The Forrest City times., 1891-02-20
AROMANCEFROM REAL LIFE.

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 @ I do not blame them. Ware 1 not conversant with the facts I Iwould be skeptical. The records of the criminal courts, however. will prove the unbclevingits truth. seldom 1t Is that circumstances SO run against an innocent man and lead him so near the shadow of the seaffold.
 It was about ' o'clock on the morn ing of May 25, 1872, that Henri Bee, 8 young Frenchman, visited the old city hall and reported that Caroline Prenel an unfortunate Frenchwoman, had been strangled to death in house on Waverly place. was detailed to accompany Bee there, and in conjunc- tion with the coroner made an inves- tigation into the murder. The case was shrouded in mystery. Bee, who occupied an appartment on the upper floor of the house, had found the woman dead in her bedroom when he went down stairs. That she had been strangled was shown by the cruel black marks on her throat. The imprints of the fingers were plainly discernible on the flesh The head and shoulders of the murdered woman were resting on the floor: the limbs on the bed. The front door was aiar when Bee made the discovery. The murderer had used 1t as an avenue of escape,
 Murder Is never committed with out a motive. To find the mo- tive in the case was the first work 1 set about. Bee knew of no one who bore any enmity or ill-will against the deceaseed. If any knew, he should, for he had for years lived with her.
 l searched the room but found noth- ingmissing. Themystery was becoming deeper. The body was removed to tilC h4tA gut etiitt tiiCIe lt NdS iOuIlu that the ears were slightly bruised The ring finger of the left hand was al- so discolored. Could it have been that the woman was murdered for her jewelry? Other women living in the vi- cinity were interviewed. Caroline they said, had a set of earrings and a ring of quartz. The filagree work on the jewelry was odd and they would be able to identify the valuables, having seen them often. The deceased was wearing them the night prior to the murder and should have had them on when found dead, unless they were with her other possessions. The va,u- ahles found i'll thehouse were overhaul ec but the earrings and finger ring were missing. Robbery must then have been the motive for the crime.
 While pursuing my inquiries re eelved information that placed Bee uhder the ban Of suspicion. 1t was sothing strange for him to quarrel with Caroline and beat and choke her The night before the murder he was strangling her. The neighbors heard her cry out "You traitorl you cow ard you are choking me-" He left the house a few minutes after the disturb aice and was seen to return again about midnight, No one saw him leave again and it was he who made the discovery of the murder.
 His quarrel with her in the evening was over money matters. He was short of funds. What more natural than to suspect him of the murder The lewelry was missing and might he haye not robbed her and pawned it. Moreover, he had acted strangely when he notified the neighbors of the murder. One of them wanted to at tempt to revive Caroline, believing that probably she was unconscious and not dead. Bee rudely pushed her to one side and remarked Don't touch her She IS as dead as fish "
 The officer who was on duty on the street that morning was sene for, to see Ii he could throw any light on the murder. He could. He was passing the house about : o'clock in the morning and he heard wordy quar- rel He was positive that Caroline was one of the disputants. The other voice sounded like Bees. Both were speaking French.
 Henri Bee was then taken into GUS tody and charged with murder. When arrested he broke down and wept like a child He again and again protested that he was innocent. But who would believe him. As strong case of clreumstantiai evidence as was ever made out was against him. His previous attempt to choke her, the fact that he was the only one known to be in the house that night and his actions after the discovery of the body were damning. Moreover, when au acquaintance spoke to him about the crime he remarked. 1t was nothing to strange her. A few minutes was all that was required to fix her; she was drunk"
 " hen tne facts were brought before the coroner's jury Bee was charged with murder and few days after he was committed for trial.
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 Reuben H. Lloyd, the attorney, was sitting in his office one afternoon when there was a knock at his door. He opened it and a poorly dressed woman walked is. Raising the heavy vail she wore she asked him if he had time to listen to her. Reckoning her to seat he told her that he was at her command. With many tear she told him of her son, Henri Bee, who, though innocent, she said. was accus- ed of the murder of Caroline Prenel. She wanted him to save her only boy