The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-10-31
DOCTOR BARBERON.
The Story Of O French Trial for
Murder.
CHAPTER v.

A. WAS not al aSSiZe UOWu; SO baf
beron was transferred to N few
days before that appointed for his trial
This was in November; the sea-bathin!
season at A. had been over for som,
weeks, and | had returned Paris. But
WAS summoned 10 attend Court as wit
ness, and | arrived at N on the morn
ing when the trial began.
| alighted at the hotel where Madame
Perreau and her child were staying, fol
the trial was expected to last week
and the widow had taken suite of apart.
rents. Maitre Farcy was also staying
there, and had converted the place into
headquarters for witnesses for the de.
fcnse. ! perceived him standing in
tie vestibule of the hotel and
gesticulating amidst a group Of persons,
some of whom had been summoned as
witnesses as to character, whilst Others
were toxicologists who were to rebut the
evidence of the prosecution as to arsenic.
1T is to be noted that whenever med
Cal expert swears to thing, any number
Of experts can be found who will swear
just the contrary. Doctors Legris and
l.enoir were as staunch as ever to Bar
beron's cause.-the former spoke, indeed,
with cautious vagueness not calculated
to compromise him; but the latter, hav-
ing been teased by the newspapers, was
choleric and combative. He had discov-
cred that the wallpaper and furniture in
Madame Barberon's bedroom were green,
and his theory was that the arsenic
found in the body must have
been derived from the inhalation of the
poisonous ingredients of these green dyes.
l. was a bold theory, quite enough to
establish the propounder's fame as a
first-class savant if it succeeded in con-
vincing the jury.
Curious to hear how Barberon was
getting along, | waited for Farcy as he
was setting out from the hotel, and we
walked towards the Court together. He
carried big portfolio full of papers un-
der his arm, and was excited by the
prospect of the oritorical prospects in
store for him. 1T is not often that a
provincial advocate has the chance of
playing the leading part in sensational
murder trial, and Farcy was evidently
proud thatnone of his eminent colleagues
from Paris had been retained to lead the
defense. Tll pull the fellow through if
he leaves his case wholly in my hands,
said he. lisa pity that he ever spoke
about that chloral. Chloral leaves no
traces, and he has only furnished the
prosecution with second string to their
bow
Perhaps he did right to speak the
truth said I.
But is it the truth9 Barberon is a
doxomaniac; when you wound his van
ity he knows not what he says or does.
He spoke of the chloral merely to con-
found Leoris and Lenoir, who, he
thought, were against him. That is where
my danger lies with the man. If he gets
making speeches Of his own, he will up
Bet Ill my plans
And how is Madame Perreau?' l in
qaired. III Barberon is acquitted, will
she marry him.
oh, no; at least, | think not answered
Farcy, and noticed that he turned sud
denly red. Gossip had begun to accuse
him of being more attentive to the rich
widow than mere friendship warranted.
'Of course, you under tand all this af-
fair has agitated Madame Perreau.
Women are women, you know. But
vood-by for t present, here we are
We parted, for we had reached the
Palace Of Justice, and Farcy went off
towards the Barrister's robing chamber
whilst l sought the witnesses entrance
The approaches of the building were
thronged, and as the public part of the
of the court had been filled within five
minutes after opening the doors, the po-
lice were now refusing admittance to all
save those who came on business. Car
riages were setting down fashionably
dressed ladies who held tickets for re-
served seats; and there were journalists
from Paris and local notabihties in great
numbers, who likewise had tickets. A
policeman directed me where to 90, and
after threading number of tagged pass
ages, where barresters in black gowns, gem
darmes and clerks with blue bags we're
hurrying about, was consigned to ali
usher with a sword. A few minutes later
found myself seated beside old Grasser
ard his daughters, Oh the witnesses
bench of the Assize Court
What q sight it was! A pale Noyem-
ber sun streaming through the lofty
windows threw gold light on the paint
ing of the Saviour ON the Cross, which
hung over the dais where he Judges
were to sit, and on the many
coiored 4. bonnets of scores Of
ladies. A dozen gendarmes in yellow
baldrics and big boots sat on form be-
low the empty dock, and the seats at the
back of the Court were crowded with
the public, tcr upon tier There was a |
loud hum OF conversation as in play
house between acts, and the ladies were
leyeling opera-glasses towards the table
where Maitre Farcy was installed in his
black gown and cambric fall, pretending
to study his brief, but seemingly gratifed
at the curiosity he was creating.
Ten o'clock struck, an usher announced
"The Court and the whole assembly rose
while the judges marched in. There
were five OF them all in scarlet and
ermine and gold, laced velvet bonnets;