Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1880-04-01

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| The pzftern, end rfnt 90 .fhe
one Madame Despz Worn when
she returned q tie
In The s0il mould FAen wexe
found foot pr1nls. Nv those of
the prisoner. SD - eiekanl.
though peculiarly g and there
could Be % mis Ibi9 q =
Moreover, the ilAe eQee2N
found thrown doh -
den, while the
had wefh on
were but pafsszl S9s
capped the vigiIsIf syes q the detee-
tives.
Her manner, TOO, during her trial.
impressed the spectators with feeling
that she was guilty, and when veF-
dict TO that effect was brought in she
had but few sympathizers among the
audience.
A sentence of life imprisonment was
pronounced, aud she Vas carried from
the court ihsenssble, and, regaining con-
sciousness, IL was only to pass into the
deliFium Of brain fever.
She still lay in the hospital ward
when the case, which had begun to
fade in the public mind. was again re-
called prominently TO their remem-
brance.
One day . lady called upon the exc
cutors Of the murdered man and claimed
share of bis property, alleging that
she was his wife. legally welded to him
nearly fifteen years before.
Though there could be little doubt OF
the validity Of her claim, the execu-
tors, who were personal friends Of the
murdered man, considered it their duty
to contest IL, and the alleged widow at
once Instituted suit against the estate.
The claimant, who, though evidently
on the shady side Of thirty-6ve, was
still a remarkably handsome woman,
had almost universally the public SYM
pathy, and the verdict that awarded her
CLAIM wss received with burst OF ap-
plause hronghout the court room.
Gracinnaly acknowledging il with q
bow and . triumphant smile upon her
face, the woman was about TO leave the
room, when man dressed in black,
with a scrap of red ribbon in his button-
hole, advanced and laid his hand upon
her arm.
"Not so fast, madame, IL you please, +"
he said. The case is far from being
ended yet"
The look of triun faded from the
womau,s face. leslyi Z saathly a'sl
as she turned and faced him.
"Who are you !" she gasped, "and
what do you mean by this outrage 7"
"My name," the maa answered,
calmly, ''Is Jules Chasson, Of the Sew
enth Division OF Detective Police, and
I arrest you for the murder Of Henri
Despenard, once your husband"
The audience were struck speechless
by his words, even the court sharing
the general surprise.
"This is certainly remarkable pro-
ceeding, NJ. Chasson," the judge said,
at length, land one, must say, that re-
quires further explanation"
(which you shalt have, my lord, %
the detective answered, with respect
ful bow. "In the first place, then, this
woman was really marrled to M. Des-
penard fifteen years ago in a small viii
iage in the south of Normandy. After
a few months, however, she eloped
with another man, and for the more than
seven years following III. Despenard
heard nothing from her, which in the
eyes Of the law annulled his marriage.
Therefore, when he again married. IL
was perfectly legal, and the lady now
uniustly under sentence for bis murder
was lawfully bis wife. ! say unjustly
accused, my lord, for the real murder
ess is the woman who claims her wId-
ow's dowry."
all eyes turned upon The woman BY his
side were startled by the change in her
countenance. II was palsid TO the very
lips, which were slightly parted, as IL "a
utter words which her voice refused tc
speak, and her eyes stared into vacan-
CIV with look a. if she once more saw
her victim, arisen from his grave, stand
ing before her.
"About year after bis second mar.
rage" the detective went on, ''the Iirsl
wife returned. and commenced a regu-
lar system Of blackmail anon Monsisnl
Despenard, which, fo1 wiie's sake,
he submitted TO until about a week be.
fore his death. Then, when he refused
TO submit any longer 10 the exlortion, q
scheme of almost fendish subtIeiy en-
tered her mind. Through the eonni.
vance Of Madame Despenard's maid
she gained admittnnce to The house
while the lady and her husband were
absent, and possessed herself Of the re.
volver and shoes, which were afser.
wards found in the well. The ladv'.
story Of being attacked by woman w a
true, and the shred OF lace was torn
from The shawl for the purpose of afEix.
ing Il 10 the shutter. This, however
was after the time when. ascending the
veranda, the murderess. peeFing through
the window, saw her victim seated in !
chair reading. His face was half turned
toward her. and, raising The revolver,
she took deliberate aim and fred
A wild, blood-curdling laugh ringing
through the apartment interrupted the
detecaive's narrative, and The breathless
audience, once more turning, saw ii pro-
ceeded from the arrested woman, whose
eyes were rolling wildly, and upon whose
lips foam had gathered.
Her crime had been lound out by
mans ingenuity. bat the reiribuiion haa
come from the aveeging God. Thl
sudden shock Of discovery. at the very
moment she deemed her success com.
lplete. had overthr0wn her reason, and
she was an ineurable maaiae.