Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1886-08-26

ted by Mime. Seasons maid when
she was cleverly captured on the street
and removed TO the Office OF the ludge
OF instruction, that Mime. Sasson had
KEY to the garden and the side door
of the house and that she had been
absent from her sisters house for two
hours, between $50 and ll:3o on
the night of October 22d.
Everything being thus clear, Mime.
Sasson was arrested and charged with
the crime OF murder. Mime. Sasson
denied the accusation and told the
story as the reader has it before him,
emitting the episode OF the pistol.
'tDo you remember going TO the
bureau in the library before you lett
the house on October 22d?" the judge
of instruction asked her.
eyes, do"
f'You took a revolver out OF the
bureau, and You haven't mentione5
the fact
81 did, but / retained from saying
ANYTHING about it because | did not
wish to have to say that | was afraid
my husband might shoot one or the
other of us
"What did you do with the pistol?"
81 put it behind vase on the man
telpiece in my husbands apartment,
intending to remove it, but l forgot
it,"
In consultation afterward the Judge
said to Coupe, a detective:
"rhis woman does not talk or look
like guilty person. IL sheis not guli-
ty-and, mark you, she has Just the
sum of money she says she went Tor
to her boudoir, and the missing watch
has not been found near her nor about
her-if she is not the assassin. how
came the murderer to find the pistol
hidden behind the vase? You have
seen the vase, and know just how
and where she laid it. Is it possible
that any one whom Nine. Sasson left
behind her did the deed?"
This suggestion put the detective on
line of inquiry, and he pursued 1t
with vigor, bat found no clew. Mime.
Sasson was convicted OF the killing oil
her husband and sentenced to fifteen
years Imprisonment.
Jean Chauban, the former valet oil
Mons. Sasson, assumed the name oil
Roumaine, and opened wine shop IN
the Rue Grouse, near the Boise de
Boulogne Six months after Nine.
Seasons conviction, in the Spring oil
1856, Detective Coupe was loOkingfo
a wandering swindler who had cheated
several charitable ladies in the sub.
urbs of the city. In his wanderings
Coupe d. opped into the wine shop oil
Jean Roumaine, and was soon on
friendly terms with that gentleman;
for he Immediately identified him,
deliberately transformed as he was, as
Mons. SEASONS former valet, whom
he had watched for a month, in vari-
Gus DISCUSSES, to see whether he could
connect him with the crime Of October
22d.
Mons. Roumaine had splendid
gold chain on his vest, and Coupe
asked him the time. He pulled out
the elegant repeater which Coupe had
no hesitation in saying exactly an
swered the description of the watch
stolen from Mons. Sasson when he was
murdered.
"a fine watch" said the officer.
"Yes-a present from a dead friend"
answered Roumaine.
"Ah, very precious. no doubt" said
the officer.
"a sad remembrance" was the
reply, with an assumed look ofsorrow.
II once knew a gentleman who had
a watch just like that" said the de-
tectiye, land, strange to say, he is
dead also"
"a coincidence" said the valet.
won't monsieur drink"
Thanks" was the reply. 1t is q
strange coincidence, and would you
believe it, my friend was murdered.
Why, monsieur, what is the matter
with you? Was your friend murdered
also?
: mo, no, not that, monsieur" was
the answer; ''but your words startled
me. Murder, you see, is such a dread
full thing, and one never knows, in this
great city, who he has near him."
THAT is very true, said the officer,
"my poor friend, for instance, didn't
know. Listen, it is very strange.
The Jury said that my friend was
muir 1ered by his wIfe-think of that,
but l say he was murdered by his
valet"
Roumaine, pale as aghost, was star
ing with alarmed gaze right at the Of
icer, and clinging with both hands to
the counter.
LET us drink" said the officer, APP
parently not noticing the state in
which Roumaine was. Coupe filled
his glass with brandy, and Roumaine
did the same.
You feel strong and refreshed?"
asked the officer. just so; now, il
you please, you will put on your coat
and come along with me, Jean Chau-
ban; for you're wanted for the murder
of Mons. Sasson."
As Coupe covered the man with his
revolver at the moment he uttered
these words, there was no help for
him. Quietly and without any show
of resistance, Roumaine went with the
officer. The watch in his possession,
the money which he had invested in
the wine shop, were evidence against
him. and at length he broke down and
confessed his guilt.
P 81 saw madame quitting her bou-
doir on the night of October 22d and
followed her to the garden. saw her
leave the door ajar and 60 out by
iiie SttTuell. III dL once SITuCh HE IElaG
here was a good chance to rob my
master and lay it to his wife. After
she and the children had quilted the
house l searched for the pistol
and found it behind the vase. Aft
er | was sure that monsieur
was fast asleep l got the revol-
yer and went to his room. He had
drunk heavily before retiring, but to
my surprise he awoke as / was rum
maging the wardrobe. He cried
Thieves" and was about to get out
of bed, when fired and he fell back
dead. Then | gathered all the plum
der | could and hid it away . | did not
volunteer too much information dur
ing DEMONSTRATION, because thought
the evidence would convict Nine.
Sasson without much say on my
part"
1t is needless to say that Mime. Sas-
son was released and Jean Chauban
sent to the gallows.