The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-21
ONE YEAR In PRISON
Sentence Of the French Court
on Banker Deacon.
THE TRIAL A SOCIETY EVENT.


for killing his uifes psramour, y. AbeisIe, be-
gan this morning. The courtroom was crowded
with prominent people. Including many ladies'
of fashion attired In elegant costumes. 1he
weather warm and rs the crowd ga. in the
courtroom th9 temperature became almost
suifocaiing. This Rad no effect upon the eager
ness of the ladies, who sat calmly tanning them
selves Throughout tho session, paying the closest
attention to everything that was said and doae
The crowd in the gallery was composed al most
entirely of members of the aristocracy of Sice.
Herdly d dozen Americans or English
men were seen Judge Aubertin. presi-
dent OF the court, was on ths bench.
Count du .oiron, procureur of tho republic,
represented the prosecution. Deacon was rep.
resented by Naitre de Mango the celebrated
advocate Of the Paris bsr, and 81. Gorand. an
equally weil-known lawyer OF Paris, Frank
Piliotte, Of the Nice bar. and Solicitor Bret, Of
Cannes. Achilles family, though not taking
part Ia tho proceedings, were represented by
Matrs Lsirolle.
As Deacon was brought into the courtroom
b. the gendarmes, all eyes were directed upon
him Pnior marked his features. lie looked
neither To the right nor the left, but concen-
tratef all his attention upon the judicial bench.
Deacon Is 20 years OF age and has thin hair,
showing gray. That he was nervous was be-
traysd by freQuep. spesmodic contrac-
tons OF the eyeiis and the mouth.
Very 0rm. however, aud in clear
tones with thorough ease no responded
through interpreter To the questions
sssed him by the procuTeur. Mrs. Deacon, who
had been formally cited TO appear, was not
present; On invitation from the president Of
the court, Deacon detail led the facts Of his mar
ried lie. which, he said, was happy until his
wife met hoeiiie. Then he proceeded to tell
the story oil the growing init macy between
them: his efforts TO have her break with her
1orer; their frequent quArrels and reconcile
etions, aad finally his discovery of her inn
nightdress in room at the Hotel Splendide
with Abetllc. md bis killing Of tho latter In
what appeared to bo fragrant delictu. Mrs. Dea-
cons deposition Yves read. closing TINS: 81
desire 20 add that Deacon is both madman and
drnnkard. but for the sake oi nay children de-
sire his ncauit'al."
Mrs. Deacons deposition was evidently pre-
pared with hostile spirit Deacon the
stand told of doubts aud wrangles between
himself and his wife; supicions, employ
ment Of detectives without precise results, di-
vorco talk between the pair and the details pre-
ceding tho fnai tragedy which closed the mari
tai relations. He vent to GenCa, and here Mrs.
Deacon ard Abeiiie had been and had left
together. Later his wife Joined him IN Geneva,
md he became convinced that no evil had been
dono against his honor, and he apologized 10
his wife for the sccuEations he had
madc. reconciliation followed, ard the
family weat to AK, whence Deacon
vent 10 America. Returning in December,
1891. he found Abctlle paying daily visits 10 his
wife. lie employed detectives, one of whom
reported Hrs Deacon to bo meeting Abeille
ut a house 81 aasignation. Trouble arose
between the two Both desired \ divorce. and
when Mrs. Deacon learned that detectives were
watching her she became highly incensed.
Deacon proceeded TO relate the incidents
curing At Cannes February II. the date Of
tho shooting. lie stated that toward midnight,
upon returning 20 his room at hotel Splendide
he was seized with suspicious regarding his
wife, who occupied n room the floor below.
lie went to the door of her room, listened
ard believed he recognized the voice of
Ahoilic. He returned TO his own room
and procured revolver. Then no begged
the secretary Of the hotel To accompany him TO
his wifes room On arriving there Deacon
Knocked on the door. Forcing his way
into tho saloon, he saw, just above the
back OF the sofa. head at which
be fred three times. then pushed the sofa aside
and recognized Abe.iie. Continuing. Deacon
said:
had no intention or desire to kill him. When
sew the little nan wounded, felt grieved, for
n man having conscience must always regret
Killing another.
The audience greeted this statement with au-
rlauso. ResuTing his testimony Deacon al
luded In numerous letters Mra. Deacon
had written him since the tragedy.
Tie president asked If she wrote
on May 3, asking the witness pardon for the
sake OF her children. Deacon replied he had
received repeated loving letters from her written
In that sense, but that there was no question
81 reconciliation between them He had al-
ready commenced action for divorce
u was stated By Deacons counsel, In aIiut-
Ing TO the caiumnlcs ieveisd at the accused.
alleging that he proflted by Abelles money.
TINT Mrs. Deacon had obtained from her banker
9 o. fhu M
her husband had giyon her 69,0OO francs during
the same time
Upon the reaSsenbling of the court after
iunrh' dgs. pehcons deposition was read. II
ofe9e4 with the events OF February. Mrs.
Deacon deposed follows:
Aae''ls eane TO see me at 1880 o'clock in tho
eFc Ins met him in the salon alone. About
i % O'Clock rny husband Knocked violently
81 she door, crying. "Opcni / know there
j. some one vita YOU" liz - carlIc
searched tho room, then ext.uguisacd tie
candle, bat he rslt it quickly. From
Ioon. whore Abei,Ie had hidden ieh.nd
soia To avoid my husband. seeing
the latter hal not suthorzei mo
and fired three times, then went away
only after showing a disposition To enter tho
room whore tho victim was carried in or,ier to
attack him aEgiu hrd on blue robe dc
cEambTe, not n robe dc nuit. rs reported!
imra pco1at. the maid of Mrs. Deacon, testi-
flcd as "a tho occurrences on the night of the
shooting she said
lquit'ed my mistress a. lo:t5 O'Clock. after
finishing her night toilet. She wore n robe
oe chamhre, warmly lined, under which was
only her Night dress. When left
Ter she was alone. Three quarters Of an hour
later / was called by Mr.. Deacon.
who ordered me 70 attend Ahcille, Who
Lad been wounded bv her husband
raised his head and asked hir, If he was haiIv
wounded. aud he replied teebiy; al have Ihgee
bullets"
Witness aidsd that when she left Absille %
tire. Mrs. Deacon vas dressed as she had been
when The witness le her.
In the cross-cSa satnatiOn the witness said
when Aheijle dined with Mrs Deacon she a.
ways told Deacon she was going 10 take dinner
elsewhere
Ms. Deacon aud she Yves certainly clad IN a
catered she PIT OF = hluo robe, Upon
entering the room Deacon had a short
struggle with his wife, during which
Abellie ran into tho saloon and | took refuge
teh'u3 the SOFA, where Deacon fred at him
nescoa returned 70 his wiie's bed
room aad asked the witness - note
In his wttes bed the impressions of
the bodies Of two persons Witness remarked
the impressions o. both pillows. The procuror
severely criticised tie secretary declaring he as
sumed moral responsibility which most men
would rather avoid
Garen de IapslX, who vas the next witness,
satd re mad not remarked the impressions on
TIE pillows or the bcd sufficiently 70 determine
whether one ~ two persons had been in bed
Tie bC1eiothos were thrown back a. Il some
loay hal !ust risen. lie passed his hands over
the bed and /: fe.t warm Mrs
paacou's butler sisted tAat ANeiIie
watched froIn carriage pescoa's lesy .ag