Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1894-01-12

MI. DORION HEARTILY GREETED Us.
gether and permitted to read the pa.
per, the judge adding some comments
in a low voice. AS they returned tc
| their seats, | saw Mr.. Garnett's face
wreathed with smiles.
you're SAFE" he whispered.
l looked at Conrad. The face of the
fiend never shone out more plainly in
human eountenance than in his, as
his lawyer communicated to him the
startling news.
81 have been made acquainted with
such additional and surprising disclos
ures," said the judge, IN a voice which
the whole room heard, ''as make il, in
my Judgment, both proper and nee
| essary to end this case here, so far as
relates to the charge of abduction of a
slave. The gentleman who has just
come into court is the owner and occu-
pant of the plantation in Mississippi
formerly occupied by the deceased,
Pierce Bostock. In a secret drawer OF
an old bureau left in that house when
he returned to Louisiana; Mr.. Dorion,
only a few days since, found this pa
per. 1t purports to be the last will
and testament of Pierce Bostock, exc
cuted by him December 0, 1858. 1t
frees and manumits the person de-
scribed in it as my beloved daughter
Coralie, child of the late Louise Bou-
FAINT, and then proceeds to devise and
bequeath to her all his estate, real and
personal, wherever situated. He names
his unworthy son, Conrad only to
declare that he has by his unfilial con-
duct and his long confirmed evil courses
forfeited all right to any part of the
testator's property more than he has
already received
THAT instrument has never been
established" Conrad's lawyer inter
rupted
Il am aware of that; and it cannot
be, in this court. But there is reason
to think that it can be legally estab-
lished in the proper tribunal. Mr..
Dorion pronounces the signature of
Pierce Bostock genuine. There are
three witnesses, as the law of Nissis-
sippi requires-all of whom, strangely
enough, are also dead, as Mr.. Dorion
informs me. But he pronounces all
these signatures genuine, and he says
that numerous witnesses in that vicin-
ity will swear to them.
''If this instrument is the legal act
of the late Mr.. Bostock, not only is
Coralie Bonfaut named in it a free
woman, but she is at this moment the
rightful owner of her fathers immense
estate.
Whether it will stand in law, or
not, | have no authority to decide.
Other courts must settle that question.
And it would be improper and absurd
for me to attempt to pass upon the
charge brought here against Dorr jew
EFT until this instrument has been
legally examined and-pronouncedu upon.
81 have examined it and considered
1t far enough to see that very strong
case can be made for it's legality, with
all that would result from it. The
charge that is here made is premature,
to say the least; nor do | think that, in
any event, the defendant has been
guilty of anything more than a tech
nical violation of the statute. he is
discharged; also the lady"
The judge smiled graciously upon us.
Mr. Garnett capered about the bar, and
Mr. Dorion renewed his greetings,
mingled with congratulations. The
popular anger had now turned upon
Conrad Bostock, and he and his friends
withdrew by a rear door, to escape be-
ing hustled. The tickle multitude pro-
posed to give me triumphant ride on
their shoulders, and it was with some
difficultythat escaped their attentions.
We sadly needed rest, quiet and the
company of friends after the tremen-
dous excitement of the last few days;
and these we found at the hotel with
Mr.. Dorion and his eldest daughter.