The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-03 00:00:00

FRENCH TRIAL FOR MURDER.

The Court of Assizes of the Orne, sitting at
Alencon, has been engaged for several days past in
trying six persons, one as principal and the five
others as accomplices, in the murder of a wealthy
farmer named Bassiere, residing at St. Evroult de
Montfort, who was shot dead in January, 1862,
while at supper with a friend in his own house.
Our readers may remember that for this crime the
murdered man's son Albert, a lad only 17 years of
age, was condemned to hard labour for life in July
last. The widow Bassiere and her female servant,
named Leneverend, were tried at the same time as
accomplices, but were acquitted. After young
Bassiere's appeal against his sentence had been re-
jected, he made a full confession of all the circum-
stances of the crime, from which it appeared that
the actual murderer was a labourer named Gibory,
who had been hired for the purpose by the convict
himself, his mother, and Houlette, a neighbouring
miller, who was anxious to get rid of Bassiere that
he might marry his widow. Two married sisters
of Houlette, named Potel and Monnier, Gibory's
wife, a woman named Querot, who had formerly
been in Bassiere's service, and the servant who had
been acquitted, were also privy to the crime, and
were to have a share in the murdered man's pro-
perty. In consequence of this confession, Gibory
and his wife, Houlette and his two sisters, and the
woman Queriot were arrested, and the investiga-
tion which followed dearly proved that the con-
vict's statement was substantially true. The widow
Bissiere and her servant having been declared
not guilty by the jury, could not by the French
law be again arrested on the same charge. The
prisoner Queriot, in answer to the president's ques-
tions, give full particulars of the plot, and of the
advantages all the parties concerned hoped to derive
from its execution. The miller Houlette denied all
share in the conspiracy, as well as his alleged inti-
macy with the murdered man's wife. Houlette's
sisters admitted that they were aware of the con-
spiracy, but denied having taken any active part in
the matter. A great number of witnesses were exa-
mined, and among them was a man named Vigan,
who had been arrested as an accomplice, but was
ultimately released and admitted as a witness. This
man was in the first instance engaged by the con-
spirators to commit the murder, but at last refused,
and Houlette then procured Gibory, and kept him at
the mill three days, waiting for a favourable oppor-
tunity. One of the scenes which excited most inte-
rest during the trial was the appearance in court of
the young convict, Alfred Bassiere. Owing to his
condemnation he could not be heard as a witness,
but he repeated his confession. In answer to ques-
tions from the President, he stated that his connec-
tion with Houlette was highly disapproved by his
father, who bad beaten him more than once for going
to the mill ; but he continued his visits nevertheless,
and on one occasion, after a quarrel with his father,
he had said," I would give any one 100 crowns to kill
my father !" Not long after this, Houlette advised
him to put poison in his father's food, and twice gave
him arsenic for the purpose, bnt he threw it away
as he went home. This occurred in Novem-
ber. Two months later, in January, it was de-
cided between them that his father should be shot,
and Gibory, who was engaged by himself, hit-
mother, and Houlette to commit the crime, took up
his residence at the mill to await a favourable occa-
sicn, The evening of Jan. 22 was ultimately fixed
for the accomplishment of their design, and he him-

self agreed to remove a savage dog chained in the
yard, which might have raised an alarm when
Gibory approached the house. He accordingly took
the dog away, and left it with the prisoner Queriot.
He soon after saw Gibory in the yard, and the next
moment heard the shot which killed his father.
The facts that Alfred had left the supper table just
before the murder, and that one barrel of his gun
had been recently discharged, were the principal
points in the evidence against him. Gibory was
never suspected, as he had been so well concealed
at the mill that his presence in the neighbour-
hood was known only to the conspirators. It
has since been ascertained that the young man's
gun had been treacherously fired off unknown to
nim by Houlette, who, no doubt, thought it would
be to his advantage to throw suspicion on the son,
and to get rid of both him and his father at the
same time. After the wretched son was taken out
of court the mother was called in and examined,
but not under oath, as to the project of marriage
between her and Houlette. She denied that any
such project had ever existed, but her assertions
were disproved by all the facts of the case, and
the evidence generally also tended to establish the
ti uth of the convict's confession. The Avoca`-
General then addressed the Court, calling for a
severe sentence against the accused. We learn b)
telegram that the girl Queriot has been condemned
to 20 years' hard labour, and Houlette and Gibory
to hard labour for life. The three other female pri-
soners were acquitted.

MELANCHOLY CASES OF SUlClDE.—Yesterday
Dr. Lankester held two inquests at the King's
Arms, Castle-street, Seven Dials, The first inquiry was
concerning the death of Charles Finch, aged 66, a shoe-
maker, who was found dead in his room at 4, Earl-street,
Seven Dials. It appeared that the dec, aged was a hard-

working, steady, and saving man, but that for
the last eighteen years he had laboured under the
delusion that his wife was unfaithful to him. He fancied
men wara always looking after her, and he was
rendered so miserable that a separation was the
result. On Tuesday evening last the deceased was
seen as usual, but the following morning fears were enter-
tained for his safety. Police-constable 78 F was called in,
and he broke open the door, when deceased was seen on the
floor dead with a pistol near him. Mr. Bennett, surgeon to
St. Giles's Workhouse, said the man had been dead several
hours. His opinion was that he had sat upon the bed, and,
placing the pistol to his head, had drawn the trigger. The
right side of the head was completely shot away. No bullet
or shot could be found. Mr. Bennett's opinion was that no
bullet was in the pistol, as the hair was singed and the bone
charred. The pistol must have been filled nearly to the
muzzle. Evidence having been given that there was not
the slightest ground for jealousy, the jury returned a ver-
dict of " Suicide while in an unsound state of mind." The
second case was on the body of Sophia Jones, a single
woman, aged 34, living with her sister at 28, Princes-street,
Drury-lane, and working at the establishment of Messrs.
Firmin and Son, button manufacturers, While Horse-
yard, Drury-lane. The sister to the deceased, it was stated,
was a drunkard. She was separated from her husband, and
disposed of everything she could lay her hands on The
10s. a week received by the deceased was, therefore, inade-
quate to supply the means of existence. AMr Smith, who
had charge of the electro-gilding, plating, and colour room,
in which he and deceased were alone engaged at the Messrs.
Firman's, gave her a character of extreme diligence, and
said he had opportunities of hearing the complaints of de •
ceased against her sister during the last two years. The
first time she stayed away was on Monday last, when she
absented herself all day. On the Tuesday she attended, and
in answer to his inquiries as to whether she had been ill, she
replied in the negative, bat complained of her sister,who, she
said, had deprived her of all her clothing. She was in low
spirits all day, and often cried He recommended her to
leave her sister, and she said she would take his advice. She
left at half-past 6, and in two hours after he heard she was
poisoned with cyanide of potassium, which they used in
their work. Mary Ann Bignall, the sister, said on her sister
coming home on Tuesday evening she said she was poorly,
and requested her to take a dress to pledge. On her return
she found her lying on the bed. She said, " Sopby, are you
well?" and, receiving no answer, she got a light. Finding
her insensible she fetched medical assistance, Her sister
was then found to be dead. Mrs. Taylor, a lodger in the
house, said she saw deceased a quarter of an hour before
death. She went into witness's room, and said, "My dear
Mrs. Taylor, I am very ill; I am going to lie down.
God bless you." She always spoke affectionately, but
on that occasion impressively. She was in poor circum-
stances, and said she could not keep her sister. Shoe a
as
with witness all day on Monday. Mr. John fund the
Caesar made the post mortent examination,
an fotuassium.
stomach gave out a strong smell of cyanide of p
d
The jury returned a serdict of "Suicide dbr, cyanideo of
potassium while in an unsound state of mind."
THE CONVICT COOPER.--SriftEWSBURY, Thurs-
day.—Edward Cooper, who, it wilt be recollected,
was sentenced to death at the late Shrewsbury Assizes for
the murder of his child, a boy aged about 8 years, by suffo-
cating him and afterwards burying him in a wood near his
own house, has made a full confession of his guilt to the
officers of the prison. The confession, however, is not to be
published until after the execution, which is fixed for the
11th inst. The culprit at first appeared hardened, but sinc.,
his confession has behaved himself in a more becoming
manner. He is attentively ministered to, not only by the
rev, chaplain of the gaol, but also by his own parish clergy-
man, the Rev. W. Jones. He has been visited by his
daughter, who, it will be remembered, took her little brother
to her father a few days before the murder. The interview
is said to have Won Tory affecting.