The morning call., 1892-05-21

Edward P. Deacon. ident OF the Court Of
Bench, and Count du Morton. Procureur Of
of the Republic, represented the pTosecu-
tion. Deacon was represented by Maltre
Demange, a celebrated advocate or the Paris
bar; NJ. COirand, an equally we!l-knOWn
lawyer Of Paris; Frank POll0tte Of the Nice
bar and Solicitor Bret Of Cannes. The
Abaille family, though not taking part in
the proceedings, were represented by Maitre
Lairolle.
As Deacon was brought into the court
room by the gendarmes all eyes We're
directed uDOn him. PalloT marked his fea-
lures. He looked neither TO the right nor
10 the left, but concentrated all his atten-
tion upon tie Judicial bench. Deacon is 90
years Of age, his thin hair snowy gray. That
he was nervous was betrayed by the fire.
Quent SpasmGdic contraction OF the eyellds
and mouth His voice was firm. however,
and in clear tones. with thorough ease he
responded, through the interpreter, TO ques-
tions asked him by the Pfocureur.
ATs. Deacon, who had been formally cited
to appear, was not present.
On invitation from the president of the
court Deacon detailed the facts Of his mar
Ted life, which, he said, was happy until
his wife met Abeile He then proceeded
to tell the story Of the growing intimacy be-
tween them, his efforts to have her break
with her lover, their frequent quarrels and
TeconciliatiOns, and finally. his discovery Of
her in herrOOm In the Hotel Splendide with
Abeille and the killing Of the latter in what
appeared to be fagrante delictu.
Deacon's Statement.
Mrs. Deacod's deposition was evidently
prepared with hostile spirit Deacon, on
the stand, told OF the doubts and Wrangles
between himself and wife; his suspicious,
and his employment of detectives without
precise results; the subject of the proposed
divorce between the pair, and the details Of
the final tragedy which closed the marital
relations, after which he went to Genoa
and heard that Mrs. Deacon and Abeile had
been there and left together Later Ills wife
iOined him in Geneva and he became con-
Yineed that nOseVil had been done .againsi.his
honor, and he apOlogiZed to his wife for the
accusations he made. A reconciliation fol-
lowed, and the family finally went to AK,
whence Deacon went TO America. Return
lug in December, 1891. he found that Abeille
was paying daily visits to his wife He
again employed detectives. one Of whom re-
ported that Mrs. Deacon was meeting
Abeile at the house designated. Trouble
arose between the two; both desired a
divorce. When Mrs. Deacon learned that
detectives were watching her she became
highly incenSed. Deacon proceeded TO
relate the incidents occurring at Cannes on
February II, the date of the shooting, and
stated that toward midnight, upon retiring
to his room at the Hotel Splendde, he was
seized with suspicious regarding his wife,
BE went to the door OF her room and lis
tened, and believed he recognized the voice
Of Abeille. He returned to his own room
and procured a revolver. Then he begged
the secretary of the hotel to accompany him
TO his Wfe's room. Arriving there Deacon
knocked on the dooE, and forcing his way
into the salon he saw just above the back
OF the sofa a head, at which he fired three
times. Then he pushed the sofa aside and
recognized Abeille.
Continuing Deacon said 81 had no inten-
tlon or no desire TO kill him. When l saw
this little man wounded / felt poignant
gTief For man having q conscience must
always regret. killing another" The audi
ence greeted this statement with applause
Resuming his testimony Deacon alluded to
the numerous letters Mrs. Deacon had
written him since the tragedy
The president asked il she wrote on MAY
3 asking the witness to pardon her for the
sake OF the children. Deacon replied that
be had received repeated loving letters from
her written in that sense, but that there
was no question OF reconciliation between
them, as he had already commenced action
for divorce.
IL was stated by Deacon's counsel in al
lndiag to the calumnes loYeled at the ac-
cused, alleging that he proited by Abeille's
money, that Mrs. Deacon obtained from a
banker within IS months 179.0O0 francs, and
her husband had given her %. 600 francs
during the same time.
Mrs. DeacOn's Deposition.
Upon the reassemb bling OF the court after
lunch Mrs. DeaeUn's deposition was read,
opening with the events Of February. Mrs.
Deacon depOsed as follows: "Abeille came
TO see me at half-past 10 o'clock in the even
ing ] met him in the ssloH alone. About
80 o'clock my husband knocked violently