New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-09-24

l
police he had from the first been courteous.
ly composed and inf-xibly reticent.
The prosecution failed at one point They
could not show even q plausible motive for
the crime. They did indeed attempt, by
the testimony of NJ. Broussac, to set up q
theory of brutal treatment by Mounin OF
his wife, aud that he murdered her to con.
ceal it. This was nullified by the evident
advancement with which Broussac pursued
his son-in-law, and negatived by the IN
varying testimony OF domeetics and in
Inmates, to the apparent affection of hus.
band for wife, and her confidence in and
reliance upon him. The only fact adduced
by Broussac was that Mounin had forbid
den him to enter certain parts of the
house, but it was shown that BrOuesac was
rather inquisitive, perhaps meddIesome
old gentleman, and that these prohibited
rooms were tabooed to the servants also,
and even to Madame herself, on the express
ground that they contained delicate instru.
ments, and acids and chemicals of danger
GUS or explosive character. Maitre Botlex
confined his cross examination chiefly to
the bringing out most clearly these defects
in the case of the prosecution, never at
tempting to deny that there was a crime,
and that M0unin committed it, but always
striving to emphasize the fact that the
deed was inexplicable on any theory of it
held BY the prosecution. The avocat man
aged his case most ingenieusly in this re-
spect. widening continually the void which
only his theory could ill up.
Another fact he was careful to bring out
in strong relief, and this was that NJ. Anne.
dee M0unin was pursuing with great as
siduty some chemical studies, the nature of
which was not only . secret but . mystery;
that he occupied one small wing of the cha
teau, and = good deal of ite cellarage, with
his laboratories and machinery, his fur
naces, distilling appliances, cabinets and
library, and spent q large portion of his
time here, locked up; that he often came out
heated and sweaty and soiled, and that
| Madame often demonstrated prettily with
| him for his devotion to these secret re-
searches and experiments
When Maitre Botlex. Colmache rose to
open the case for the defense there were
very few persons in the courtroom or even
| in Figeac who had any idea that it was pos
sible for Amedee Mounin to escape the con-
viction which they felt he should not es-
cape. But Msitre Botlex's manner was &C.
renely confident while tinged with little
shade of that sort of sadness which comes
over US when We say vaguely, yet touched,
Poor humanity as VOlney wept to see
Memphis and Thebes in ruins, and Mark
Twain shed tears at the tomb of his revered
Primigenius. The prosecution, he said.
had reveled in all the horror fraught
details of crime that was unnatural,
incomprehensible, impossible. He should
not follow their example. He was
not of those who believed in effects with.
out cause, in deeds without motives. He
would justify his incredulousnees in this
particular case by producing the motive
for this deed, and such motive as removed
the horrible act from the category of crimes |
and placed it permanently in that gallery |
OF unfortunate accidents over which a veil |
should be kept drawn that only morbid |
could be- no culpsbility where there was no |
responsibility. The statute law, the civil |
law, the natural law were equally positive |
in excluding from the odious color Of Grim |
lnaLty that which has manifeetly happened |
per infortnniam-the nature of the misad-
venture which had ended in Nine. Mounin's |
death would be plainly and clearly set be-
fore the court and the jury.
1t was observed that tho prisoner, after
showing in the beginning of his avocst's re-
marks sort of c0ntemptuous amusement
began to look perplexed. and then anxious,
as NJ. Botlex 80 confidently promised to
disclose that which he had been 90 reso-
lutely reticent about. He showed himself
still more uneasy and impatient when, on
Maitre Botlex finishing his speech and re.
suming his chair, M. Leuret, the project,
came to his 1.-THE prlsoner'e) side, aud took
hold of his wrist. He tried to free himself,
but, unable to do 90 without q struggle,
contented himself with struggling his
shoulders violently and looking ct Leuret
with contempt and defiance. All this did
not escape the audience, whose curiosity
was greatly excited.
Call DR.. Max Parchappe,'' said Maitre
BOtlex.
"You know the prisoner, do you not, doc
;or9"
II d." said M. Parchappe; she was pa
lent OF mine more than seventeen years
'go. when l was physician to q moison de
ante in the neighborhood of scissors. l |
him distinctly"
The prisoner, with entire composure and
he most perfect assumption of incredulity,
ooked at the doctor and said:
Are You not mistaken, Monsieur! do
ot think ever saw your face; never was
It scissors in ny life."
Il am not mistaken, M. Mounin; know
Ou perfectly"
Mounin shrugged his shoulders again.
1t is certainly an honor-ma fol! none the
ass undeserved.'
What was the nature of the malady I'm.
er which NJ. MOunin suffered at the time
Q was under your care?" quietly pursued
laitre Botlex, as if his clients disclaimer
7as really part of his case instead of an j.,
Interruption.
collaboration" answered the doctor "a 8
uietly.
"You lie! said the prisoner, holly. MAY
please the court, this is an atrocious cal g
mny" a
prisoner. you must not interrupt" said 3
le president of the court. What was the
escription OF the hallucination under which
!. Mounln was 80 unhappy as to labor"
'ntinued N. Botlex.
HE WAS an alchemist-he imagined he !;
as about to frd the philosophers etone." y
"You are liar and villain !" Dried TIE !
'isoner, springing to his feet and evincing ..
every way almost uncomfortable emo. q
IN. M. Leuret forced him back into his y
at, and, as he did 20, let fall his handker. =
lief.
At this signal, DR.. Parchappe, who had =
It previously done moro than glance at :
QUINN, now turned full face upon him-a - -
pect-older, forbidding, stern and full of }.
mmand: He gazed at the prisoner more -
an half minute without permitting =
AZURE to move; then, in . full, strong (
ice, not at all like his conversational =
me- pronounced single word: :,
Mounin shuddered and put his hand be g!
70 his eyes, but did not answer. e
peratively. 10
Mounin bowed lower yet; his whole frame o'
: . CONFUSED but he made no answer.
.Adsum" cried Mounin, spriugine m. va
adding IN Latin, when the master tn
!s the ADEPT must obey His face had an
q and eager excitement. lis ewes tie
he'd, his cheeks were flushed, he was
, man t1ansformed; and judges, Jurors. vi
cers, spectators, all gazed at him in w
azeanent and in breathless expectation
what was to follow. Only Parohappe's sell