The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-09-02 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE.

&case that_has excited a great deal of interest was
hear3lsefore the local magistrates at Hertford, on Thurs-
day in-last week. It wasacharge against a young French
gentleman named Paul Bayart, studying in Hertford,
that he had solicited Mr. Arthur W. Dickens, of the
same place, to murder his father and mother at Rau-
blix, in France. The magistrates prescnt were Mr.
Wilson (the Mayors, Dr. Woodhouse, Mr. Cocks, Mr.
Ludlow, Alderman Adams, Mr. E. Simoon, and Mr.
Itlyment. The examination of the witnesses was con-
,flicted by the Town Clerk (Mr. Longmore), and Mr.
A.rrostreng (of the firm of Armstrong und Bowels,
solicicors) defended.—The Twits gives the following
report of the case :

The charee being read ovi.r, the defendant, a well-drefsed
end intelligent-100/dng young man, pleaded "Not Guilty,"
and the foLowing evidence was thPn taken.
Superintendent Jarrett, of the Hertford Police, stated that
Oh the 14th inst. he saw Mr. Arthur W. Dickens, and re-
eeivtd a communication from him. Mr. Dickens and the
Itty. Father Stanfield handed over to him a number of
articles which had been labelled.

In cross-examination by Mr. Armstrong, witness said he
went to Mr. Moran's on the lath, and Mr. Dkkens came in.
Mrs. Moran was there, but went out. Dickens said, "I want
You to arrest a person called Bayart on a charge of con-
'miring to murder his father and mother at Roubaix, in
France." This was the first thing he said. Witness said,
" this will require some consideration, and I shall require
some proof before I proceed." He then gave witness the
Pipers pradneed. Witness pronuced a plan which Mr.
Dickens told him was drawn by the defendant. Then Mr.
Dickens produced a nook with notes he had taken from what
the defendant told him, and another plan he said he had
drawn from the first and from what the defendant explained
to hint Two photographs, produced, were said by Mr.
Dicken.s to be those of the defendant's father and mother
and received by him from defendant. The note of hand was
for £5OO, and was dated the 10th of April, 1876. The packet
lab9lled D was a bill for clothes, and that labelled E Coe-
tattled letters that were left at the Vine Inn. The enve-
lope of the letter labelled G was brought to wit-
next by the defendant's brother. Witness made no inquiry
as to the date of the note of hand, although it was so far back
as April 10 Mr. Dickens said, "I'll keep this," the note of
band. Witness said, "I'll keep it, and if it is not the
Wish of the Court that it should be impounded, I'll give it
You back." (Mr. Armstrong here asked that all the papers
should be impounded, and the Court assented.) Mr. Dickens
told witness that he was to go on Tuesday to murder the de-
fendance father and mother at Roubaix, and that he had re-
ceved £lO for his expcnses He did not give witness the £lO.
Ile was to shoot the defendant's father and mother at two
different times with an air gun; the photographs were to
enable him to know the pernons he was to shoot, and the
entries in the book were instructions from the defendant.
Witness had copies of the photographs made and sent them
to the Chef de Police at Roubaix, with a letter of Inquiry.
Dickens stated that the note of hand was written at the
Tine Inn in the presence of himself, the defendant,
and Mr. Harvey, the landlord He said It was written in
the billiard room, and that he had bought the stamp, a
Ss. one, at the Stamp office. He added that he was
to have the money after the death of the father
and mother, and be stated that Achille (defendant's
brother ' was to be the next. He did not siy, whether
he ers" t,o get another £5OO for killing (Achille. Father
Stanfield, M. Achille Bsyart, and the defendant came to the
Police-station on the 21st. 17p to that time no oommunica-
Mon had been made by witness to the defendant. They
brought a letter. At that time Dickens was staying at the
Castle Inn. Witasess had seen Dickens in the interim, but
had received no further documents from him On the 20th
Inst. Dickens called and asked if witness had reoeived any
communication from France. Witness said, "No." Dickens
laid. "Could not Paul be arrested!f' Witness said he could
not arrest him until he had some proof, and a warrant.
Dickens seemed anxious to have the defendant arrested.
Witness had seen Dickens about Hertford sines February
last, and had his suspicions about him in connexion with
certr, ain depredations on street-door knockers and bells.
,mickene had said he had been in the Army ; that while there
ee had been arrested for insubordination. He said nothing
about being in prison it Bedford or elsewhere. He did net
Mention having been in any scrape in Poland or Berlin.

Arthur William Dickens was next examined. He said he
,
Lived at Mr. Moran s, in Hertford, and had been in Hertford
Mince the 15th of September, 1875. He then resided at the
/Iva Francis Stanfield's. Achille Biyert was a pupil there
then, but the defendant was not. Witness was placed there
by his parents, but not as a pupil. He left there either in
January or February. Ile did nothing there, and was not
training for any profession. Achille left either in December 1
ean, January, and the defendant cime a week afterwards.
Witness remained there with him for a month or two, and they
!ere very friendly. Witness went to tar Moran's in January,
eeibruary. March, or April—could not be certain as to what -
niontle. Had not been doing anything in the way of busi-
ness there; was simply living on his means. Wal 22 or 23
Years of age. He had no father living, but his mother was
living somewhere in Italy, he could not say where. Had fie-
gnently been in the defendant's company and was on very
Ultimate terms with him. Defendant visited at Mr. Moran's
but witness did not visit him at Father Stanfield's as he had I
ehad a rupture with that gentleman. Very shortly after
his departure from Mr. Stanfield's he had conversations
With defendant, generally in All Saints' churchyard. These
began about three months ago. He asked witness lt be
e '
?how of any' poiron that would destroy hiunan life without
te,aring any trace. Wishing to obtain an insight into his
&flan, witness told him a story entirely of his own invention
that the loam collected from the mouth of a dog
Poisoned by athenic was deadly and without trace. He .
asked wilt:ens to procure him some arsenic, and witness got ;
from Mr. Lines, the chemist, some arsenical paste, which
h 1
ee° gave to defendant. In the interim, about six weeks
'lee 0, defendant called on witness, and they went to All
'..aLnia. churchyard. Defendant then said he wished,
"I'nese to murder his father and mother; that he could
not afford more than £5OO for the commission of the deed; I
!ht, although it was a small sum to offer, he had hoped
`Kewards of a far greater fortune accruing to him that
he would obtain by the death of his father and mother.
n'itness at first refused. Defendant said he thought his
Parent's estate was worth £5,030, but that as he would have
to Wen the sale he would get less than that. Afterwards,
',oinking to gain an insight into defendant's plan, witness I
eeial,!;l.2le 'would do it. Defendant said that, now he was
ea.--"ulned witness would do it, he would proceed to perfect
Wan. The interview then closed. On the next day bat
One the defendant called on witness, and they went down
"est-street. Defendant said he had considered the matter
over, and he could not find any plan better than the corn.
Mission of the deed by a poisoned potnard, and he attired
witness if he knew of any means of poisoning steeL He
regretted the absence of Mr. Williams, a chemist, in Hart-
ford. Witness had a cenversation with defendant on
Friday, the 4th of August, at Mr. Moran's. Defendant
called to give witness the portraits of his father and
mother. they were the portraits produced. They veer&
given to witness in his bedroom. He wished to speak to,
witness privately, and, as Mrs. Moran was in the room'
downstairs, witness took him to the bedroom. He said he
had nearly succeeded in raising the £lO necessary for;
Withers' expenses to Roubaix, and that he had an opera-I
glass he would give witness to sell. When they had been
there about three-quarters of an hour, Mrs. Moran knocked
at the door to ask if they would have any tea. Witness
told her to come in, and, on the dressing table, she noticed
the portraits, and asked who they represented. Ddendant
said they were his cousins. On the Monday week follow-
to the beat of his belief, defendant called on witness at
Mr. Moran's, and they went to All Saint's churchyard. De-
fendant said he had succeee,ed in obtaining nearly the whole
of the £lO necessary for witness' expenses, stating that £5
had been given to him that morning by check by the Rev_
Mr. Stanfield, and that Mr. Matthews had advanced him 30s.
'en some gold links and studs • that' he was expecting les.
for the opera-glass (then in witness's hands), and that the
Other money he had won at whtst and cribbage from the Rev.
._l4e. Stanfield. (Laughter.) He also said the time had come
‘0 give witness instructions concerning the habits and where-
abouts of his parents in Roubaix. He gave witness the red
book produeed, and a pencil also, and asked him to write at
Ids dictation in the book. Witness did so. He wrote :
Arrive at ; start by first train afternoon, halapast
One; half-past two he (the father) goes for a walk. After
six watch the mother, goes to church. Watch the house.'
Do not go to benediction and watch the mother; next at
mass after six. Go on that afternoon to Lille and take ob-
servations." Witness drew a plan by defendant's direction.
Defendant wrote down, "Green double door and green
baloony "as a description of the house. He afterwards gave
Witness directions hew to get across the frontier after com-
rnitting the deed. Defendant drew the plan produced him-
self, He said his father was in the habit of going for a walk
in the fields of an afternoon. Iledrew a plan of the streets 111
which his father's house was, and the branch streets by which
his father usually went for a walk. He also wrote down al
name or sign which was over his father's house. Defendant
stated that if he would write out a draught or note of hand
tr £lOO he would sign it. Witness told him to go to the
vlce Inn, and meanwhile he would procure the necessary
Stamp. Defendant did so, and witness went to the London
and county Bank, and, not getting a stamp there, he went
Ilnel bought a nine-shilling bill stamp -the one produced. He
?Pen went to the Vine Hotel and met defendant in the bib
nard-room. Defendant asked what witness would drink, and
t bile Mr. Harvey, the landlord, went for two glasses of
re, r. witness wrote out the body of the bill. When he was
gat to put in the date, the defendant observed that if the
~r 44 wall presented alter the commission of the deed,
r fact of it being drawn up in shortly before the deed
lord draw sus-
picion on both. Witness then dated it the
ejt °I April, because they both wished to make the date as
ly after defendant's arrival in Hertford as possible.
agend„ant fixed on the date. The defendant signed the
she' alx. Harvey was present at that time. When signed,
w;,note was banded to witness by defendant Mr. Harvey
eve;'," out and brought in 151., which lie said he might as
give for the opera glass then in his possession, as he
• ?In always obtain that sum for it. Defendant told him
.7..nand the money to witness, and he did so. Defendant
gave witness 93. for the stamp. They then went Mit,
Zid at the door defendant asked witness if he had a meeal
aellatun pipe which he could sell to him, as he wished to
Ae.ootint to the Rev. F. Stablield ,for the money be bad
iuptajaed from him. Witness said he had only one that wad
111°,;an. but he would send that in its case by his servant at
▪ Plst four o'clock to the Vine Hotel. Defendant said,
of any further instructions he might have to give
Cur ring to him, he would write them in a letter and leave
hre.." ate. Harvey's when he called for the pipe. Witness then
el:Jelled home and told Mn, Moran all that had occurred,
Icing the £lO and the proofs he had in late possession.
e Money consisted of nine sovereigns and the rest in silver,
aendant said there would be ,e 4 10s. travelling expenses
_Cel. for the air-gun with which the deed was to be cora+
and £3 for expenses in France. Witness had no mort
Z2avereation with defendant from that day to this. He sent
e7e...nine by his servant to the Vine. The letter produced
d eroaght to witness by Mr. robham, of Ware, on the Mon-
,eaY that apoken ofs between half-past five and half-past Mx. It
Z2Lli directed to witness. He opened it, and raked Mr. Cob-
-in and Mr Moran to sign it to certify that they had seen
i.,°Dened. The papers contained in the letter were read.
(14,_.83' were as follow, ;—" You might go if you liked by
I think that it should be cheaper and better. Take
ation at Dover and then come back by Ostend. Thus
Ira' °aye the advantage of not being remareed, twice in
bt and once in coming back. Rs-embarkation place is in
ea ?ate at Dover, London, Dover, Calais, and Lille. I do
• ellink that you want any passport. I will go and call on
Moran's during your absence. I think it is a good
e,tilt Then followed some further direLtions as to the
in France, alai witness was told not to be alarmed if
th -"at men resembling pollee on the Beleien frentler, as
taa, were only Excise officers. Then followed :—" It yott
M. going to church, go yourself to church. You
tles„urni the M. at the top of the left aisle till 71, and when
eme you will take your site as you like." Wetness did not
htly:v defendant's handwriting, and could not say if it were
Con Witne.s took the letter to the Town-ealli, gave it to
Ia Gardner, and requested him to take it to Suporine
Zeident Jarrett. Afterwards saw Mr. Jarrett, and gave hint
Z 4,7 other Papers. The bill for clothes, prounced, was 'ob.
frora Mr. Fountain, the tailor. It was made out to
fen:lent The defendant had asked witnese to obtain
tede• '
toe £3 lOs , and another for £6. Witness wrote the
uee e'.." tLe bills and gave them to defendant, who said he
eh; 'ere' nmeh obbged. He had said he wanted them to
I,aoal the Rev. Mr. Stanfield, that he might believe he had
for the bills. Witness told him he wanted the bill heads
aa ok e, and would guarantee that nothing came of It dire
wieVLa"geetis to himself. Defendant at the same thine showed
a Peraatum pot containing some loam from a dog.
berlia'ekanained : Witness said he was born at Calcutta, and
fr, :Uher Wal a banister He left Marlborough School at
Orteeei year el age, and then wes under two private tutors.
tmceleecerae midthipman in Messrs. Money, Wigram's
Ice- Ha was two year.; on' the Norfolk, and left through
diaa
ee. greement with the captain at Melbourne. The witness
l'eltoted to Captain Cummings' tyranny, and left at his own
ianeest and with the captain'e coostet He went up to Gee-
Ong and was a meet of vagebone, hardly gebtiug his living.
ft Amstrelia at the age of 19 or 20. Be was abotr, 17 when
r! went to sea, and wa% aboet a year in Austrelia. Ile came
',Lo England and lived on an &Ilea:ice from his mother for a
:,40elth or two. He then enlisted in the 6th Dragoon (Jaribi-
7,eer Guards, whence ha wet his discharge tea mouths ago.
eeeWas four months in Bedford Goal far insubordination in
;raking his mind a ht:le too plabely to his superior officer.
„e WWI at Berlin. He could not remember the hotel he stayed
:!_e Left without paying his debts. Hi could not say
wnetber he owed 5001. or 5.00)f. ; • it might be 5,000,000 f. for
a•light he could remember, He was at Posen, in Poland, for
ti,ree months with a relative. Be did not leave there as he
t Berlin. Ile had not stated there that he was related to
:Lassies Dickens. If the people there supposed so, he did not
it.teceive them' but he should consider the suppoeou
""` ran insult to him (witness).
je.111:_• Arnutrong Bo much for the memory of lambs
"'ions I