Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-05-21
MADMAN DRUNKARD
Are the Terms Mrs. Parker Deacon
Applies to Her Husband.
IN HER DEPOSITION READ At THE
Trial at Nice Yesteriay-She Desires that He Shall
Be Acquitted, Nevertheless, on Account Of Her
Childre1-Deacon Tells How His Peace
fll Home was Broken Up

NICE, May 2O.-The trial OF Edward
Parker Deacon, who is charged with
manslaughter for the killing Of NJ.
Abeille, opened to-day before the
Assizes Court OF the Alpes Maritimes.
The court room is small Oblong hall
more like a corridor than the place OF
the holding of a court OF justice 10 a
populous district. The room might
hold $50 persons if it was crammed TO
its fullest capacity.
MANY representatives Of the newspa-
pers were present. The benches in the
gallery at the end OF the hall were oc-
cupied by ladies attired in elegant toll
cts. The crowd in the gallery was COM
posed almost entirely OF members Of the
aristocratic circle of Nice. At first
glance around hardly a dozen Ameri-
cans or Englishmen could be seen.
The proceedings opened at twenty
minutes past nine with Judge Auberlln,
President Of Court, on the bench. The
Count DuMoirOn, Procureur OF the Re-
public, represented the prosecution.
Mr.. Deacon was represented by Maitre
Demangea, a celebrated advocate OF the
Paris bar; M. Goirsnd, an equally well
known lawyer Of Paris; Frank Pilotte,
Of the Nice bar, aud Solicitor Bret OF
Cannes. The Abeille family, though
not taking part in the proceedings, were
represented by Maitre Lairolle.
Mr.. Deacon was brought into the
court room by two gendarmeS, who es-
corted him to the prisoners bench and
then took up their position, one on each
side Of him. As he faced the room all
eyes were directed upon him. The
stories that have long been current as
TO his Indifference over the killing or as
10 the results Of his trial were belied by
his aspect. A pallor, caused either by
anxiety or i'll health, marked his feat
ures. He looked neither TO the right
nor TO the left, but concentrated all his
attention upon the judicial bench. He
was dressed in black coat, black vest
and plain dark tweed trousers.
Mrs. Deacon, who had been formally
cited to appear, was not present.
Mr.. Deacon, on invitation OF the
President OF the Court, recounted his
relations with his wife from their mar
riage until 1890. Their life, he said,
was happy one until they made the
acquaintance of Abeille. 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 here
tofore existed between him and his
wife. He said that after his suspicious
were aroused violent scenes between
himself and his wife became frequent.
His mother-in-law and brOther-in-law
were informed as 10 the state OF az
fairs. They said that jealously was at
the bottom of the trouble and counsel
led moderation. Acting on their advice
he renewed bis amicable relations with
Mrs. Deacon but at the same time he re-
solved to watch her closely. About
this time the family physician advised
him to 90 to Homburg. He was suffer
ing from Inflammation OF the stomach.
Mrs. Deacon started for st. Moritz at
the same time. While Mr.. Deacon was
at Homburg he received anonymous
letters stating that Abeill was with his
wife. Mr. Deacon wrote to her from
Homburg saying that she must cease all
acquaintance with Abeille, Although
he then had no doubt as TO his wife's
fidelity still there was scandal which
be could not tolerate. He wrote Mrs.
Deacon that she must choose between
himself and Abeille or let him, Mr..
Deacon, have divorce.
Mr.. Deacon promised to be a good
loving husband but insisted that she
must break off her relations with
Abeille. She made no reply to this let
ter for ten dayS. Then she wrote that
she had taken time to consider the con-
tents of this letter. Mrs. Deacon said
she was not responsible for the pres
ence of Abcile at st. Moritz. Her nerv-
ous system, she added, was too much
affected by Mr.. DeaCOn'S tyrannical con-
duct and she could no longer stand II.
She concluded her letter by declaring
that her husband could send the police,
or do whatever else he liked.
In another letter Mrs. Deacon said
she could not stand such insults as her
husband offered her and that all rela-
tions between them should cease.
Thenceforth, she said they would COM
municate with each other through her
LAWYER. She added that Mr.. Deacon
had in the meantime better go TO the
United States, aud give her reDoSe.
Mrs. Deacon knew that her husband
had to go to the United States at about
this time on matters of business. In
reply to this letter Mr.. Deacon wrote
that he would like her TO see him in
Geneva before he started for the United
States.
Her reply was that she was very nerv-
ous and that it would be better for
them both not 20 meet.
Then Mr.. Deacon sent q telegram
stating that he was going to st. MoritZ
to see her, but a reply came to this tele-
gram stating that Mrs. Deacon was on
the point of leaving St. MOritz with
Countess DeGrammont for the lakes.
IAN intimate friend, now in the
court room, told me-" continued Mr..
Deacon, that I had done wrong in in
suIting my wife. Upon his suggestion,
wrote an apology to Mrs. Deacon.
Nv wife replied that she would meet
me at Geneva and give satisfactory
Of her conduct. We met
as agreed. She denied the rumors con-
Meeting her with Abeille, and said that
she had seen Abeille only in the COM
pany of others. We we're reconciled
and stayed together at AK for three
days. The whole Of our family was to-
gether at AK. Then sailed to Amer
ica."
Judge Aubertin-Did you employ de-
tectives to watch your wife?
Mr.. Deacon-Only In January OF this
year.