The New York herald., 1922-02-26
SON TRIES TO CLEAR
FAMILY OF STAIN
Father Died in Cell, Mother
Went Insane, He Served IA
Year Term for Murder.
EVIDENCE OF INNOCENCE
French Village Excited Over
What Is Declared Terrible
Miscarriage Of Justice.

Special Gable to THE NEW York HERALD.
Copyright, 1922, By THE NEw YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
Paris, Feb. 25.
After thirty-four years, fourteen OF
which he spent at hard labor in a
French prison as a convicted muir
derer, during which time his father,
imprisoned for the same crime, died
a few cells away from him, and his
mother also n prisoner, went insane,
Justin Adam, now q railroad foreman
near Epinal, is trying to take the stain
from his family name by demanding
q revision of the murder verdict which
stirred the Vosges region In 1888.
This is his third effort to obtain a
reversal OF the verdict, but this time
Adam has discovered evidence that he
believes will convince the Nancy Judges
that a terrible miscarriage of justice
has been written in the French records
The victim OF the murder was an aged
woman named Barthelmy who quit the
residence Of a nephew named Dodin to
become q member of the Adam house
hold.
After a few weeks she disappeared
Later her body was found covered with
leaves in ar adjoining forest. Sus-
picion Immediately was directed to the
ADAM family, which was suspected Of
numbering the woman to obtain 5000
francs which she was known to carry
in her skirt pocket. Despite protests Of
innocence the witnesses convinced the
jury that the Adam family was avari-
cious and brutal and the father, mother
and son were each sentenced to fifteen
year prison term.
When he was released, in 1905, Justin
Adam took up the fight to obtain a new
trial, but only recently did he discover
material witness which was necessary.
This witness Is young farmer named
Hisson, who is a codsin of the murdered
Nine. Barthelmy's nephew Dodin. This
man is said recently to have told Adam
the strange story Of how Nine. Bar
thelmy's relatives conspired to XIII her
and that he was present with other
children when the money was divided
after the Adam family had been con-
victed-some receiving only fifty francs
as the price for keeping quiet.
The following day young Hisson's
father took him into the woods, beat him
terribly and tied him TO tree where he
was left for dead. but neighbors rescued
him and treated his wounds. Seven
months later Hissons father-always
according to Adam--again threatened
the boys life II he ever revealed what
he knew, and on one occasion, II Is al
legged, ne actually tried to poison the boy.
These revelations have caused enor-
nous excitement in the village where
the crime occurred, which increased last
Wednesday when Hisson denied ever
having told such history TO Adam.
But the majority think the denial was
inspired by the fear that the remaining
relatives Of the Barthelmy family
might seek revenge for the betrayal.
His sons story. moreover, seems to
be sustained by a farmer named Desire
Collin. who IS now known 20 be the man
who, while keeper OF a small hotel, found
the youngster tied TO a tree in a half
dying condition. This man, who once
testified that he had seen light all
night in the Adam home when the crime
was committed, IS said now TO be ready
TO affirm that he was Influenced by a
member OF the Barthelmy family.