Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1892-05-26
ONE YEAR FOR DEACON.
Arraisned for the Murder of Nj. Abeille,
the Frenchman.


of his trial.
NICE, May o0.-The trial Of Edward
! Parker Deacon, who is charged with
manslaughter for the killing Of NJ.
Abeille, opened to-day before the
assize court of the Alpes Maritimes
| The courtroom is small oblong hall,
more like a corridor than a court OF
justice in populous district. The room
might hold $50 persons if it was
crammed to it's fullest capacity.
At an early hour the slum-like
alley leading to the palais de
justice presented a consider ably livelier
appearance than usual. The case has
naturally excited the greatest int rest
among all classes of inhabitants, las many
French newspapers have taken occa-
sion to attack Mr.. Deacon, solely be-
cause he is an American. A large crowd
of the residents of Nice gathered about
the palais de justice, while the doors
leading to the courtroom were blocked
by those who had been lucky enough to
secure tickets of admission. These
tickets were all at the disposal Of the
president of the court, and the demand
for them for long time past, IN fact
ever since the date Of the trial has
been fixed, has been something extra
ordinary. The French Journalists were
particularly anxious to be present to
! hear and report the proceedings, ane
large number of them occupied seats at
q table between the seats where the &C
cused and bis counsel sat and the jury
box.
Mr.. Deacon was brought into the
courtroom by two geLdarnes, who es-
corted him to the prisoners bench and
took up their position one on each size
of him. AS he entered the room all
eyes were directed upon him. The
stories that have long been current as to
his Indifference over the killing, or as to
the results Of his trial, were belied by
his aspect. A pallor, caused either by
anxiety or 1ll-kealth, marked his feat
ures. He looked neither right nor left,
but concentrated all his atten-
ton upon the judicial bench.
He was dressed in black coat,
| black vest and plain dark tweed trous-
ers. Mr.. Deacon is about so years old.
| He is tall and his thin hair is showing
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, how
ever, and in clear tones and with thor
ough 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 re-
piled as their names were called by the
clerk Of the court. NJ. Gritfer read the
acte accusation. The jury from the
very outset paid marked attention to
the evidence. 1t WAS purely Nice
Jury, composed Of tradesmen in the
city and few petty landowners, but
they we're men OF fair intelligence.
Mr.. Deacon, on the invitation of the
president of the court, recounted his
relations with his wife from their mar
rage until 1890. Their life, he said,
was happy one 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 himself and
his wife. AS the questioning was con-
tinued Mr.. Deacon made bad breaks in
| his French, and his language became
less accurate. The Court thought it
better to secure the services Of an in
terpreter, and thereafter Mr.. Deacon
gave his evidence in English.
Continuing his testimony, he said
that after his suspicious were aroused
violent scenes between himself and his
wife became frequent. His mother and
brother-in-law were informed as to the
state of affairs. They said that jealousy
was at the bottom of the trouble and
counseled moderation. Acting on
IL h. ~
BILE relations with Mrs. Deacon,
but at the same time he resolved to
watch her closely. About this time the
family physician advised him to 90 to
Hamburg, as he was suffering from in
fam nation of the stomach. Mrs. Dea-
con started for St. Moritz at the same
time. While Mr. Deacon was at HON.
burg, he received an anonymous letter
stating that Abeille was with his wife.
Mr.. Deacon wrote to her fro M Homburg
saying that she must cease all acqualnt-
ance with Aheille. Although he
then had no doubt as to his wife, tdel-
itv. there was a scandal which he
could not tolerate. He wrote Mrs. Dea-
con that she must choose between him.
| self and Abeille Or let him Mr.. Deacon)
| u.,ulcv. viz. DeauOn PROMISED
10 be q good. loving husband, but insist
Ell that she must break off her relations
| Win ADHlile. she maze no reply 10
i.s letter for ten days. Then she
wrote that she had taken time to
consider the contents Of his letter.
| Mrs. Deacon said that she was
not responsible for the presence Of
| Abeiile at ST. Moritz. Her nervous
! system. she added, was too much
affected by Mr.. Deacon's tyrannical
conduct, and she could no longer stand
it. She concluded her letter by declar-
ing that her husband could send the
| police, or do whatever else he liked.
| In another letter Mrs. Deacon said that
che could not stand such insults as her
| husband offered her. and that all rela-
tons between them should cease.
Thenceforth, she said, they would only
communicate with each other through
her lawyer. She added that Mr..
| Deacon had in the meantime better go
to the United States and give her re-