pierre jacques and Louis, under the sole
guardianshiD OF his wife, Jeanne Vacherot.
About four years after her husbands death,
Jeanne went 10 al estate at Vernon, taking
with her the youngest chi Id, little Louis, but
leaving tho elder, big boys Of ten and fourteen,
under the care of their grandmother and q
faithful old servant. One day the two boys,
went ont 10 play with a companion named
Constard but though they went out, they for
got to return again, for all three ran away TO
see the world leaving parents and guardians in
the most pcrp,cxcd state OF excitement uncer-
telnty and apprehension. A short time after
their disappearance Jeanne Vacherot saw on
the steps Of the hotel Dieu boy so like her
son Jaques that she went to the police, made
statement of her loss, expressing her belief
that the little beggar boy she had seen on the
steps at the Hotel Dieu was her son. But on
further investigation and examination she
abandoned her claim and went back to Yer
non.
The bcggar who was called Mourousseau, and
his child who was Jacques double, followed
her there, and soon the whole neighborhood
was in an uproar The people all declared
that the child was Jeanne's; Jeanne said it
was not for all his fair hair, and the mothers
mark, so exactly like that on the missing Ja-
ques. Besides, Jacques had been well educa-
ted for his years. Mouronsseau, the little beg
gar boy, could neither write nor read. But
this was held to prove nothing. Indignant at
Jeanne's presumed heartlessness, some of the
neighbors instituted proceedings against her
70 compel her to acknowledge as her child the
little beggar; and though Jeanne was ably
defended vet she lost her cause from the
overwhelming testimony brought against her
for no fewer than twenty-one witnesses swore
to the identity of the little beggar boy with
Jacques le Nome.
Servants, tradespeople, even one or two re-
lations tho surgeon who had made q certain
cicatrice upon his body; in short every one
who had any idea on the matter at all, gave
their evidence in the most positive manner,
but still Jeanne stood out that he was not her
son, while MourOusseo, the boys real father
stoutly maintained that he was his. But the
other side won; and the decree was hard
enough considering what the truth really was.
Claude 10 Nome, brother OF the dead Launce-
lot, was ordered 10 take the boy to his home.
Jeanne was made TO give him pension OF
hundred liyres; but TO mark the disapproba-
ton Of her unmotherly conduct, the court de-
priyed her Of all maternal rights, privileges,
and control over him, which last probably did
moi much affect her.
Poor Mourousseo, the beggar, was imprison-
ed and heavily ironed for stealing well born
child; and for three years this wise judicial
sentence remained in full force Jeanne kept
''tn silence" that Is, not allowed to appeal
Mourousseau kept in prison and irons; and the
wrctChed little beggar boy living in luxury
and unhappiness. Tho veritable Jacques re-
turned and gave very pitiful account OF his
three years sufforings and wanderlugs, and of
his noor elder Brothers death. Whereupon
Justice, being convinced absolutely Of her de-
fault, was forced 20 make amends; which she
did, ms is not unusual, as suriily and ungra-
cously as possible; releasing Mourousseau
from prison with n sUlky pardon for crime he
never committed, and enioining him to bring
up Louis rs his son, Louis being enioined TO
obey and consider him as his father, neither
of them having ever wanted anything else.
And jeanne Vacherot had no longer to pay
the pension of a hundred livres. Altogether
a pretty little instance Of the fallability OF the
law aud the gulllbilty and hard swearing OF
witnesses who once tAke a fixed idea in their
heads.