The morning news., 1892-02-22
TIE DEAooN-ABs1LLR TRAGEDY.
Deacon Meant Only to Mark His Wife's
Lover.


Lover.
Fridays MORNING NEWS contained an
account of the killing of Emile Abeille, a
former attache of the French legation in
Washington. at the Hotel Splendide,
Cannes, France, by Edward Parker Deacon,
an American banker of Paris, the banker
having found Abeil!e in his wife's room.
Before the magistrate Friday the banker
told the story Of the tragedy. According
to the Suns cablegram the banker said that
he was sorry he had killed M. Abeille, and
that he had only wished to marx him for
his criminal relations with Mrs. Deacon.
These relations" he said, ARE now
effectively stopped and 1 do not intend to
apply for divorce. But l shall remove
the children from her ccare, and, if can
help 1t, she shall never see them again."
Mr.. Deacon said that, having long sus>
pected that his wife and M Abeille held
improper relations, he had resolved TO learn
the truth for himself. He asked his wife on
Tuesday night to accompany him to a all
which was to be given at the Cercle Nau-
tique. Mrs. Deacon excused herself on the
plea that she was indisposed, and he went
TO the ball alone. He returned to the hotel
about midnight, urabserved, it appears.
although it is said that one Of the servants
was suspected Of being aware Of Mrs, Dea-
cons relations with M. Abelle and
OF keeping her informed about her
husbands movements. Arrived at
Mrs. Deacon's bedroom, he saw
light shining from beneath the door. He
had not believed her indisposition to be as
serious as she had represented, so he paused
at the door 10 listen. Hearing voices
within he at once concluded that N. Abeille
was in the room. Resolved to secure wit
ness and to surprise his wife with her lover
he went downstairs and asked one of the
hotel clerks to come with him and bring a
light so that there might be no mistake as
to the identity of the man in Mrs. Deacon's
room. Accompanied by the clerk he re-
turned to Mrs. Deacon's bedroom and
demanded admittanee. Mrs. Deacon
answered the summons, appearing at
the door en- dishdbiUe. Seeing her hus-
band and the clerk there, she extinguished
the light carried by the latter. Mr.. Deacon
pushed by her into the room, revolver in
hand, and she hurried after him toward the
bed. The hotel clerk struck match and
relighted bis candle. Then Mr.. Deacon
found Aheil(a hiding. partly dressed, behind
the bed cVRains. He spoke a few angry
words and fired three shots at Abeille, two
of which took effect, one in the chest, the
other in the leg Abeille fell dying by the
side OF the bed. After reproaching his wife,
who was on her knees before him pleading
for her life, Deacon left the room.
Mrs. Deacon and the hotel clerk were also
examined by the magistrate. Their stories
tended to confirm the statement made by
Mr.. Deacon.
Mr.. Deacon, it is said, had received many
anonymous letters warming HIM of Mrs
Deacon's liaison with Abeille. The latter,
1t appears, recently absented himself from
Cannes, and Mr.. Deacon seized the oppor-
tunity TO go to Paris TO attend to some busi-
ness. He was hastily summoned back, how
ever. by an anonymous message, said to
have been sent by a woman who was Jealous
of Mrs. Deacon. Tire latter assured her
husband that she had not seen NJ. Abeille,
and MIR. Deacon pretended TO be hood
winked, but set out TO discover the truth.
The mother and brothers and the sister of
M. Abeille arrived at Cannes Friday morn
ing and took charge Of the body. One of
NJ. Abeille's brothers is a member OF the
Chamber Of Deputies. His sister, the Count
ess de la Redote, started for Paris with the
body this afternoon.
Many we'll known people offered bail for
Mr.. Deacon.