New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-11
Captain Herail Acquitted
by Court Martial After
Killing Woman.
HER DEFIANCE OF
ARMY ORDER CAUSE
Prisoner Weeps as He Tells How
He Fired Fatal Shots Because
She Would Not Leave.

Paris. April 10. Captain Herail. the
young Officer OF crack Cuirassier
regiment. who killed his beautiful vii
because her devotion 20 him vas "a
great that it interfered with his duties
as a soldier. was acquitted Of her MUIR
der to-day BY vote of 20 ,, before
a court martial in the Palace Of Justice
The verdict was received with the Wild
est enthusiasm.
Il vas the most emotional murder
trial since .hc beginning Of the war
and served TO show tho intensity Of the
spirit Of patriotism that snimates the
French officers.
The evidence showed that Captain
HeraIl. after taking a gallant part with
ms regiment in the campaign in Lor-
iaine, had used every effort to dis
sulde mis- beautiful young wife from
visi.ng him in cantonments near Com
piegne. as this was violation OF mill
tsry orders and already had subj Jected
him to dftcen days arrest and threats
OF court martial.
Seldom has more pathetic scene
been witnessed IN a Paris court than
that Of to-day. when Captain Herail
took the stand in his own defence
The soldier wept as he told of the
great love which ne bore for his wife
The courtroom was crowded with wom-
en- and officers. and as he sobbed out
his story many shed tears OF sym
pathy.
Tells Of Love for Wife.
Captain Herail told of the mutual
love, which prompted his wife to re-
fuse to be separated from him while
he was at the front.
you do not realize how great was
the love ! mad for my wife, he sald
brokenly. when | believed ! would he
csshiered because of her determined
refusals to return. Although | I'M
plored her time and again, became
mad, absolutely mad. and was driven
10 the last extremity
Here the captain broke down snc
sobbed bitterly for FIVE minutes, ane
many of the women and uniformed of
icers in the courtroom were so AFFECT
ed by the gray-haired soldiers agits
ton that they, too. wept.
Rebuked by Commander.
Colonel Jacouillat. who presided over
the court. reproved Captain Herai
sharply for placing all the blame upor
mis- wife and asked why he did not use
some other method than 10 shoot her
81 did" replied the captain. 81 triec
every means. | was unstrung. J was
out of my mind to kill the wife
loved"
Captain Herail went into many de
tails Of his happy married llfe. ms
testimony lasting for an hour. Elgh'
times he was overcome and broke into
tears.
Colonel Moinevlle. commanding Cap
tain Herail's regiment. the llth hus'
sars. testified regarding the orders
which had been communicated 10 Of
fcers forbidding wives from visiting
their husbands at the front. lie spoke
Of the defendants excellent military
service during twenty-five years IN the
regular army.
Major Bouchez told the court OF
reading the colone's final order to
Captain Herail that his wife mus,
leave him or he would be court mar
tailed for dlsobedience. When he had
heard this order read Captain helau
went into the next room, where ms
wife was. He himself described the
scene there His orders TO her, he SAID
were imperative:
"You must go away at once. ! ORDER
vou TO 20. You must leave CompIegne
in ten minutes" said the captain.
II will not CO. Nine. Herall replied.
For the last time ! now command
you to GO o..
Il will not obey your orders. and If
YOU summon me again 20 20 IL Will
terminate our union forever.
Captain Herail, eXssperated by these
words. went TO an adjoining room
where his commanding officer was wait
ing, and. without the latters noticlng
what he was doing. opened drawer
and took out his regulation revolVef'
loaded with six ball cartridges. lie
once more confronted his wife, say ing'
will you go? Yes or no"
Nine. Herail. without moment
hesitation, exclaimed IN LOUD voice
No"
Three shots rang out and Major
Bouchez. bursting into the room, found
Nine. Herail lying dead on the floor.
Captain Herail, broken hearted, weep-
ing. and almost oIt of MS mind, WAS
Immediately put under arrest.
The prisoner offered no excuse for ms
act. except that it was committed IN
the execution Of his duty.
CAPTAIN Herail frequently broke
down during the trial and wept, though
Commandant Cafiier. the government
commissioner for the prosecution, de
livered his indictment in very mild
form. Henri Robert, president OF the
Paris Bar, thus found MS task OF de-
tending the prisoner very easy one:
Paul Hervieu, author and member OF
tho Academy. was on the Jury.