Causes Célèbres. that they might have been mistaken as to the date on which they saw him. Without going into the details of the evi dence, we may sum up by saying that Lesurques was positively identified by seven witnesses, and believed by three others to have been the man whom they saw at Lieursaint and Montgeron. The witnesses to his presence in Paris at the time the crime was committed numbered, as we have said, fifteen, all of them persons of the highest respectability. In spite of the evident partiality of the magistrate the advocate of Lesurques still hoped; he was certain of the innocence of his client. Before the commencement of the trial the defender of Courriol said to him and to the advocate of Guesno, " I do not know about Courriol; but you may defend your clients with confidence, for they are both innocent." The charge of President Gohier to the jury was a one-sided discussion of the case, a new argument for the prosecution. The jury then retired. While they were deliberating an incident occurred in the court-room which might have enlightened justice if justice had wished to be enlightened. A woman whose presence at this trial would have been considered indispensable by a magistrate worthy to bear the name, Madelaine Breban, demanded to be allowed to make to the president of the tribunal a very important revelation. President Gohier ordered her to approach. She then said to him, that of the accused present one alone was guilty, and he was her lover, Courriol; that Guesno and Lesurques particularly were the victims to their resemblance to two of the murderers; that Guesno resembled a man named Vidal and Lesurques one named Dubosc, and that this last resemblance had been greatly increased by a blond wig that Dubosc wore on the day of the crime. "The trial is ended," replied M. Gohier; "it is too late." It is too late! The fatal excuse for all the
77
faults which we commit. It is too late to be just! It is too late to save an innocent man from death and justice from shame! The trial is ended! Well! what prevents your reopening it if the light at last has pene trated your mind? M. Gohier preferred not to see the light; it was too late! At eight o'clock in the evening the jury returned and rendered a verdict of guilty against Lesurques, Bernard, and Courriol. Guesno was acquitted, and two others, Bruer and Richard, found guilty of knowledge of the crime and of having received a portion of the stolen property, but not guilty of par ticipation in the murder. Courriol, Bernard, and Lesurques were then sentenced to death. When Lesurques heard his sentence he grew frightfully pale, raised his eyes to heaven, and moved his hands convulsively; then, recovering from his terror and surprise, he rose and said in a clear, ringing voice : — "Undoubtedly the crime of which I am accused is horrible and merits the punish ment of death; but if it is frightful to assas sinate on the highway it is not less so to abuse the law to strike down an innocent man. A moment will come when my inno cence will be recognized, and then my blood will recoil upon the heads of the jury who have so readily condemned and the judge who has influenced them." Jurors, judge, and all in the court shuddered on hearing these words. What were their feelings, then, when they saw rise the ad mitted guilty one, Courriol, and heard him cry : " Lesurques and Bernard are innocent. Bernard did nothing but furnish the horses; Lesurques took no part in the crime." The condemned were taken to the conciergerie, Courriol persisting in declaring the innocence of Lesurques. The 2 1st of August Courriol begged the magistrates of the central bureau to come to him, as he desired to make further state ments and to tell the whole truth. Upon being heard, he stated in addition to what he had previously said : " The true guilty ones
