Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-05-21
DEACON SENTENCED.
u,s CRIME THAT OF "wAtolI'
wv wouNoIN0" ABEiLLe.
a.. no.. 70 Pr,son for One Ysar-scene'
His Triai--Fashionab's LA"'''
Deeply Interested


Deeply Interested
py Anglo-Americsn cable to the p'sps''"''
NICE FRANCE, May 2o.--Edwara
partor Deacon was convicted OF the will
Iul wounding of II. Abeille and was
sentenced to one years imprisonment.
The courtroom is small, its capacity
whom crowded not exceeding 800 peo-
nile. A large number Of French Jour.
paI;s.s and some representatives, OF
foreign newspapers we're present Inc
benches in the gallery at the end OF tho
hall was occupied by ladies attired IN
.looant toilets. The weather was warm
anJ no the crowd sat in the courtroom
the temperature rose and the place pc
came almost suffocating. This drawoa y, h
had no effect upon the eagerness Oh Il, 'he
ladies' 10 listen to the proceedings lhey
eat calmly tanning themselves through
ont the session, paying the closest aIIeh,
tion TO everything that was done anu
said The crowd in the gallery was COM
nosed almost entirely OF members OF 'he
aristocratic circle of Nice. barely a
dozen Americans or Englishmen couid
be seen.
The Abeille family. though not taking
any part in the proceedings, were repre-
sented by Maitre Lairolle.
Mrs. Deacon, although she had been
formally cited to appear, was not pres
ent
pEAcoN's STORY.
Deacon. on the invitation OF the
Court gave history OF his entire mar
ried life and his story OF the killing:
His French being imperfect he testIfed
in English. His story and that oil the
clerk of the hotel where Abeille was
killed have been many times told. Mr..
Deacon alluded to the numerous letters
Mrs. Deacon had written to him since
the tragedy. Here the President asked !;
"She wrote you especially on May 9TH
asking YOU to pardon her for the sake
of your children 2" and to this Mr..
Deacon replied: 81 have had repeated
loving letters from her written IN that
sense" The President at Is not /
who would suggest that you refuse her
pardon. but if her confession Is sincere
il appears TO me that she has quickly
forgotten the tragic death OF Abellle.
Although you should come together
AGAIN there would always remain be-
tween YOU the phantom OF your victim. "
To this Mr.. Deacon replied There
is no question of reconciliation. l
have already commenced an action
for divorce against her." The Presi-
dent "Wby did You not avail your
self of the law of divorce before killing
your man ?" Mr.. Deacon's counsel
here protested against raising this ques-
ton in this form as likely to prejudice
the jury. He also alluded to the
calumnies levelled at the accused,
alleging that he had profited by
Abeille's money. The fact of the mat
ter was that Mrs. Deacon had obtained
from her banker within eighteen months
l79. 900 francs, and her husband had
given her 90, 900 francs.
MRS. DEACoS's DEPOSITION.
Mrs. Deacon's deposition was read.
1t contained the admission that she had
received Abeille in her room from 1890
10 1880. knowing that Deacon objected
to Abeille's presence. but it denies that
she was in her night-clothing when
Abeille was shot. The deposition tended
to prove that the presence Of Abellle at
the different fashionable resorts in
Switzerland and on the Riviera,
where she sojourned with her children,
were due to fortuitous circumstances, and
not to his following her as lover. Her
husband always ignored her friendly re-
lations with Abeille, but nevertheless he
was accustomed to seeing her ard Abeille
dine together. The deposition ended ::
al desire to add that Mr.. Deacon is
both mailman and drunkard, but for
the sake of my children | desire bis
acquittal.' The reading of the state
ment that Mr.. Deacon Is crazy and a
victim of liquor caused sensation IN
the courtroom.
1t was brought ont during the after
noon that before the juge djnstuction
at Grasse Mr. Deacon admitted having
authorized his wife to receive Abeille,
but not under conditions Of intimacy.
Mrs. Deacon's waiting-mald and former
footman of Mrs. Deacon gave testimony
indicating prolonged and familiar know
ledge of the HaisOR between Abeille and
Mrs. Deacon.
Some evidence was offered tending to
establish Deacon's good character and
reputation.