The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-30
DOCTOR BARBERON.
The Story Of a French Trial for
Murder.
CHAPTER " -(CoNTINUED.)

Tell him, sir, will you, that he's bound
TO get the money back, every franc. He
don't seem to understand it, cried one
of the young women, whose name was
Euphr;lsie.
I, 'He was always cra1ed about this doc
tor chimed in her sister. I'VE and our
husbands were like dirt in his eyes once
he had clapped eyes ON this chap. But
] told him from the first no good would
come of the match
Peace wi yer, you was always glad
enough to get him to physic your child
rem for nothing said old Grassier.
'That'sa ie,' screamed the younger
sister. He was paid with calls head
when he cured my Jeannette Of the mea-
sles.'
ASK husband if we didn't give the
skamp barrel Of cider at my last laying
in added Euphrasie.
The pair Of husbands sat mute at one
end of the form, the one sucking the knob
nf hickory stick, the other rubbing the
calf of his leg. Old Grassier shrugged
his shoulders and ceased to contend
against the brawlings of his daughters,
whose voices waxed louder every mo-
ment.
A gendarme poked bis head in at the
door and stopped the strife by summon
ing us all to the Juge's room. 1t was by
a mistake that was called in with the
rest; but M. Willard, after first request
ing me to withdraw, altered his mind
and bade me stay. He said that he was
going to confront Us with Barberon, and
hoped our joint evidence would break
down the latter's assurance.
He touched hand-bell, aud after q
few minutes which seemed to me long,
the tramp of spured boots resounded in
the tagged passage, and the prisoner was
introduced, manacled and supported un-
der either arm by gendarme. He had
aged woefully; his features were cadav-
erous, and his eyes were distended to an
enormous size. The two women set up a
howl on seeing him, and old .Grassier,
stirred with deeper emotion, rose, with
his fists clenched, and muttered curses
Willard watched the effect of these dem
onstrations on the prisoner, who was only
angered by them. ...
'Wnen will you have done tormenting
me@ he asked, with a scowl.
You see what grief you have brought
on these unhappy people, said the Juge
d'Instruction, placidly. If you had any
good feeling you would ask pardon of an
injured father
You ought at least to give back the
dowry, you villain sobbed Euphrasie
You won't want the money if they
guillotine you,' added her amiable sister.
'Hushp said M. Willard. Barberon,
yon are going to hear from your father
in-law's lips the account Of how you de-
ceived and swindled him. Dry your
tears, M. Grassier, and don't be afraid
to speak
Grassier, thus encouraged, raised sort
of bleat, and began the most rambling,
'ahuffiing, long-winded story that ever
left the mouth of an ill-educated man.
The Juge d Instruction, who sat with his
back to the light, eying Barberon, his
clerk, who was scribblng shorthand
notes at an adjoining table, the two gen.
darmes, who stood erect near the door,
with their cooked hats on, and we, the
five other witnesses, grouped near the
fireplace, all listened intently to the old
mans yard, and tried to make sense of
it; but it was not easy. In sum, it APP
peared that Dr.. Barberon had first be-
come acquainted with Grassier by apply
ing to him for loan. Grassier was a sort
of rustic usurer, who lent money ON the
sly at fifty per cent, taking crops or
houses in pawn: and he did not consider
Barberon's security sufficient. When,
however. the doctor proposed that instead
of lending him 10000 francs the us,lrer
should give him his daughter in mar
riage. and $4,000 francs along with her,
the old man readily consented. There is
difference between trusting man with
money on note of hand, and trusting
him with your daughter, as every French
father knows. Grassier confessed, how
ever, that he never thought much ct Bar
bemn, and his bad opinion of him was
heightened when, after the marriage, the
doctor made incessant demands for
money. Madame Barberon used to come
crying to her father and coax big sums
out Of him, saying that they were neees-
sary to extend her husbands practice,
and that they should be repaid by-and-by.
This went on for three years, but at last
old Grassier grew tired Of lending, and
and three months after his refusal to
give another ccntime, Madame Barheron
died.
'You hear that, Barberonp said NJ.
Willard. 'As soon as your wife was no
longerin position to satisfy your rIpac-
sty, you made away with her.
mot before he had got $4,000 francs,
though, screamed Euphrasie, indig-
nantly. .. . /.
+, Fathers who waste their childrens
substance ought to be put in prison,
echoed her sister. Its crying shame
that we should have been cheated in this
way. What will there be left for us to
inherit when our father diesY
'Hush!' interposed M. Willard. Now
attend to me, Barberon; you insured
your wife's life nine months ago for Il
hundred thousand francs. Why did you
do fbatD