The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-30
FROM LANDS BEYOND The SEA.
A Young Frenchman With The Face Of a
Saint Commits Murder.
RUDE INTERRUPTION OF 4 LOYE STORY.
Tho Southwestern Railway OF Yenezusla-
An Interesting Meeting of Oriental
Scholars In London.



RoUES, August 29.-The inhabitants Of this
lovely city have been terribly shocked and
their belief in appearances rudely shaken by
O cold-blooded tragedy that has Just taken
place. Adolphe Depinay. bright and hand
some farmer and fayorite with women. had
a face like saint. One peculiarly Of his was
that he was always accompanied by two dogs.
lie never dned without hsring his meal
with them, and people argued that man 80
fond of his pets must be worthy Of their con-
fdence. He worked on farm where
laborer named Mcaud. a big burly fellow,
was engaged TO Matilda. servant on the
farm. Their courtship was smooth until
several days ago laborers were strtle1
on hearing that Matilda had been fond
lying dead IN pool Of blood in the kitchen
with cash across her throat nearly severng
her head from her body aud otherwise natl
lated. Horrified people rushed TO tell Micaud
the news. To their amazement he was not
on the farm. having gone away for the night.
Suspicion fell at once upon Micaud. Women
contrasted the unfortunate fate with the
happy one which might have been Matildas
if instead of Micaud she had only loved
Adolphe. There was not the slightest shadow
Of suspicion against him. On the contrary,
everybody seemed TO be kind TO him, rs he
appeared shocked. 1t was noticed that there
was blood on the trousers which 9epinay wore
when he went 70 work early on the morning
before the murder was discovered he was
questioned as TO how it came there. lie an
swered in an earnest manner that horse IN
his care had cut himself aud blood had thus
got on him.
The horse was looked at and sure enough
there was a cut Shortly after this came news
of murder. On the body being removed q
knife was found by it. and when examined
was found to belong to Depinay. lie was
sent for and asked 10 explain this fact. when
he answered in tone emlnently framed TO
avert suspicion, while horror was depicted on
his countenance, that as he had lent his knife
10 the master to kill some chickens he sup
posed the blood smeared the handle. This
seemed TO show that Micaud must have come
to the house when everybody was asleep,
hence this fact with his mysterious disap
pearance. was accepted as absolute evidence
that he was the assassin.
The indignation and hatred of the labOrers
rose 10 fever heat and they determined TO
scour the neighborhOod TO find Micaud and
hand him over TO justice. Micaud was dis
covered, but he had not the slightest trouble
IN proving an alibl. Evidence which before
had seemed blacker than Erebus against him
now rolled completely away. He answered
every question that was asked and produced
proof of the truth of what he said What
had apparently entangled him now began TO
weave itself around Depinay. He was ar
rested Little incidents which nobody had
before attached any attention TO now began
10 be told
One Of Matthias friends said she hal noticed
how Adolphe often talked IN his soft, insinu-
atiug way 10 8iat,ria ahd ii tnao was not
known TO be his habitual manner In talking TO
women she would have believed he was try
ing TO make love TO her: yet Matilda. while
always pleasant 10 him. was constant to
Mcaud She had repeatedly refused 10 ac-
company Adolphe on walks. Even the night
before she was murdered she would not 20
out with him. General impression prevails
that Adolphe had gone 10 the girls room.
when she refused TO comply with his ne
fariOus request and there no killed her
Several neighboring farm girls have been
murdered Just the same way, and the unani-
nous belief is that the handsome young
Frenchman with the spiritual face is muir
derer Of the deepest dye. The feeling to-
wards Depinay s now completely reversed
People are wild with anger at the way that
they have been deceived, and the affection in
which Depinay was held is turned to bitterest
hatred. which will know no abatement until
the guillotine ayenges his crime.