The New York herald., 1878-10-21
cosTAFRoLAz, THE MURDERER.

CLAIM ON HIS BEHALF THAT THE KILLING
OF MATHEvoN OCCURRED IN THE UNITKD
sTATEs-oUR CONSUL PROTESTS AGAINST
HIS ExEcuTIoN-rAE cuLpRIr's STATEMENTS
DIsPRovED.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD.
MONTREAL, Oct. 20, 1873
he friends Of Costairolaz, the condemned mut.
derer OF Matheu Matkevon. making efforts 10 OBJ
tain the intervention OF the American governments in
his behalf tho ground that the crime was not COM
mittsd In Cauada but within the jurisdiction OF The
United States. The American Consul at ST. Johns,
whore tho trial took place. Is said to have protested
against tho execution OF Costafroaz He has been in
curing the and will make . report to the
government a. Washington. Cyprisn Oostafrolas,
alias De Mrabe has been resident ofNew York State
for some years, and as several witnesses testified,
had always borne good chractsr until the murder Of
Mathevon broaght homo TO him. He did NOT
state his trial that he citizen of Tho United
States, and It is probable he has nevor taken ous
naturalization papers; but though he resided some
time In Canada before no went TO Settle as
Rouse's Point, neither is he Bfitish subject.
The place Of his nativity is believed been the
province OF Nice. which would mako him an Italian
by birth. but French citizen by the esssion Of that
province to Napoleon Ill. His victim, Msthsvon. vas
Montreal has taken possession Of mis- sccsa Costa
frolaz having stated the tral that Mr. 81. Pierre.
tho lawyer who had prepared defence but VINO was
present. 10 address the jury, had
his possession certain papers which went 10 estab.
lish that tho murder was committed In the United
States. your correspondent sought an interview with
gentleman for the purpose Of eicsing the facts
when conversation, OF which the following " she
substance, took place. A
CoRREsPoSDESr-Mr. st. Pierre. you are aware q
what Uosairoaz said Al his trial He told The Court
that you have IN your possession papers OF nature
TO aht the question OF the exact locality oi
tho murder, and TO show that II was not oomnisssd
In Canada
Mr.. ST. PIRRRR-Ths only paper In my possession
is this small piaa map, which drew myself
The learned counsel here took from his pockstbooe
. rough pen and Ink dratI showing the place where
the boundary line the northern extremity Of
Lake Champluin, he place where the murder was
sumcd to have been committed BY the prosecution,
the defence, !. was ac.aaliy comAit.sd. the latter
being IN the United States.
CoRREsposDENr-Arey you aware that Costafrolaz zsaid
his letters In ther possession whish
ne claims would establish that no parted with Aathss
rnH cuLPRIT coxrRADIcrgD.
Mr.. ST. PIEERE-I never saw any such letters; Il
there amy letters MIR: Robinson. who was 70 have
undertaken Costairolsz's defence jointly with me,
must have them, but do not think they enn have
any existence, as must have known OF II they sx-
CoRaEsPoSDKNT-Ths plan. tEOn, II the only papes
In your POSSESSION having reference TO the cssef
Mr. ST PIERRE rnis - all. IL IS plan OF The los
calily whore tre murder was actually com mitled,
which mad intended 10 use In arguing the qusstios
oil jurisdiction
CORRESPONDENCE could not have bcsn Of mucs
importance, then. The question OF jurisdiction vas
raised the trial. but the evidence OF ST Aicnei The
only witness VINO proved anything on that point, went
10 show that the pace whore the man was seen drag
ging what believed 10 be tho body OF AAthevon
after boat was on the Canadian side oi shs
boundarys
rHn QUESTION JURISDICTION.
Mr.. ST PKRRs-Yes; but this dId not prove thas
the murder cons lifted on tho Canadian side ~
all There Is no proof ol this, and am convinced,
IRON information which cannot give you Tor pubiica-
tton, tnat Mathevon was actually murdered In the
Unitcd States Is opinion that the question ef
Jurisdiction could have been raised win TAR chance
oil success ut the trial
CoRRxsPoSpEsr-Costair also stated that ne had
tecgrapned 10 You TO send on the papers which ne
said were IN the possession OF his counsel
Mr.. ST. PIKRRE-rnerc mention whatsves
OF any such papers IN the telegram recsivsd. w0
asked to defend him, yot Costalroisx was well aware
that would not DO there. He knew that the condi-
tions upon which alone to have undertaken The
defence had never been fulfilled. l have already in-
cured considerable expsnse In making several visits
TO ST. Johns, Rouss's Point aud the locality
whore the murder was committed, which, eG
course, will bo loss 10 me. and l couid
crown Prosecutor In another district 70 plead this
case which would have nocesstated further loss OF
time and OF money in the snapc OF expenses re-
gret circu instance, but Will 90 Understood that
l could not possibly rake tho sacrifice.
Mr. ST. Pierre also referred 70 some ether pointe oe
the case these did not bear the question: Of
jursdiclion they omitted IL may be observed in
that tho OF Detective Cullen 10
The finding OF q stonc with winch he believed
Ma.hsvoa had boon attacked mas very iis.s bearing
that the stains On this stone were oloodssAns.
Though thore no question Of tho guilt OF Cesls-
opinion that the Of the murder was really nos
In Canada, but In ths United States