The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-09
She Pleads Her Own Case, Admits the Shoot
ing, and Coolly Declares that She Had
Meditated the Deed for Months.
She Is Acquitted of Murder, and Or
dered to Pay a Fine of 400 Francs. J.
The Adroit Manner in Which Mr.. Parnell
Turned an Apparent Defeat Into Brill
liant VictOry-Cable Notes.
MME. CLOvIs-HUGUEs.

Sensational Incidents Connected with the
Trial-The Lady Acquitted.
PARIS, Jan. 6.-The trial of Nine. Clovis
Hugues, for the murder of her traducer, Private
Detective NORM, opened this morning at the
to overfowing, many diplomates and other
persons of distinction being present
During the reading of the Indictment Madame
Clovis Hughes seemed to be affected, but replied
in firm tone to the questions. She admitted
that the shooting was premeditated, and declared
that ever since May 25 she had been resolved to
kill her traducer. The interrogation as regards
the facts leading to the shooting developed moth
ing new.
In the examination Nine. Clovis Hughes de-
clared that she offered NORM to apply for remis-
sion of his sentence if he would retract the cal
umies he had circulated about her. To this offer
NORM only returned an insulting reply. In con-
cluding her statement she said: IF you believe
me guilty, condemn me; if you can understand
the moral tortures have endured, acquit me. "
These words were uttered in firm, energetic
tone She appeared to make favorable i'm
preston on the jury. In reply to remark by
the judges, that the murder was unjustifable,
especially after fifteen months of premeditation,
she said: You would not reason so coolly if you
had suffered as / have" and the prisoner pro
cecded to unfold the unremitting and atrocious
character of the persecution to which she had
been subjected. During the narrative she be-
came very excited.
LATER-Madame Clovis Hugues was acquitted
OF the murder of NORM but condemned to pay
400 francs damages and the costs of the trial.
TIE sCENE IN COURT.
The courtroom during the trial was so
crowded that people sat at the feet of the
judge, something unprecedented in criminal
on other trials in French court Anxious at
tendants upon the case even seated themselves
beneath the tables of the lawyers, so eager were
they to listen to every word of evidence and ar
gument presented to the court. The toilets of
the ladies Of brilliant descriptions, and con-
tributions from gardens and hot-houses
gave the courtroom somewhat the appearance
of conservatory. Madame Hugues admitted
in her testimony that she would have killed
Madame Lenormand, her private agent,
Clerget, but for the fact that both of these per-
sons had said NORM was responsible
for the calumnies which had been
heaped upon her. The presiding Judge, in his
charge, said the cards which had been sent
Madame Hugues were of so indecent a character
as to justify him in preventing them being read
in the courtroom, but they would be laid
before The jury for their consideration.
In the summing up of the evidence an exciting
dialogue occurred between Madame Hugues and
the judge. His honor said NORM did not write
the Objectionable cards which melted Madame
Hughes to the fatal assault upon him. To this
the prisoner insisted they were dictated
by NORM. and challenged anyone to find per-
son who did write them.
Morns mistress, prominent witness, swore
that NORM had only repeated what had been
related to him about the Hugues.
Anatole Forge.a mem mber of the Chamber of Dep.
uties, in addressing the court, was emphatic in
his praise of the action of Madame Hughes, and
80 vehement in his declaration of Endorsement
that the judge considered it his duty to impress
severe rebuke upon the advocate. The
addresses to the jury were of considerable
length, and verdict of acquttal was re-
turned at the late hour of 2 A. NJ. The announce
ment of mot guilty" was the signal for tre-
mendous applause. Popular sympathy for
Madame Hughes was demonstrated by vocifer-
Gus shouts ard cheering.