The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-10-18
PHASES l-...-
: OFF "A CRIME.
A Conspiracy That Remained Un-
punished For Quarter Of a
Century.

Observation-Disclosures
The recent trial in A1arseilles, France,
of Jules Ducraix for an alleged assault
on his wife, Marie, led to the discovery
Of the real perpetrators of great
crime committed 20 years before and
to the exoneration Of an innocent man.
The story Of the trial, as told in q
French newspaper, Is dramatic.
Ducraix dealt in ships stores and
was supposed to be in good circum-
stances. In his defense he swore that
his wife assaulted him with knife,
and he showed the unhealed wound
on his left arm, nade by the weapon
when he endeavored to ward off what
might have otherwise been deadly
blow. at this juncture III the trial q
note was handed to the defendant s
counsel With permission Of the court,
he read the note, and asked to be ex-
cused for q minute or two. He fol-
lowed to the corridor the man who had
handed him the note and speedily re-
turned. a.. his request the woman
was recalled and questioned by him as
follows:
"Where were you born, madame"
ssIn Paris, I believe"
Were you ever in Poitou?"
.sNeyer!'
ssWere you ever in Brittany"
"Never!'
..Did you ever know or see man
named Jacques Saupier?"
81 never didr'
"Were you never married to a man Of
that name?
.'Never!"
'sYou swear that you were never mar
ried to one Jacques Saupier and never
saw or knew him?"
81 do SO swear"
Counsel turned and, glancing round
the audience that filed the courtroom,
he cried:
Jacques Saupierr'
Amid deep silence and with all eyes
fixed upon him, man was seen NOV
ing forward from the outskirts Of the
crowd. He was tall, dark, clean
shaven, with sloping forehead and
a receding chin.
'sThis way, Jacques Saupier!" coun-
sci said, and the stranger moved slow
" forward, with his eyes fixed upon
the woman. Within three or four feet
Of her he stood and looked at her with
steady, unfinching gaze. She crouch
ed and turned away her head. Then
counsel questioned her.
"Do you know this man?"
eyes, yes; do"
.Is this Jacques Saupier"'
"Oh, yes, believe So
els he your lawful husband?"
eyes, yes! Oh, let me go!'
.sWhat has become Of your para
mour, Lacruse?"
"He is in prison for life-dead to me,
.deadv
.What has this to do with the case?'
the court asked.
sThis woman is criminal" answer
ed the counsel, "and l ask you to de-
tain her on charge of double mur-
der, committed 25 years ago."
The complaint against DucraiX was
dismissed, and the woman was handed
over to the police. The narrative which
follows is gathered from report OF
the proceedings already mentioned.
Marie Rozan was the associate OF 8
thief, sometimes called Crascras, but
whose real name was Lacruse. Early
in May, 1873, Lacruse and one Pascot
planned robbery at Lemans, province
Of Maine, where Pascot had once been
employed as a coachman. Marie ac-
compan;ed them. Pascot was arrested
and Lacruse fed and abandoned Marie
to her fate. She managed to escape
from the ne!Shborhood and wandered
on, suffering from want and exposure,
until she reached Morlaix in Brittany
She continued on up one Of the valleys
until she came upon a comfortable
homestead, where lived Henri Saupier
with his wife and only son. NJ. Saupier
owned some 20 acres Of land adjoining
his home and was in good circuni-
stances, being considered. in fact, the
wealthy man in the district. The son,
Jacques, was not particularly bright
and had earned bad reputation III the
neighborhood, having twice stolen
money from his parents and gone OF
with it. He was never fond OF work,
the truth Of the matter being that he
had been spoiled in the bringing up.
Just before dusk on the evening of
May 30, 1873, Saupier sat in the garden
smoking Looking Up, he saw miser-
ably clad woman, standing with her
hand on the gate and her eyes directed
toward him.
Wife" said Saupier, calling to Nine
Saupier, who was in the house, "see
what this poor woman wants.
Apparently encouraged by the kindly
tones of the old man, Marie-for it was
she-cpened the wicket and entered the
garden. TO husband and wife she told
her story, saying that her naine was
Marie Rozan, and telling how her fl
ther, q fisherman, was drowned, and
how her brother was in the navy q
great way off, and how she had nc
friends or relatives, and. being unable