The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-21
Guilty of "Premeditated Wounding,"
but Not of "Premeditated Killing"
The Judge at Once Sentences Edward Par.
ker Deacon, the Ex-Banker Of Boston, to
Serve One Year in French Prison.
Strong Evidence introduced at the Trial
to Show that Mrs. Deacon Was Guilty.
Her Manner of Meeting Her Paramour Res
lated by Hsr Maid and 0thers-Ths Scene
in the Rom the Night Of the Tragedy.
DEACON WILL GO TO PRISON.

DEACON WILL GO TO PRISON.
Convicted of wounding NJ Abeilie, His Wife's
Psramour-Testimony at the Trial.
NICE, May 20.-Edward Parker Deacon
the ex-banker of Boston. was to-day con{
victed of the premedItated wounding OF
NJ. Abeille. and was sentenced to ORD
years imprisonment. The trial opened
to-day before the Assize Court Of
he Alpes Maritimes. The courtroom 10 q
small oblong hall. more like q corridor than
the place Of the holding of court of justice
in q populous district. The room might,
hold $50 persons if IL was crammed to its
fullest capacity. At an early hour the
slum-like alley leading to the Pslaise Do
Justice presented o considerably livelief
appearance than usual. The case has
naturally excited the greatest Inc
terest among all classes Of in-s
habissnts. as many French newspapers
have taken occasion TO attack Mr.. Deacon
solely because he is an American. When
the doors were opened the courtroom was
soon filled with those who were fortunate
enough to procure tickeIs of admission.
The benches in the gallery. OF the emo of the
hall, were occupied by women attired in fine
raiment- The weather was warm. and the
place soon became almost suffocatIng. This
drawback had no effect upon the eagerness
Of the women to listen to the proceeds
ings They sat calmly tanning themselves
throughout the session. paying the closest
attention TO everything said and done
The crowd in the gallery was composed,
almost entirely of members of the arissl
tocratio circles Of Nice.
The proceedings opened at twenty min,
utes past with Judge Aburetin, presis
dent of the court, on the bench. The Count
Du Moiron, procureur of the republic,
represented the prosecution. Mr.. Deacon
was represented by Maitre de Mango. q
LIBERATED advocate of the Paris bar, NJ.
Golrand. an equally we'll known lawyer OF
Paris; Frank Pilotte, of the Nice bar. and
solicitor Bret. of Cannes. The Abeille family
though not taking any part in the proceeds
ings, was represented by Maitre Lairolle.
Mr.. Deacon was brought into the court
room by two gen-darmes, who escorted him
to the prisoners bench and then took up
their position. one on each side of him
AS he entered the room all eyes were di-
rected upon him. The stories that have
long been current rs 20 his indifference
over the killing, or as to the result of his
trial. were belied by his aspect.
A pallor. caused either by anxiety or Ill
health. marked his features. He looked
neither TO the right nor toy.he left. but cone
centrated all his attention upon the Ju-
dicial bench. He was dressed In black
coat, black vest and plain dark tweed
trousers. MIR. Deacon is about fifty years
old. He is tall aud his thin hair is show
ing gray about, the temples. That he was
nervous was betrayed by the frequent
spasmodic contraction of his eyelids and
his mouth. His voice was firm. however.
and in clear tones and with thorough ease
he responded in perfect French TO the
questions asked him by the procureur.
Mrs Deacon. who had been formally
cited to appear. was not present All the
other witnesses replied as their names
were called by the clerk of the court. NJ.
Gritfier read the acte d'accusation. Tho
jury from the very outset paid marked at
tcntion TO the evidence. 1t was purely q
Nice jury, composed of tradesmen and q
few petty landowners, but they were men
Of fair intelligence.
Mr.. DEAcoN's TESTIMONY.
Mr.. Deacon. on the invitation of the pres,
ident of the court. reoounted his relations,
with his wife from their marriage until
1850. Their life. he said. was happy
until they made the acquaintance of
Abeille. That was in 1887 Abeille's visits
to the Deacon home were at first rare. but
they subsequently became so frequent that
he objected. Finally these visits led to the
breaking of the happy domestic relations
that had heretofore existed between him.
self and wife. AS the questioning was con-
tInued, Mr.. Deacon made bad breaks In his
French and bis language became less ac-.
curate. The court thought il better TO se-.
cure an interpreter. and thereafter Mn
Deacon gave his evidence in English.
Continuing his testimony he said that
after his suspicious were aroused violent
scenes between himself and his wife be-
came frequent. His mother-in law and
Drother-in-law were informed as TO thef
state of affairs. They SAID that jealousy
was at the bottom of the trouble, and
counseled moderation.
Acting on their advice he renewed his
amicable relations with Mrs. Deacon. but,
ct the same time. he resolved to watch her
closely. About this time the family physi-
clan advised him TO 60 to Homburg He
was suffering from Inflammation Of the
stomach. Mrs. Deacon started for St Nor
itz at the same time. While Mr.. Deacon
was at Hombure he received an anony.
nous letter, stating that Abeille was with
his wife. Mr.. Deacon wrote to her from
Homburg saying that she must cease all
acquaintance with Abeille. Although he
then had no doubt as to his wife's fidelity.
tolerate. He wrote Mrs. Deacon that she
must choose between himself and Abeille
or let him Mr.. Deaconl have a divorce.
Mr.. Deacon promised TO be good, loving
husband, but insisted that she must break
off her relations with Abeille.
Mrs. Deacon made no reply TO this letter
for ten days. Then she wrote that she had
taken time TO consider the contents of his
responsible for the presence of Abeille ae
ST. MoritZ. Her nervous system. she
added. was too much affected by Ma
Deseon's tyrannical conduct, and she
could no longer stand il. She concluded
her letter by declaring that her husband
could send the police or do whatever else
he liked. In another letter Mrs. Deacon
said that she could not stand such insults
as her husband offered her, and that all re-
lstioDs between them should cease.
Thenceforth. she said. they would only
communicate with each other through her
lawyer. She added that MIR. Deacon had
in the meantime better 60 TO the United
States and give her repose. Mrs. Deacon
knew that her husband had TO 90 TO the
United States at about this time on mat
ters OF business In reply 10 this letter
Mr.. Deacon wrote that he would like TO
see her In Geneva before be started for the
United States. Her reply to this was that
she was very nervous. and that it would
be better for them both not 10 meet Then
Mr.. Deacon sent telegram stating that he
was going to st. Moritz To see her, but q
reply came TO this telegram that Mrs
| Deacon was on the point of leaving ST.
Moritz with Countess Do Grammont for
the lakes.
Mr. Deacon then went TO Genoa. where
he heard from hotel people at Grisons.
Switzerland, that Mrs. Deacon and Abeills
had been there. and left together. Later,
| the wife Joined him in Geneva, and by her
| talk and that of her friends Deacon be-
came convinced that there had been no
evil done agains. his honor. and he apollo