The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-03-23

Letters poured in upon her from all
parts Of the country. OF all. not more
than half a dozen at most taxed her
with the crime. They we're signed by
persons in all ranks OF society, offer.
Ing marriage, suggesting means Of es.
cape, passionately Affirming disbelief in
her guilt. During the period OF her
imprisonment Marie Lafarge replied to
almost all Of these, besides solacing
herself by writing several volumes of
memoirs and prison experiences.
Finally. when Napoleon III. became EN-.
peror, she appealed to him, and obtain
ed a full pardon in 1852
Many believed in Marie's innocence
to the last, among them being her coun.
sci, Maitre Lachaud, who aiterward
achieved high renown in his profess
sion. Years later, after she died, he
regularly sent flowers to decorate her
grave. Another equally loyal support
err was Marle's maid, who went to
prison with her and remained for a
full year at her side; and another was
young girl, cousin Of her husband,
who likewise accompanied her to the
Montpelier jail.
This case, which is one Of The most
celebrated in criminal annals, has been
made the subject. of an exhaustive re.
port by two eminent Prussiar jurists
who have insisted that no proof Of guilt
had been obtained, and that the jury
convicted their prisoner in difference
10 popular clamor.
But who, then. was the murderer?
The German jurlsts wind up their,
argument by saying:
s"Had we been the public prosecu
tor, we would rather have formulated
charges against Denis Barber"
There were, in fact, as many suspi'I
cious circumstances TO incrimihate
Barber as TO incriminate Marie. This
confidential clerk, living in the house
as had already been stated, under a.
false name, was. a man of notorious
character. II developed that Lafarge
himself had long made ilse Of him In
certain financial transactions Of a very
shady character. Among these was
the manufacture of fraudulent bills OF
exchange which were negotiated for
advalces Of money. Barber had con.
ceived a strong dislike toward Marie.
1t was he who originated the reports
against her and he, who had first
suggested 10 the new doctor, brought!
in at the time when the ironmaster's
sickness became alarming, that Marie
had sent him to purchase arsenic and
begged him 10 make no mention Of 1t.
When he was put into the witness box
at the trial he frequently contradicted
himself, saying, for example, on one
occasion that he had volunteered this
information, and at another time that
he had only confessed 1t when press.
ed for information by the physician.
In fact, It was shown that Lafargel
and Barber. had been confedsIates IN
a series Of swindling operations. the
discovery Of which was imminent at
The time when the lron.master was first
struck down by his mysterious ailment.
Furthermore, 1t developed that at the
time when Latarge went to Paris to
take out his patent upon the new proc.
ess, Barber was, there also, In secret.
When Latarge was taken III Barber
had constant access to his sick room.
and II would hive been lust rs easy
for him as for Marie to have added the
poison 10 his food. And when the i'll
ness proved mortal Barber was heard
to say: Nov l shall be the master
here" 8
Summing UP this mysteriOus case,
we may conclude that Marie LafarGe
was convicted unjlistly: whether she
was guilty or innocent, the EVIDENCE
against herdd not Justify the verdict
II