Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-06-14
Saint Maru's Beacon



Esropsan Edition efa< " Z. Herald.
The Assize Court Of Aix-les- Bains
has just had before it one Of the
most extraordinary cases which can
be found in the annals Of crime.
The accused was young boy Of Is
years Of age named Francois Ber-
thollier, who was charged with the
murder of an old man named Blan-
chard. Berthollier did not deny
the crime, but made the curious de-
Tense that he had killed his victim
not only with the latter's consent,
but in response to his pressing re-
quest. The following extract from
his examination by the president Of
the court gives his version Of the
crime
TIRED OF LIPE.
Prisoner-0n the day of the ar
rival of the Russians Blanchard and
/ went to- Toulon. On the way he
told me how miserable he was and
how much he desired to end his
life. For several hours he tried to
persuade me to deliver him from
his miseries.
President-Did you not ask him
why de did not commit suicide?
Prisoner-He said that he had not
the necessary courage. Two days
later he came to my room and wax
ened me, saying: Francois, ]
count on you for to-day; / want to
get it over before the evening""
was very much astonished. lie
added 81 will siga bill for you
for 1,sOof., which you will get from
my notary at Carpentias."
President-So this sum of / ,S00f.
caused you to consent?
TOOK BILL FROM HIS VICTIM.
Prisoner went downstairs and
bought bill-stamp for 60 confines
and drew out the bill, which he
signed. Then we went to toilette
to take the tramway. While wait
inf for it we went into cafe, where
Blanchard made me drink several
glasses of peppermint. Then he
gave me 60 confines to buy a knife
in shop. When we were on the
tram Blanchard said to me: "Smoke
as much as you can; it will stupefy
YOU" At Estaque we again went
into q cafe, where he made me drink
four or five absinthes. Then we
continued our route for some time,
when suddenly Blanchard stopped,
saying: "This place will dc"
We then went under the bridge
which is there. Blanchard Gndres-
sed and bandaged his eyes with o
handkerchief.
President-Blanchard lay down
himself on the stones there?
Prisoner-Yes, monsieur.
CUT THE JUGULAR VEIN.
President--How many blows did
you give him?
Prisoner--Four. He had told
me, "Strike me several times so
that won't suffer. Strike in pre-
ference on the temples and where
the jugular vein is. My death will
be easier"
President-You certainly follow
ed his counsels well. Your hand
struck with dexterity that a pro-
fessional assassin might envy. Did
Blanchard die ut once?
Prisoner--Yes, he raised himself
up slightly and gave a sigh; that
was all. l had some blood on my
hands, so | went and washed them
in the sea, which is about 200 yards
away.
President-Then You returned to
Estaque
Prisoner-Yes. ! stopped at a
shooting gallery, where fred some
shots to divert myself.
President-And did you not feel
any remorse, any terror ?
Prisoner--Yes, little.
The jury decided that the rris-
oner had acted without discernment
and acquitted him. The court,
however, ordered him to be kept in
a reformatory until the age of 90
years.
| have two little grand children
w..o are teething this hot summer