Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-12-18

Generates C0oes
From the New Yosf Tribune.
murder trial which Is destined to be one Of
the celebrated cases of criminal law has been
proceeding during the last fortnight in Brus-
sells, and has been followed with eager interest
throughout Europe. Two brothers, Armand
and Leon Peltzer, are charged with numbering
Guillaume Bernays, under circumstances as
intricate as one of Balzaas plots The motive
LOT the crime was jealousy, the malign center Of
attraction being Madame Bernays. with whom
Armand Peltzer was passionately in love. IL that
honest word can be used at all in q recital
OF unutterable baseness: aud the most re-
markable feature of the case was the ascend
ancy of strong mind over a weak one. by
which Leon Peltzer was prevailed upon to leave
HIS business inNcw I ork. masquerade in a series
OF DISCUSSES in England and on the Continent.
ut up a secret chamber in Brussels as q miniature
armory, and ipally murder his brothers victim
there. without having any personal motive for
so hazardous and detestahc a crime. This sub
lection OF the brotEers will to the superior in
telli"ence OF Madame Bernays' lover seems
utterly unaccountabe when the additional facts
are borne in mind that the murderer after es-
Gaping from the chamber of horrors. was re-
CURED 10 announce the crime to the police, and
that his victim had been his benefactor.
NJ. Bernays was a successful lawyer. devoted
70 MS profession, acute and iud.cious in settling
and iatoriouS in his methods. mercenary I'm his
disposition. His wife was as fgity and senti-
mental rs he was hard and practical He
might be q good lawyer. but i'm the estima-
tion OF his fighty, eNcitable aid imaginative
Vile. he was cold, stupid downright COM
mOnplace husband. She fancled that he did
not appreciate her social yraces and intel
iectnal qualities, and he was at q loss to uu-
derstand why she was dissatisfied with him.
year after their marriage. when, owing to
rrn1c
although under the same roof. and to remain on
only the most ceremonious terms, Armand Pelt-
Ger arrived from BuenOs AyreS aid engaged the
lawyers services in behalf of his brothers Leon
and James, who were being prosecuted for
fraudulent bankruptcy. These services were SO
effective that the brothers were honorably ac-
quilted and Leon Peltzer. saved from
disgrace, was enabled to seek his for
tunes in the New World Meanwhile.
Armand Peltzer had become constant guest
al the Bernays mansion. having won the friend
ship of the husband and the love of the
wife, and having succeeded on several occasions
In restoring peace in the household. He was an
engineer 10y profession and a man of force of
character dignified presence and social accom-
pllshments. The plodding. unsocial, prosaic
lawyerwas afoil to this elegant and sympathetic
carpet Knight. Immersed IN business cares I'M
suspicious by nature and indifferent to the
whims and ideals Of his caprcious wife, he did
not break off relations with the man. whom he
erness OF his child repeated to him the gossip OF
the household. He then forbade Armand Pelt-
ger to enter his house. refused to receive letters
from him, and paid no heed to challenge to a
duel
Leon Peltzer at this time was clerk earning
pittance in q New York house One day he
received from his brother in Antwerp a mys-
terious proposition which he answered by send
ing cable message containing the words Rob
ert Fulton" He sailed for Europe and after
md RaI.,
der various names and in numerous DISCUSSES
hred suite OF rooms i'm Brussels. Returning
to London he wrote to NJ. Bernays over the sig
nature of Henry Vaughan, inclosing a retainer
OF sioo and asking for confidential consul
tation in these chambers The lawyer, easily
entrapped. was shot with one of choice
assortment of pistols purchased in
London and Paris. and apparently tested by
both brothers with special view to noiseless-
ness. The blinds had been closed. the curtains
drawn and all other precautions taken TO deaden
the sound OF the pisto! shot. and the murder had
been committed without attracting any atten-
ton. Leon Peltzer effected his escape from
Belgium without exciting any suspicion that
the name ne used was an assumed one. As for
Armand PeltZer he had taken pains to remain
at Antwerp and to provide himself with ample
evidence OF an alibi. If revenge had been his
sole motive he would have sent his brother
BACK to New York in one of the many DISCUSSES
recently assumed and have allowed the police
to work up at their leisure the case of 1nyste-
rlous disappearance in Brussels But his was
q Jealousy which was eager to obtain the prize
after the hated rival had been removed. Madame
Bernays must find out without delay that she
was widow and free to bestGw her affections
upon himself. The death of her husband must
be explained In such way as to silence gossip
mongers and to divert suspicion from himself
Accordingly the accommodating Leon was pre-
vailed upon to write to the authorities under his
assumed name and to acquaint them with the
melancholy accident which had occurred i'm
his chambers, where they could find the body CT
NJ. Bernays. The result was that Henry
Naughans handwriting was Identified as Leon
Peltzer's and the brothers were brought face to
lace IN prison. Their trial has not yet been con-
Guided. but their own mother has virtually con-
Victed them by the exclamation: 1.-TWO sons two
murderers! Armand has abused Icons weak
ness and all for that woman!"