The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-03 00:00:00

THE DUKE AND DUCHESS DE

PRASLIN.

INTERROGATORY OF THE DUKE DE PRASLIN (CHARLES
LAURE HUGUES THEOI3ALD), AGED 43.
You know the horrible crime imputed to you ; you
know all the circumstances which have been laid
down before you, and which exclude the very appear-
ance of a doubt. I recommend you to abridge the
fatigue you appear labouring under by confessing the
truth, for you cannot, you dare not deny it ?—The
question is very precise, but I have not strength to
answer. It would require very long explanations.
You say it would require very long explanations
to answer the question I have just put to you : not
so, a "Yes" or a" No is sufficient ?—it requires
great moral strength to answer yes or no,—an im-
mense strength, which I have not.
No long explanations can be requisite to answer
the question I have just asked you ?—I repeat, it
would require a moral strength which I do not pos-
sess to answer it.
At what hour did you leave your children the
evening before the crime ?—At half-past ten, or there-
abouts ; a quarter to eleven, perhaps.
What did you do after you left them ?—I went
down to my chamber, and got into bed immediately.
Did you sleep ?—Yes (with a sigh).
Till what hour ?—I do not recollect.
Was your resolution fixed when you went to bed ?
—No. I cannot even tell whether that might be
called a resolution.
When you awoke, what was your first thought ?
I believe I was awakened by cries in the house, and
that I hurried to the chamber of Madame de Praslin.
(The accused added with a sigh)—l would ask you
, to restore me to life by interrupting this interro-

gatory.
When you entered the chamber of Madame de
Praslin, you could not be ignorant that all the issues
around you were shut—that you alone could enter ?
I was ignorant of that.
You entered the chamber of Madame de Praslin
several times that morning ; was she in bed the first
time you went there ?—N o; she was unfortunately
stretched on the floor.
Was she not lying on the spot where you would
appear to have struck her the last time ?—How can
you put such a question to me ?
Because you did not answer me at first. How did
you come by the scratches I see on your hands ?—I
got them the evening before leaving Praslin, as I was
packing up my things with Madame de Praslin.
How did you come by that bite I. see at your
thumb ?—lt is not a bite.
The surgeons who have visited you have declared
it is a bite ?—Spare me, my weakness is extreme.

You must have passed a very painful momen,
when on entering your chamber you perceived your.
self covered with the blood you had shed, and which
you tried to wash out ?—That blood has been erro-
neously explained; 1 did not wish to appear before
my children with the blood of their mother.
Do you not feel very unhappy
at having committed
this crime ?—(The accused was silent, and appeared
lost in thought.)
Were you not under the influence of bad advice,
impelling you to commit this crime ?—lhave received
no advice ; no one would advise such an act.
a‘yi:
oNsstthiroloieri;nrg,
—lf
fails
a asnagymeo
Are you not tortured by remorse ; and would it
not have been a sort of relief to you to have said the
ta“rsukyytehedosu;:douroM
person
a me entirely
oeonfatniNrs,eowluyerrtwoi-nedaeakyno.neslys.
yI
would feel my
pul-e, he would easily judge of my weakness.
You have just had strength enough to answer a
good many questions of detail which I addressed to
you; your strength did not fail you for that.—(The
accused was silent.)
Your silence answers for you that you are guilty ?
—You are come here with the conviction that lam
guilty; I cannot change it.
You could change it if you gave us reasons to the
contrary, if you were to explain differently what ap-
pears only susceptible of explanation by your guilt ?
I do not think I can change that conviction in your
mind.
Why do you not believe it possible to change our
conviction ?—(The accused, after a pause, declared it
beyond his power to continue.)
When you committed this horrible act did you
think of yo* children ?—As to the crime,
I did
constant
not
commit it—as to my children, they are th
subject of my thoughts.
Dare you affirm that you have not committed this
crime ?—(The accused rested his head upon his hands
and remained silent for a few instants; then he said,
" I cannot answer such a question.")
M. de Praslin, you are under mental torture, and,
as I told you just now, you might perhaps assuage it
by answering me.—(The accused did not answer,
and begged as a favour that his interrogatory might
be interrupted and put off to another day. In com-
pliance with this request the interrogatory was
stopped.)
FIRST INTERROGATORY OF MADEMOISELLE DE LUZY
DESPORTES, AGED 37.
famil of the Duke de
When did you enter the y 1
Praslin as governess ?--On March , 1841.
What salary did you receive P—At Lady Hislop's,
near London, I received I,Boof. a year ; at M. de
Praslin's I was to have something more-2,000f., with
board and lodging.
sum from the
Did you receive that moment you
entered ?—Yes.
What were your functions in M. de Praslin's house-
hold P—l had the care and the education of the nine
children, but it was founAdfnteceAsar afterwards to
add an under-governess. After that, y the Duke took
a private tutor for the boys, but he came dissatisfied
with him, and dismissed him after some time. He
then placed first one son, and then a second, with M.
Boussu, a professor of the College Bourbon. I re-
mained charged with the education of the three eldest
girls and the youngest boy. The three youngest
girls were placed at the convent of the Sacre-Cceur ;
as M. de Praslin himself acknowledged that it was
impossible to maintain harmony between a head
governess and an under one.
How long is it since the under-governess left the
house of the Duke de Praslin . —About three years.
The information which we have received has made
us aware that for a length of time you behaved badly
towards Madame de Praslin ; that you did not show
her that consideration and deference that you ought
to have done, and that you endeavoured to alienate
from her the affection of her husband and children ?
No, never ! never ! When I entered into Madame de
Praslin's house matters were already on a very an k-
ward footing. The Duke wanted to direct by him-
self the education of his children, as the Duchess
herself told me. She informed me that it was to the
Duke alone that I should have to render an account,
and the Duke himself also repeated to me the same.
Three or four governesses have succeeded each other
in the house in the course of some mouths ; the Duke