Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-05-21
DEACON CONVICTED.
He Was Sentenced to Year In Prison for
the Cannes Tragedy.

Tue Sannes Tragedy.
Upon theGesssembling of the Deacon court
| at Nice after lunch yesterday the crowd, very
few of whom had left the room. were still in
their seats. The passages to the tribunal were
blocked with people 70 such an extent that the
judge. the counsel and others connected with
the case hail dithculty in entering. The stmps-
phere in the court room oppressive. A fine
sea breeze was blowing through the open win
dows. but it failed to mitigate the heat or over
come the smells of the old town A prominent
figure on the bench was Gen. GARNER de Gar
rets. commander Of the Alpine troops. Imme-
dia,eiy the president took his scat he ordered
all the witpesses 10 retire.
The reading of Mrs. Descon's deposition was
then commenced. Opening with the events of
February Mrs. Deacon deposed az follows: IN.
Abeile came 10 zee me at 10 80 o'clock in the
evening met him in the salon alone. At
about ii 10 9 clock nv husband knocked vio-
lently at the door Of my apartments, CRYING:
Open. know there IL some one with YOU l
lit a candle and then opened the door. He i'm
mediately searched the room. then extin-
guished the candle, but he reht il quickly.
From my room he'passed into the salon. where
NJ. Abeille had hidden behind the sofa TO avoid
my husband, seeing that the latter had not
authorized me- to receive him. MY husband
discovered him and fred at him three times.
Mr. Deacon went away only after showing a
disposition TO enter the room where his VIC
tim War carried in order to attack him again.
The deposition ended: II desire to add that
MI. Deacon is both mailman and a druukard.
but for the sake of my children / desire his
acquittal."
The reading Of the statement that Nj.
Deacon il crazy and victim Of liquor caused a
sensation In the court room.
In his address to the jury the procnreur re-
preached Deacon for showing solicitude after
mortally wonndiug his victim for nothing ex-
cept to get evidence Of the guilt of his wife.
He did not offer to succor his victim, nor for
him was the fact of his wife's unfaithfulness in
any way disconcerting. He desired proof of
this, not of her innocence.
The procureur proceeded to contend that the
murder OF Abeille was committed at moment
OF passion when there was no clear proof Of
Mrs. Deacon's adultery.
In concluding the procureur said he held that
the crime presented the aspects OF piemedita-
ton more prominently than usual in cases of
crime actuated by passion. Deacon had watched
for and chosen the hour, both to- kill and to OBJ
tain evidence for divorce. and could not.
therefore. be allowed an acquittal.
After half hours private deliberaton the
jury returned Affirmative verdict on the
question Of inflicting wounds resulting ia death,
without intention to kill, the decision being
equivalent to verdict of wilfully wounding.
NJ PLATTE. in behalf of Deacon. then made
strong plea foi minimum sentence, after which
the president retired from the court room
On his return, after considering briefly in
retirement the sentence he would impose, the
president announced. TO the general anaz ement
of his hearers, that he imposed a sentence of one
years Imprisonment. The murmurs, rising
quickly into volume OF misses and groans,
which greeted this announcement indicated
how the sympathies of the public went.
Deacon's brother Immediately advanced to
his side and shook hands win him. saying:
1--WE ate all very sorry; IA most unjust verdict
and sentence"
Before departing from the court room. at
tended by gnard Of gcndhrmes, the accused
found n number of friends rnlying around him.
and there was much hanlshaking, accompanied
by good deal of emotion. Deacon himself
moped the while in somewhat grim style. re-
pressing his feelings like veritnble stOc yet
really looking NJ If very near breaking down.
As the audience we're slowly leaving the court
room vivacions criticisms on the harshness Of
the sentence were heard on all sides.