The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-08-14
.,.,>,,,, Punishment.


Wr take the following from the Pau. atdA
Gdzet;e: >;.o, ,,,,;shment an,,
oi,ncs,es nav find matter for reflection
~ ~ Two trials for murder which have Just
wv =" Mold in France. Both were surrounded
an remarkable circumstances, ana one Oh
,n" On, No doubt win be repeatedly alluded to
.",nncyer NJ. Louis Blanc's bill for abolish
w. ,bc death penalty shall be discussed
- =, Tho French Chambers. As the majority
~ ~ tho Republican party have notorious
,h;cr,ion 10 the guiilotinc, it would not DC
,,,rnyi>inr il this case furnished them
,r;th an argument OF great sentimental
..o;rh; II is tina: OF farmers wife named
nrordpon. who nine months ago was ar
,.;mnrd for poisoning her husband. once
.,,Sn;c;ons had been pointed nj the wretched
wnn,an. owing chiefly to the cquanlmity
,T;,h which she seemed to bear her loss, the
s,,rc d'jnStruction went to work, as IS
rsnol IN France rakinc up all the tattie
,ybirh could support the theory OF her CUNT.
Sr;ohhors came with miserable stores OF
now they had heard Nine. Lcrondeau abuse
ncr husband and wish herself well rid OF
him. II was shown that he was twenty
,carS older than she, churiis5, miSerlv. ana
Tim, The rair were constantly blckerlng;
nevertheless, contrary 10 what is custom
ary in such cases. it was found impossible
70 provc that Nine. Lerondeau had been an
1,niaithiul wife. However. Versailles
chemist came forward TO dcpose that he had
ioupd oyahc acid in the dead mans body,
and that this poison had undoubtedly been
the cause OF his death. Thereon the jury
returned a verdict OF guilty, with eXtenu-
otinr circumstances. and the prisoner was
sentenced To twenty years transportation.
The verdict was absurd, for If Nine. Lee
rondcau was guilty at all she deserved
no mercy: but, as fact, there had been
no evidence OF her administering the
polson. and the jury had merely condemned
her las Preach iuries often do because the
nubHc prosecutor had described her on the
It'll al public gossip as termagant who
b re her husband no affection. The rri-
,oncr apDpaIad TO the Court OF Cessation,
and. luckily !or her, this tribunal, which
deals only with points OF law. detected an
informally in the indictment and ordered
ney: trial. This time the case was set down
Tor hearing before Judge OF sound sense,
who. having read through the deposltons,
WAS struck hv the mass OF trumpery they
contained. lie soon satisfied himself that
u,
tanned contrary to evidence; but to make
more sure hc ordered the body OF Lc:ondeall
10 bc rclXhumed and submitted TO 4 new
examination. Three physciars OF high
standing now gave it rs their opinion that
The oXa;ic acid found in the stomach was no
more than might have resulted from hearty
meal oil Sorrci; and in sum they believed
that VI. Lcrondeau had died from bit OF
aroplcXv brought on by his Incorporate
habits. In consequence OF this report the
new t.ial WAS Il mere lormaity, for Mime.
Lcrondcau was acquitted, and the Judge
thought GOOD to add that she icft the court
without stain on her character; for he did
rot believe. said he, in any of the tattle
bruitcd against her by the malicious tongues
OF nci4hborS.
So far so good; but it is evident that
Nine. Lcrondeau owes the blessing OF b.
ing now at large 10 the most uncommon
circumstance OF an indictment having been
iil-draitcd. II it had not been for the blum
der OF some procurator'S clerk she would
now have been in New Caledonia, or if the
jury who tried her first had acted honestly
S!p to their conviction Of Der guilt she might
have been guillotInei. The argument Of
many who do not disapprove OF the death
penalty on other grounds is that mis-
carriage OF justice can never be recti-
fed il a person has once been put
to death. French iuries arc likely to
be more squcamiSh than ever after
this case Of Nine. Lcrondeau; but
in reality the affair only points to the neces-
sity for reforming The French code OF crimi-
nal procedure. 1t is as undesirable that peo-
1le should be transported uniastly as gull
lotincd uniusily: and yet a mere abolition
OF the death penalty would leave them liable
10 the former fate so long as public prosecu-
tors are allowed TO base their indictments
chiefly on the hearsay evidence relating to 4
prisoners anteccdentS. Nine. Lerondcau's
trouble was all caused by the ll-regulated
zeal OF the procurator, who, suSpccting her
guilt. collected Il mass Of testimony to square
with his theories and work upon the minds
OF the jury.
That capital punishment is still much
needed as q deterrent under the present
conditions OF society will seem evident
from the second murGer-trial which has
Just astonished and scandalized Paris. In
this case the murderer was one Martin, 4
broker OF the Rue st. LaZare. Being in
pcclniarv straits, and having bills to meet
on a certain date, this person conceived the
idea OF decoyinc messenger OF the Bank
OF France into his shop, and then murder
ing him. after which lie would rifle his
bag. The bank-mcsScngerS, with their
gray coats, cooked hats, and leather
satchcl., are familiar figures in Paris.
They 20 about OH the LIST and
18th OF every month collecting payment
ol bills. and towards the afternoon their
bags are sure to contain thousands OF francs.
Martin had calculated all this, and he pre-
pared his crime in the most business-lke
way. He would call a messenger into his
shop under prctence OF asking change for a
bank note. stab him in the back whilst he was
STOPPING over the counter. then pitch his
body into timed packing-case full Of saw
dust, and dispatch this case by rail to some
distant station with the directions, "To be
left till called for" The first part OF this
programme was executed. The obliging
messenger entered Martins shop, and was
Immediately stabbed between the shoulders
but. the murderer's hand having trembled,
the blow did not cause instantaneous death,
and the victim. while he lay on the floor,
called so loudly for help that ueighbors ar
rived and Martin was arrested. The mes
senger died the same night, and Martin was
OF course committed to take his trial for
murder. But in the interval between his
and trial a great deal Of sham
sentiment was aroused about him, owing to
his being, as it was said, the hes. OF hus-
bands and fathers. From his cell at MazaS
he sent out pitcous letters to his family,
on his remorse, and declaring
that he had yielded to irresistible temp
tation, being unable. to bear the thought
OF his name being disbonored by his in
ability to meet his pecuniary engagements.
This precious system OF defence was per-
in a "a Drnpnrp1
the cowardly criminal the benefit OF eX-
tenuating circumstances. Instead OF being
sent TO the scatfold he will be transported
u Nnlr lt.Na1otain .x.l, I -anr, 10 of