The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1892-02-24

ment that one of the most prominent
visitors at the place, Edward Parker
Deacon, a native of the United States, had
shot and killed a Frenchman named
Arbeille. All sorts OF stories we're in cir
culation in regard to the affair, but the
affair soon resolved itself into a question
of honor, a case where a man had avenged
the death, the disgrace and infamy
brought upon him and his children by his
wife and her lover. The story is an old
one. A handsome woman mated to
man whom she betrays, forgetting in her
infatuation or fancy for another man, her
own reputation, their reputation, her hus-
band, and bringing shame and sorrow
upon her children.
Nh. Deacon and his wife have been So
journing for some time past at the Hotel
Splendide, one Of the fashionable hotels of
this fashionable watering-place. With
them were their four children. There
was nothing in the actions OF Mr.. Deacon
to indicate that he had any suspicion that
his wife was unfaithful to him; on the
contrary. they appeared to be as devoted
TO each other as is usual in the case of
people who have been married for years.
They followed the usual round pursued
by society people here, and up to the very
moment of the occurrence there was no
indication of the tragedy that resulted in
the sudden death OF the wiie's paramount.
1t has transpired. however, since the
shooting, that Mr. Deacon suspected that
his wife was unduly intimate with NJ.
Arbeille, who was connected with the
French diplomatic service, and he kept
close watch upon her actions. He saw
or heard nothing that would positively
confirm his suspicious until last night 1t
appears that the room at the hotel occu-
pied by Mr.. Deacon was on the first floor.
Mrs. Deacon sleptin a room on the ground
floor, and on the same floor were the
apartments occupied by NJ. Arbeille.
At midnight last night Mr.. Deacon, who
was in his room, heard peculiar noise in
his wiie's room which was Immediately
beneath his own. His suspicious we're at
once awakened and he descended the
stairs and listened at the door of his wife's
room. He heard her talking and then he
! heard the voice of man replying to her.
| In a moment suspicion became a certainty
and Mr.. Deacon realized that his wife had
betrayed and disgraced him. The knowi-
| edge drove him faitlv Wild with anger and
| shame, but there was method IN his mad
ness. He at once resolved to slay the de-
| spoiler of his family. He dashed up stairs
| to his room and procured arev0lyer. Then
| with a feeling OF pathetic misery he bent
| over the bed wherein were sleeping his
| innocent little children and impressed
upon their foreheads the last kiss of his
happy days. The sight OF them steeled
in him his determination TO avenge the
wrong that their mother had placed upon
him and them.
Leaving his chlaren asleep, Mr.. Deacon
went to the room Of the secretary of the
hotel and aroused him, told him of the
condition Of affairs and requested him to
accompany him to his wife's room. The
secretary agreed and together they went
to Mrs. Deecon's apartments. Mr.. Deacon
knocked on the door, but no one came,
neither was any answer made. Mr.. Deacon
then forced the door and entered the
apartment. He found his wife alone. and,
though she made q desperate effort TO
| keep calm and asked him what brought
him at that time of the night, he was not
deceived. He at once proceeded to an adj
| joining room which opened from
that in which his wife slept and
there he discovered VI. Abeille, VINO was
crouching down and attempting to hide
behind a chair. Mr.. Deacon at once
leveled his revolver at the man ana de-
liberately aiming, he fired three shots.
| Two of the bullets struck Abeille, one
taking effect in his arm and the other in
his chest.
The man, after gazing for moment at
the lifeless BODY of his deceiver, is said TO
he. 70 hi x.rtfo bO
was shivering and trembling on her
knees close to the spot where her lover
lay, and to have said in substance:
al have mind to kill you as | have
killed that dog. Killing is to good for
you. You should be reserved for a 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 deceit
| full face again"
She, at these words. gave shrek and
! fell flat on her face. In falling the guilty
women had despatched herself with some
of the blood OF her dead lover, and the
| first impression formed by the servants
and guests, who appeared upon the scene.
was that Mr.. Deacon had killed his wife
after killing her paramour. But she
| revived shortly after and sank upon
| the bed and piteously begged TO be con-
| uuCLeU 10 aLOlleT room. Inc DOuy OF
| NJ Arbielle in the meanwhile had been
! placed in an adjoining apartment and
Mrs. Deacon's four young children. who
were stopping at the hotel with their
parents, were conducted to another part
of the building, where their father and
| kind friends did their best to pacify them
1t was evident from the first that Mr..
Deacon had the sympathy of everybody
| in the hotel and that even the police Off
| GERS were loath 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 MIR. Deacon,
after shooting NJ Abielle, is reported to
have sent several cable messages to the
/ Paris press and TO have quietly submitted
| 10 arrest.
1t is difficult TO imagine the sensation
| this affair has caused not only among
Americans, but among foreigners. Mr..
/ and Mrs. Deacon were in the highest class
of continental society. They were to be
seen at all balls, fetes, receptions, races,
charitable meetings and other social gath
er:ngs frequented by the very best society
on the continent