Omaha daily bee., 1889-11-03
Youthful Dopravity as Developed at
a Trial In Paris.
COOL AND coLLEcTeoiN COURT
Emile Zola Acts in the Capacity OF a
Juror In the Case-A Day
With the eMatadors- Other
Partisan Newsi
At the Erencn CnnitaI.


ing up for the winter. and Friday LIE Jour
des Morte was celebrated by at least two
hundred thousand Parisians of every strata
of society, going out to Pere la Chaise clad
in ashen gray or black and depositing
wreaths on the tombs of some loved one
Statistics published by the minister of the
interior show that crimes of violence, MUIR
ders and attacks in tho public streets are
increasing with startling rapidity, although
thefts, robbery and rapes show heavy
falling off.
Youthful criminals are becoming more
and more frequent and the case of young
George Kaps, wherein Emile Zola was
juryman, attracted the attention of
Paris for twenty-four hours. When George
Kaps was but thirteen he made his debut in
the criminal arena, taking the highest
honors with a sensational murder that would
have done credit to the most experienced
hand. One morning in December, 1884, an
aged compositor, Vincard, was found lying
dead on the floor of his garret. He had first
been strangled and then his head split open
with hatchet. Suspicion pointed to young
Kaps and a companion of his own age, who
were arrested, but as nothing definite could
be proven against them they were set at
liberty. 1t is now known that Kaps and his
comrade committed this CRIME for the pur-
pose of robbing their victim, and that
francs was all they gotby 1t. Kaps speedily
blossomed out into the most renowned squire
of danes in his quarter. Leontine Drien
was the name of his brightest and most par
ticular star, and to her George one day ad-
mitted that it was he who killed Vincard.
Shortly afterwards he regretted having
taken her into his confidence, and threatened
to show her no mercy did she make any sign
of hsnding over the secret to the police.
Finally, acting on the principle that dead
people tell no tales" he determined to bury
his secret in the grave. On March 10 last
Kaps SHOT Leontine through the head with
revolver as she was sleeping. The young
murderer gave himself up to the police, al
leging that the motive of his crime was
jealousy On cross examination, however,
he was fain to admit the reason for the mur-
der, as owning that he committed the sec
ond crime to save himself from the conse-
quences of the first. Even after his impris-
onment the lads lust for blood showed itself
in an attempt to murder psople under the
very eyes of the judge who was gong
into his case. Mile. de Emma Huaid,
witness against the prisoner, was attacked
by him with bed screw she was giving
her evidence and severely wounded ere help
could be given. On second occasion Kaps
seized brass candlestick from the mantel-
piece and hurled it at the municipal guard
who was in chair back of him and against
whom he had long standing grudge. Gull
lotte himself, the judge of instruction, was
frequently threatened by his young prisoner
if he ever had the good chance to meet the
magistrate man TO man. Such Is the career
of this precocious youth who yesterday occu-
pied his place in the dock as composedly and
in fact as proudly as If it were the chariot of
an old Roman commander returning
triumphant from brilliant cam
pagn. His responses were short and
incisIve He was evidently posing for the
audience.
"You have been an idle vagabond all your
life" SAID the judge.
Correct"
cat thirteen your father had you sent to
the house of correction"
Exactly"
"You have been condemned four times aud
forbidden the department of the Seine"
''Perfectly."
"You quarreled frequently with Leontlne
Driep. Whyl"
"The reason is too delicate to be mentioned
in public.''
AS lie confessed himself guilty Of the two
murders with which he was charged, and as
the evidence against him was conclusive, the
Jury speedily returned with unanimous
verdict of guilty.
When the sentence of death had been pro-
nounced Kaps bowed to the judge affection
ately and SAID, "Thank you," and left the
dock en- route for Loroquette.
f,;,
listened attentively to the counsel and jotted
down points every few minutes in his vo-
luminous notebook. He watched the young
prisoner most scrutinlzingly.
Who knows but that perhaps Kaps will
crop up in one of Zola's novels for fau-
teuie IN the academy left vacant by the
death of Emile Augier. There are many
candidates, and Retheuiet, who obtained a
good number of votes at the last election,
will try again, and the names Of Emile zola.
Francosque, Sarcey, Eugene Mannueil,
Emile Bergeratt and Henry Becque are also
mentioned as those of candidates among
whom the academy's choice will be made
Henry d'Bornieer, author of "Mahomet," /"
stands a good chance of succeeding the late
immortal in the event of the production of
his play being success. The election will
not, however, take place for SIX months to
come.
4The vast arena OF the Rue Pergoulese con-
tinues TO be the favorite afternoon rendezvous
of all Paris cavaliers in the place. Aldred
Tiuoco and Luis Do Rego score great sue
cess as they wheel and pirouet with graceful
audaclty and perfect horsemanship in front
of bull and stick their parti-colored iavellns
in the animals neck. Rafael Guerrlta,
dashing Matador of twenty-seven, Is q
great favorite and is enthusiastically ap-
plauded, especially by the women, as he
calmly kneels before the bull aud tosses
handfuls of sand into his ears' Another
favorite trick of Guerrita is to stand within
a yard of the infuriated animal and con-
temptuously tickle his nose with the point Of
his foot. Very graceful and very plucky is
Guerrita, and it is hoped that his experience
with the protected horns OF bulls in the
| grand plaza OF the Rue Peregoulese will not
| induce him to undue rashness
with the older and more persis t.
| ent bulls of the Spanish arena. The
| Course de Taureaux take 1t all in all, IS one
Of the best sights to be seen in Paris There
is something fascinating about this graceful
sport that especially appears to the beau
sexe, who always put in a strong appear
ance at every performance. The American