The Sun.
London, England, 1859-05-25 00:00:00

CRIME IN FRANCE.

' It may be remembered that in August last D.
ardout, physician of the palace of Fontainebleau,
:and his wife, both advanced in years, were found
• blurdered in their house near the palace, and that
11,robbery of their property had been committed ;
theirman was brought to trial before the Court of
Assizes of the Seine-et-Marne, and after the cir-
' etunstances of the crimes had been stated, he for-
Mally admitted his guilt, but accused the female
tvant of the deceased, whose name is Talbot, of
Atiting
.heen his accomplice. In this accusation
0; 'tersisted, in spite of the vehement denial
rested woman. In consequence she was ar-
and the 'trial was adjourned to enable
Investigation into the man's accusation to be
made His statement was that while he was in
ti
• Bardout's service an intimate connexion existed
• between him and the young woman, and that they
cornmitted in conjunction robberies of wine and
other. things ; that they had planned a greater
robbery, and that in the night of the 29th of Au-
gust she had let him into the house to perpetrate
it; that on penetrating into Madame Bardout's
room the latter cried out, and that he murdered
her by a blow on the head -with a chopper ; that
Dr. Bardout, who slept in the next room, having
heard the noise, got up, and that he (the
pr
oner) then murdered him, being
assisted
in
state.both these murders by the servant. The
man's
went seemed to a certain extent probable from
the fact that medical men thought, from marks
on the persons of the deceased, that two
persons must have been engaged in the
crime ; likewise because certain doors on the pas-
sage from the girl's room to the chambers of the
murdered persons were left partly open, and
because it seemed strange that the murders could
have been committed without the girl having, as
she alleged, heard anything. But, on the other
hand, it was ascertained beyond any reasonable
doubt that not only had no intimate connexion
• existed between the young woman and the prisoner,_
but that it was she who had caused his dismissal
from the service of Dr. Bardout for having one
Illobt entered her chamber and attempted to take
liberties with her. The prisoner, when pressed,
with questions, at last admitted that the charge
against fhe girl was unfounded ; and he said it was
e who had opened the doors, in order to
'throw suspicion on her. The consequence was
that the examining magistrates declared
that there was no reason for prosecuting
,the girl, On Saturday the man was again
brought to trial before the Court of Assizes of
the Seine-et-Marne ; and after the facts of the case
had been related, and the man interrogated on
them, the President said :—" Faugeras, I adjure
You to say whether or not you persist in your ac-
g?sations against the servant." The man remained
ent. "Do you, yes or no, persist in saying that
dire was your accomplice ?" " I can only answer
ect questions." " Speak, say what you please ;
13we lit to you." " I have not much to say. If I
bute of the girl it was not to have her punished,
alt because because it was the truth. But punish me
ne, if you like ; I have uo objection." " Shall
heure,:til the girl ?" " I shall say nothing against
• " You have nothing to say against her?"
Iv will say nothing—that is all I say." The girl
tra,! When called, and solemnly protested that she
part in the murder. heT jury declared the
ae-instlrler guilty, and the Court condemned him to
to- 'l. On hearing the sentence he was so over-
-41-111,e with emotion that he sank down on his scat,
on_a, bad to be supported in leaving the court._
""Pla2leB Messenger.