The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-05-21
DEACON TRIAL.
The Defendant Sentenced to One Years
imprisonment.

The Defendant Sentenced to One Years
imprisonment.
NICE, May 2O.-The trial of Edward P.
Deacon, American, for killing NJ. Abeille,
began this morning. The courtroom was
crowded with prominent people, includ-
ing many ladies of fashion, attired in
elegant costumes. The weather is warm,
and as the crowd sat in the courtroom
the temperature became almost suf1ocat-
ing. This had no effect upon the eager
ness of the ladies, who sat calmly tanning
themselves throughout the session and
paying the closest attention to every
thing said and done. The crowd in the
gallery was composed almost entirely of
members of the aristocratic circles of
Nice. Hardly dozen Americans or
EngHShmen were seen.
Judge Aubertin, President of the Court
of Bench, and Count du Morton, Pro-
cureur of the Republic, represented the
prosecution. Deacon was represented by
Maitre Demange, a celebrated advocate of
the Paris bar; NJ. Coirand, an equally
well-known lawyer of Paris; Frank Pol
lotte of the Nice bar, and Solicitor Bret
of Cannes. The Abeille family, though
not taking part in the proceedings, were
represented by Maitre LairoIle.
AS Deacon was brought into the court
room by the gendarmes all eyes were
directed upon him. Pallor marked his
features. He looked neither to the right
nor to the left, bat concentrated all his at
tention upon the judicial bench. Dea-
con is fifty years Of age, his thin hair
snowy gray. That he was nervous was
betrayed by the frequent spasmodic con-
traction of the eyelidS and mouth. His
voice was firm, however, and in clear
tones, with thorough ease, he responded
through the interpreter to questions
asked him by the Procureur.
Mrs. Deacon, who had been formally
cited to appear, was not present.
On invitation from the President of the
court, Deacon detailed the facts of his
married life, which, he said, was happy
until his wife met Abeille. He then pro-
ceeded to tell the story Of the growing
intimacy between them, his efforts to
have her break with her lover, their fire.
quent quarrels and reconciliations, and
finally his discovery of her in her room
in the Hotel Splendide with Abeille, and
the killing of the latter in what appeared
to be fagrante delictu.
Mrs. Deacon's deposition was read, and
closed thus: Il desire to add that Deacon
is both a mailman and drunkard. For
the sake of my children l desire his ac-
quittal."
After the taking of evidence was con-
Guided a short adjournment was ordered.
Upon resuming the Procurer began his
address to the jury, and after reviewing
the case held that the crime presented
aspects of reconciliation more prominent
than usual in cases of crime actu-
ated by passion. Deacon watched
for and had chosen the hour both to kill
and obtain evidence for divorce, and could
not therefore be allowed acquittal
NJ. Demange followed for Deacon,
after which the President pointed out
what charges the jury had to decide
upon.
The jury returned an affirmative YER
dict on the question Of inficting wounds
resulting in death without intention to
kill, the decision being equivalent to
willful wounding.
a plea was made for a minimum SEN
tence, but the President announced that
he imposed a sentence of one years. i'm
prisonment.