The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-02-25
TRAGEDY IN HIGH LIFE.
Edward Deacon, OF Boston, Shoots His
Wife's Paramour at Cannes, France
All the Parties Well Known in the
United States.

Edward Deacon, OF Boston, Shoots HIS
wife's Paramour at Cannes, France
All the Parties Well Known in the
United States.
CANNES, Feb. 19.-Intense excite
ment was caused in the large Amer
lean colony here Thursday by the an
nouncement that one of the most prom
inent visitors at this place, Mr.. Edward
Parker Deacon, a native of the United
States, had shot and killed a French
man named Abeille. 1t was a case
where a man had avenged to the death
the disgrace and infamy brought upon
himself and his children by his wife
and her lover. Mr.. Deacon and his
wife had been sojourning for some
time at the Hotel Splendide. With
them were their four children.
Mr. Deacon suspected that his wife
was indiscreet with NJ. Abeille, who
was connected with the diplomatic
service. Wednesday night Mr.. Deacon
gained positive knowledge that his
wife had disgraced him. He decided to
slay Abeil:e and procee ded to an ad-
joining room which opened from
tina, in which his wife slept and there
discovered NJ. Abeille crouching down
behind a chair. Mr.. Deacon leveled
his revolver and fred three shots Two
shots struck BELLE, one taking effect
in his arm and the other in his chest.
Abeille soon died. Mr.. Deacon was
arrested.
Another report of the affair has it
that Mr.. Deacon had gone up to Paris,
but returned suddenly, and that after
exchanging a few words with the hotel
porter on duty he went straight to his
wife's bedroom. Mrs. Deacon, it ap-
pears, had no idea that her husband
would return so soon. She had parted
with him on the understanding that he
was going to Paris for some days.
Rumor has it that Mr. Deacon's un-
expected return to Cannes was caused
by the receipt of an anonymous letter,
said to have been written by a jealous
woman. who notified the American
banker thatif he returned to the Hotel
Splendde at a certain hour without
giving his wife warning he would un-
daubtedly find her in a compromising
position with one of his best friends.
When Mr.. Deacon burst into his
wife's bedroom he found, the story has
it, his wife in bed and NJ. Abeille
standing by her bedside. Mr.. Deacon
bitterly reproached his wife, while he
kept NJ. Abeille covered under the
barrel of a pistol which he held at the
Frenchman's breast.
After having reproached his wife,
who moaned with terror and crawled
from the bed. fell on her knees and
piteously imp.ored him to forgive her,
the American is then said to have
turned his wr;dl upon NJ. Abeille, who
had professed the utmost friendship for
the man he had deceived and who had
thus been able to work himself
into the confidence of the too confiding
husband. After hurting some bitter,
contemptuous words at NJ. Abeille, Mr..
Deacon fred three shots at the French
man, who screamed with agony and
fell back and died on the mat in front
of the bed.
Mr.. Deacon, after gazing for mo-
ment at the lifeless body of his wife's
lover, is said to have turned once more
to his wife, who was shivering and
trem bling on her knees close to the
spot where her lover lay, and to have
said in substance: have a
mind to kill you as l have killed
that dog. killing is too good for you;
you shall be reserved for worse fate;
you shall live to have the finger of
scorn pointed at you during the rest of
your life. Never let me see your de-
ceitful face again" Mrs. Deacon at
these words gave shrek and fell fiat
on her face.
1t was evident from the first that
Mr.. Deacon had the sympathy of
every body in and about the hotel,
and even of the police officers
who called to interfere with him,
for he was allowed to pass
the rest of the night at the hotel
without being taken into custody,
and he could have escaped with ease
had he so desired. Mr.. Deacon, after
shooting M. Abeille, is reported to have
sent several caole messages to the
United States and to Paris and to have
quietly submitted to arrest.
The Deacons, or at least Mr.. Deacon,
came from Boston, where they have
wealthy and influential relatives. Mr..
Deacon had lived abroad for about tif-
teen years off and on. His wife is a
daughter of the late Admiral Baldwin,
and is wealthy woman in her own
right.
In Boston, New York, Newport,
Saratoga and other fashionable places
in the United States Mr.. and Mrs.
Deacon moved in the very best circles.
They seem to have paid frequent visits
to the United States although they
lived in Europe, and last summer had a
house at Newport, where they enter
tanned handsomely.
NJ. Abeille had krown the Deacons
for long time. Mr.. Deacon will prob
ably not long remain in the custody OF
the police. lie is treated with the ut
most consideration, and it is reported
that the United States minister, Hon
Whitelaw Reid, has taken persona
interest in the case and that he is doing
everything possible for Mr.. Deacon.