Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-23
1HE DEACON DISGRACE
The Superior Court Decides in Favor
Of Mrs. Deacon.
MANY DISREPUTABLE SCHEMES
Worked by the Abieles and the
Friends Of Mrs. Deacon to
Blacken the Already Muddy
Character of Mr.. Deacon-Vic-
tor Hugo Writes an Article for
Money That Contradicts For
mer Position.

PARIS. November 22.-The first chamber
of the Court of Appeal to-day handed
down its decision in the Deacon case.
Judgment was given for Mrs. Deacon, and
il was ordered that the child Gladys be re-
turned to a convent, where both Mr.. and
Mrs. Deacon shall be allowed TO VISIT her.
MIR. Deacon was ordered to pay the costs.
Mr.. Deacon stated to-day that the latest
offer made to him by his wife's lawyers
was that she would not oppose an appllca-
tion Uy him TO the court for an absolute
divorce; that she would surrender all the
children to him and at once drop the name
of Deacon. MIR. Deacon says he would
gladly accept a compromise IN order 10
spare his wife the ignomy in standing IN
the dock at AK, and would allow her 70
keep the baby so long as she led moral
life but he doubts whether she would keep
her word. Possibly an arrangement Will
be effected before December 5. when the
case opens at AK.
Mrs. Deacon's brother has written let
ter to the representative Of the Associated
Press, stating that under the ADVICE OF ner
LAWYERS, his sister has never since the be-
ginning of the unhappy affair said any
thing to either the American or French
press. Mr.. Deacon, on the contrary, has
never ceased receiving reporters and has
paid certain journalists TO publish garoIed
accounts of the affair. He has also sue
ceeded in closing the papers against MS
wife and her friends, Her silence and his
unscrupulous loquacity have blackened
her character on both sides OF the Atlantic
The brother adds:
"Hence it is that l speak for the first
time. If l were 10 relate the cases oil ms
cruelty to my sister, his drunken acts, his
insults 10 her friends and his conduct
- ba. ryir / tryOnl6 o.
uuire columns. My family have persuaded
her to bear all rather than TO make public
her domestic troubles. Mr.. Deacon is con-
vinced that she will demand divorce
sooner or later, and he is determined to
prevent her from getting one in her favor.
Herein lies the real cause of the shooting OF
Abeille, Deacon wishing TO nix upon his
wife the stigma of adultery. A few days
before the tragedy Mr.. Deacon opened a
drawer in his wife's desk and destroyed all
the letters he wrote to her from America
that were likely to hurt his cause, careful
ly leaving those of friendly nature. he
is now bent on doing all he can 10 destroy
herr
The charges made against Mr.. Deacon
are denied by his friends.
1t will be recalled that while the killing
of Abeille was being discussed in the
French papers, an article by NJ. Alexander
Dumas appeared in one Of the journals de-
claring that Mr. Deacon had no right to
kill his wife's paramour, even though he
caught the couple in fldgrdnte deltctu.
This opinion was directly contrary TO the
one he had expressed in one Of his famous
novels. in which he advised the husband
who caught his wife III sin to tue les (klll
them.
This expression had become famous, and
was regularly quoted as palliative for
murderous revenge. It's asserted from
well informed quarters that M. Dumas
change of opinion was brought about not
by revolution in his mind regarding the
crime, but by the iudicious use OF money
by the Abielle family.
1t is said that he received the sum OF
%. 600 francs for writing the article, and
that the money was paid to him through
Maitre Leon Renault The large influence
of the Abeille family is used in every di-
rection for Mrs. Deacon, and they will do
everything TO save her from the conse-
ouences Of the action her husband has
brought against her for her criminal rela-
tions with Abeille.
Should Mrs. Deacon be found guilty of
this charge she would be liable to i'm
prisonment or fine, or both. With refer
ence to the charge against Mr.. Deacon
that he subsidized certain journals, cur
rent rumor has it that the Abeille family
spent 900 francs in procuring articles
hostile to him to be published in French
newspapers.
The real explanation Of Mrs. Deacon in
bringing a divorce action is that she is
being used as a tool by the Aoeille family.
The Abeilles care nothing for her, but so
long as they can use her to annoy Mr..
Deacon they will do so.