The Sun. — 1857-11-18 (London, England)

THE  'RIA I.  This case has at length been brought to a conclusion. At the afternoon sitting of the court on Saturday, M. Langlois pleaded for Lemairo ; be endeavoured to convince the jury that, though guilty, the man was only the instrument of Hugot and Villet, and that the revelations he had made entitled him to merciful consideration. M. Salmon, advocate of Villet, contended that there was no positive proof of his participation in the crimes committed, and that he ought not to be condemned on the assertions of such men as Hugot and Lemare ; the utmost, the learned counsel said, that could be proved against him was that he had been a receiver of stolen goods. The same learned gentleman pleaded for Villet's wife, son, and daughter. At the sitting of the court on Sunday evidence was given to prove that the elder Villet had gone to Beraneourt, and minutely inspected the scene of the murder of Dechamps—a fact which, like all others alleged against him, he had energetically denied. Counsel then pleaded in succession for the other prisoners, and the procureur-general replied. That done, the President asked Lemairo if he had anything to say for himself. "Sir," answered the prisoner, who seemed greatly discouraged, "I have told the truth—l have nothing to add !" " And you, Hugot, have you anything to say ?" "I also have told the truth, Monsieur le President !" answered the man, who was deadly pale. The same question was thi.n put to Bourse, and he answered it with apparent indifference in the negative. The elder Villet was then called on, and gesticulating, with a handkerchief in his hand, he said :—" Gentlemen of the court and of the jury, you have heard my learned and illustrious advocate. I confide in what he has said to you in such eloquent terms— ho has proved to you that I am not guilty. Gentlemen of the court, and gentlemen of the jury —I can say so s demnly, because it is the truth— lam innocent 1 There is a God in heaven ; he will sooner or later make known the guilty patties, and proclaim my innocence !" Villet, who for the last two or three days had lost much of the marvellous self-possession and acuteness which he ha l at first manifested, displayed great agitation as he spoke, and sat down with tears in his eyes. The other prisoners severally declared that they had nothing to say. The President then commenced his summing up, and had not concluded when the court rose. At the sitting of the court on Monday morning, the four principal prisoners, on being placed at the bar, manifested much discouragement. The genda'mes watched over them with incessant attention, to prevent them from committing any desperate act. The President then resumed his surnialin, up, and concluded it at half-paA twelve, by submitting not less than 800 questions to the jury. The jury afterwards retired, and remained in deliberation until three o'clock the next morning, when, as we learn by telegraph, they acquitted Jean Villet and Fournier, and convicted the other twelve. The court condemned. Lemaire, H ugot, Bourse, and the eLler Villet to death ; Prosper Villet to hard labour for life ; Villet's wife to ten, his daughter to eight, Rabache to seven, end Hugo''s wife, Pillot, Prevost, and Caton, each to live years of the same punishment. The interest excited by the trial in the town continued unabated to the end, and to a late hour at night a large crowd remained collected in the vicinity of the Palais du Justice.