The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-21
DEACON TO GO TO PRISON
CONVICTED OF wILLFUL WOUND
ING AND GIVEN AYBAR.


ING AND GIVEN AYEAR.
The Sentence Considered Harsh and
the Judge Hissed-A Deposition
From Mrs. Deacon Read, In Which
She Denies Her Guilt, But Asks Dea-
cons Acquittal for the Sake of Her
Children.
NICE, May 20-The trial of Edward
Parker Deacon, charged with manslaughter
for killing NJ. Abeille. began to-day.
Deacon was convicted of the willful
wounding Of Abeille and was sentenced to
one years. imprisonment.
The court room is small, its capacity
crowded not exceeding $50 people. A large
number of French Journalists and some
representatives of foreign newspapers we're
present. The benches In the gall
lery at the end Of the hall were
occupied by ladies attired in ele-
CANT toilets. The weather was warm, and
as the crowd sat in the court room the
temperature rose and the place became
almost suffocating. This draw back had no
effect upon the eagerness of the ladies to
the proceedings. They sat calmly tanning
themselves throughout the session, paying
the closest attention to everything that was
done and said The crowd in the gallery
was composed almost entirely of members
OF the aristOcratlc circle OF Nice. Barely a
dozen Americans or Englishmen could be
seen. The Abeille family, though not TAX
ing any part in the proceedings, were rep-
resented by Maitre SAirolle. Mrs. Deacon,
although she had been formally cited to
appenr, was not present. Deacon, on invi-
tation of the court, gave history of his
entire married life and his story of the
killing. His French being imperfect, he
testified in English. His story and that of
the clerk of the hotel where Abeille was
killed have been many times told
LETTERS FROM MRS. DEACON.
Deacon alluded to numerous letters Mrs.
Deacon had written to bin since the
tragedy.
Here the president asked: "She wrote
you specially on May asking you to par
don her for the sake of your ohildren9"
To this Deacon replied: "I have had re-
peated loving letters from her written in
that sense.n
The President-It is not l who would
suggest that you refuse her pardon, but il
her confession is sincere 1t appears to me
that she has quickly forgotten the tragic
death of Abeille. Although you should
come together again there would always re-
main between you the phantom Of your
victim
To this Deacon replied: "There is no
question Of reconciliation. | have already
commenced an action for divorce against
herr
The President-Why did you not avail
yourself Of the law OF divorce before killing
your mang
Deacon's counsel here protested against
raising this question in this form as likely
to prejudice the jury. He also alluded to
the calumnies leveled at the accused alleR-
fr fhnr hal haA ,1u
The fact of the matter was that Mrs. Dea-
con had obtained from her banker within
eighteen moRths $4,000 francs, and Der
husband had given her 90 900 francs
MRS. DEACoN's DEPOSITION.
Mrs. Deacon's deposition was read. IL
contained an admission that she received
Abeille in her room from 10:30 to IL 30
knowing that Deacon objected to Abeille's
presence, but IL denies that she was in her
night clothing when Abelle was shot. The
deposition tended to prove that the presence
of Abeille at different fashionable resorts
in Switzerland and on the Riviera where
she sojourned with her children were due
TO fortuitous circumstances aud not to his
following her as a lover. Her husband
always ignored her friendly relations with
Abeille, but, nevertheless, he was accus.
toned to seeing her and Abeille dine to-
Rether. The deposition ended: "I desire to
add that Mr.. Deacon is both madman and
drunkard. but for the sake of my children l
desire his aoquittal."
The reading Of the statement that Deacon
is crazy and a victim of liquor caused a sem
sation in the court room. 1t was brought
out during the afternoon that before the
judge dinstruction at Grasse, Deacon adj
| mitted having authorized his life to receive
Abeille, but not under conditions of init
macy.
Mrs. Deacon's waiting maid aud a former
footman of Mrs. Deacon gave testimony in
dicating prolonged and familiar knowledge
of the liason between Abeille and Mrs. Dea-
con.
Some evidence was offered tending TO es-
tablish Deacon's good character and repu-
| tation.
After half au hours deliberation the jury
returned an affirmative verdict on the
question of inflictiDg wounds resulting in
| death, without intention to kill, the decision
being equivalent to a verdict Of willfully
| wounding. The judges sentence was sur
prise to the spectators, and was greeted
with Kisses and groans and made many
criticisms upon the harshness of the SEN
| tence Deac )n's friends rallied around him,
shook hands and expressed much sympathy
for him.