Norwich bulletin., 1922-03-10
FAMOUS TRIALS
EDWARD PARKER DEACON

A French trial, well within the mem
DRY of many of the older readers, was
that of Edward Parker Deacon. ae-
cused of having killed NJ. Ab4!lle, at
Cannes, on Feb. Is, 1899, on account
of an intimacy which he believed ex-
listed between the Frenchman and the
Americans wife.
Deacon was a member of a proni-
nent Boston family, and at the time
OF the murder he was a member of
an important banking firm in Paris.
Abeille and Deacon had been close
friends until tbs latter,s suspicious
were aroused. His wife and he had
been spending some time at Cannes.
He had gone to Paris expecting TO re-
main a few days, but suddenly chang
ed his mind, arrived at the Hotel
Splendite Cannes, at midnight, Feb.
IS, and went at once to his room. The
door was locked but he burst in and
found Mrs. Deacon and NJ. Amile Abe
lille together. The husband exchanged
q few hot words with the Frenchman
and drawing from his pocket a pistol
he killed him. Mrs. Deacon was the
daughter of Admiral Charles II. Bald
win of the United States Navy, who
had died previous to the tragedy.
After Mr.. Deacon had killed Abe
lille. he turned angrily upon his .wife,
who was shiYering and trembling
close to the spot where her lover lay
bathed in his blood and said: 4 have
a good mind to kill you as I have
killed that man; but killing is too
good for you. You shall be reserved
for worse fate; you shall live to
have the finger of scorn pointed at
you for the rest of your life. Never
let me see your deceitful face again"
When he had finished, Mrs. Deacon
gave a shrek of terror, fell on her
face and was picked up insensible and
carried to an adjoining room. The four
children who were in the hotel at the
time were conducted to another part
of the building where their father and
friends did their best to pacify them
Mr.. Deacon had the full sympathy of
i'everybody, even the police officers al
! lowing him to pass the rest of the
night in the hotel without taking him
| into custody. The tragedy created a
! great sensation in both Europe and
this country, as Mr.. and Mrs. Dea-
con moved in the highest class of con
/ tinental society.
MIR. Deacon was remanded to Jail
the following day and Mrs Deacon
mysteriously disappeared with the
! children. On Feb 22, the accused was
/ examined regarding the murder and
was remanded for trial. The trial took
place at Nice on May 90 following,
a large crowd of the residents of the
French city gathering about the Pal
ais de Justice while it proceeded and
the demand for tickets was extraod
mary.
! The trial was presided over by
Judge Aubertin. The Count du Moisin
Procurer of the Government, was the
prosecuting attorney, while Mr.. Dea-
con was represented by four of the
most eminent lawyers in France, in.
GLIDING Maitre Demange
Mr.. Deacon appeared in the court
room accompanied by two gendarmes
The selection of jury was quickly
disposed of. Mrs. Deacon, who had beer
formerly cited to appear, was not pres
ent. Mr.. Deacon on the invitation O
the president Of the court recountet
his relations with his wife from thei
marriage until 1890. Their life, he said
was happy one until they made tn
acquaintance of Abeille in 1887. Abe
q lilies visits at their home were at frs
! rare, but subsequently became so FIRE
: quent that he objected. Finally thes
visits led to the breaking of the hap
py marriage relations which had here
4 tofore existed between husband an
II wife.
= After Mr.. Deacon had given his evi
dence Mrs. Deacon's deposition wa
read, her physicians claiming that sh
was too ill to be present in person
7 This was followed by the testimon
e Of Inara Deodat the femme de cham
y bre whose evidence was in favor
her mistress. The trial only consume
one day and after the jury had dc
o liberated half an hour they brougF
: in 9 verdict Of the prisoners havin
It inflicted wounds resulting in deaf
without intention to KILL being EQUIV
alent to a verdict of wilfully wound
ing. The Judge sentenced Deacon
g years Imprisonment which verdi,
was entirely unexpected and wa
! greeted with groans and Kisses.
le Deacon was at once taken back
prison where he remained until De
u. when he was pardoned by Pres
g dent Carnot,