The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-11-19
GUILLEMET READY TO GO.
Continued from First Page,

nocent of my hus stands death as that
child of mine, SO help me God. y
To the question of money Mrs Laplante
replied that she had but three dollars in
the house. The officers then inaugurated
search, which, however, revealed moth
ing.
If Guillemet spoke the truth and the
woman has two hundred dollars, 1t is
safely hid and beyond the reach of the
representatives of the law. Amid the
crying of the younger children, who wept
from instinct rather than knowledge Of
what was going on, and the yells of
lamentation of the older ones, who real
lied to some extent, at least, the enormity
of the crime of which thor mother was
charged, the examination closed.
All this time the accused woman had
remained dry eyed. There was not a tear,
nor the sign of one, and when Detective
Lambert asked why it was thus, she
answered, $50 as to set my children an
example,
Then the officers went away no wiser
| than when they had come. No warrant
for her arrest wac presented, and ap-
parently none was drought Of Chief of
Police Chenette of ST. Hyacinthe, had or
dered Mrs Laplante's arrest by telegraph
yesterday, but the officers thought better
of it apparently, for no move in this
direction was made.
| As soon as the news of John Baptiste
| Guillemet's confession was known to the
coroner, there was no longer a thought
Of continuing the inquest, which was adj
journed until Tuesday morning next.
AS to the question of Mrs. Lsplante' 6
guilt or innocence, there seemed to be
no mixed opinion, in spite of the impli-
eating statements of young Guillemet.
The townspeople one and all, so far as
| have seen, refuse to believe her guilty.
On the other hand, testimony has cropped
out which up to this time has been I'M
known. Guillemet states in his confession
that, in order to nerve himself up for the
deed he piled himself with liquor. 1t was
not the custom to keep spirits in the
house.
On the very morning of the day of tine
murder Mrs. Laplante appeared at Sy
card s hotel and purchased hottie of
brandy She told Mr.. Sycard that not be-
ing a strong woman, she had decided to
take brandy and milk. The lack of
money in the Laplante house, however,
was most apparent. Not over three days
ago butcher stopped ON his route and
on asking if Mrs. Laplante desired any
meat, she said, 81 have the disposition to
buy the meat, but no money
The meat was afterwards sent her
gratis by the generous butcher and with
it another cut purchased for her by
neighbor. Whether this was fanciful
by play and clever piece of acting or the
simple truth, developments will. have TO
show.
Mathilda Laplante is not woman who
would seem likely to attract the fancy of
a boy of seventeen. She is 3S years of age.
She told me that. She looks every day of
it. In stature she is above the average
and inclined to be angular. When young
she was, perhaps, what might be called
good looking, but hard work and the
raising of SO large a family has long ago
destroyed any claim to beauty which she
might have had.
She married J. B. Laplante about
fourteen years ago, and SO far as known
they got along with nothing more than
an average amount of disagreements. She
is the daughter of good, honest farmer
in this section, who died some months
ago.
A close inquiry of the character of J.
B. Guillemet in this section discloses the
fact that he was always far from being
moral young man. AT different times he
resorted to petty thefts from his relatives.
1t was noticed that pocket books contain.
ing sums of money revolvers and the like
had habit Of disappearing when Guile
met was about
Tonight the two Canadian officials were
in consultation up to late hour with
Lawyer Emile II. Tardiyel, counsel for
the murderer. It is his declinatior that
seems to stand in the way Of their getting
immediate custody of GuiIlemet. Mr..
Tardiyel declared it is his right to de-
mani extradition papers before allowing
his client to be delivered over into the
hands of the Canadian authorities, even
though the prisoner himself has expressed
a willingness to go at once. 1t will be
definitely known tomorrow morning what
course will be pursued.
The two Canadian officers were oloseted
much of the afternoon with Guillemet,
ana closely questioned him en- every point
OF his former story. with special reference
to his implication of Mrs. Laplante and
his former statement that he was assisted
IN the crime by friend named Ietrault.
SUPPLIES FOR GERMAN FLEET.
London, Noyeln Der 19.-The Shanghai
correspondent of the Times says: "Two
steamers have been chartered here to con-
yey stores and material to the German
fleet in kiao Chau bay. The occupation
IS apparently to be more than temporary.
The Chinese general in command of the
forts decided to retire because he had no
ammunition. -
The Berlin correspondent of the Times,
says: ''In the absence of official intelli
t.,+ - ,1,L; hot,