The Sun. — 1862-02-10 (London, England)

RRIBLE AIUBDE.R.  The Court of Assizes of the Vaucluse, sitting at Carpentras (says Galignani), has just been occupied during three days with the trial of a farmer named Leonard, for the murder of his wife and two children under horrible circumstances. The following are the principal facts of the case as shown by the evidence and the prisoner's confession. About one o'clock in the morning of the 21st October last, a farmer named Bonnaud, residing in a lone house in the commune of Pertuis, was awakened by cries of help, uttere.i by some person in the yard in front, and on going out he saw a man dressed in shirt and trousers only, both of which were stained with blood, and who said that he had just escaped from the bands of persons who had attempted to murder him. Bonnaud recognised this individual as a farmer named Leonard, whose house was at some distance across the fields, and immediately got his horse and cart to convey him home to La Thuilliere, where his family usually lived, though they had another farm at Martelly, where they also sometimes resided. On arriving there, however, he found the house closed, and could make no one hear, so he drove off to the hospital at Pertuis to obtain assistance for the injured man, who had been wounded by a gun or pistol-shot behind the ear. The surgeon observed that the sides of the wound were burnt with powder, but could not find any trace Gf wadding or ball. As soon as Leonard was able to give explanations, he stated that he had been working with his wife and children the previous day at the farm of Martelly, and that he was just getting his cart out ready to return to La. Thulliere when he was shot by some one from inside the house. He fell, and remained insensible for some time. As soon as he recovered his senses, he had with difficulty dragged himself to Bonnaud's farm to obtain help. What had become of his wife and children he did not know. The gendarmery were at once informed of Leonard's statement, and two men were sent to Martelly to look after the wife and children. On arriving there, they found the outer door open, and the rooms full of smoke, while in the middle of the bedroom lay a smouldering heap, from which the smell of burning flesh proceeded. On examination the bodies of the woman and her children were found, cut in small pieces, and half carbonised. If the falling of the roof had not partially smothered the fire the house must have been entirely destroyed, and scarcely any trace of the crime would have remained. The surgeon's doubts as to Leonard's statement respecting the manner in which he received his wound excited suspicion that he was the murderer of his wife and family, and had inflicted the wound on himself with a pistol. Having been taxed with the crime, he at last admitted that, aggravated by something his wife said, he struck her a blow which killed -her ; that he afterwards murdered the children, and set the house on fire. In his remorse for what he had done he then attempted to kill himself, but failed. Circumstances, however, were soon discovered which proved the murder was premeditated, and that his object was to obtain the sole possession of a piece of land worth about 2,500 fr., which belonged to his wife and her children, and which he bad already attempted to mortgage without her consent. The evidence was conclusive against the prisoner, who was found guilty by the jury without extenuating circumstances, and condemned to death. The execution was ordered to take place at Pertuis, near the scene of the crime.  LA TV ITV TELLIGEN CE, Feb. 8.