The Pontypridd District Herald and Rhondda Valley, Llantrisant, Caerphilly, and Mountain Ash News. — 1893-12-09 (Pontypridd, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

MURDER, TRIAL IN FRANCE.  The trial at Riom took plaoe on Monday, of the Russian Baron Randen, husband of a well-known circus rider, for the murder of the Danish Lieutenant Kastenkiold, who sometimes accompanied and sometimes followed them in their professional tours. The Baroness née Weiss, of Thorn, in Prussian Poland, is a beautiful woman, and excels in breaking in spirited horses. The Baron was first an officer in the Russian Navy, an attached to the staff of the Grand Duke Alexis. He then went into the army and served as an aidede-camp in Siberia. Leaving that service he joined the Cossacks, quarrelled, and on one occasion fought a furious duel in which he was wounded. The murder or manslaughter took place at Ciermont-Fsrrand, in the stable part of the cirous. It was perpetrated with a revolver which sent three balls into the body of the Danish officer. It was brought out by the judge that De Randen was as a boy and officer violent and wayward. He could not be br,ught under discipline. The Czar at diffeient times interfered to prevent the penal consequences of his acts of insubordination taking effi a, and he tired out the patience of the Grand Duke Alexis, with whom he remained some time. 11, then tried novel writing and poetry as a means of earning an income, but failed and ended by falling in love with Eugenie Weiss and marrying her. She did not give up the circus on her marriage. They both made a tour all over Europe. At Copennagen Lieutenant Kasteskiold saw her, and gave up his commission to devote himself to her. He was the heir to a great fortune, but was not rich when he was in her following. Sometimes he and De Randen, who is given to drink, were like brothers. The Baron is described as wearing a smart frock coat buttoned up the chest, and being military looking. His white silk nectie brings out his dark complexion. He has moody black eyes, curly hair, also jet black, an oval face, thick lips, and a dipping; Equiline nose. The Braoness is the daughter of an "outside" broker who did business at Breslau before he went to Thorn. At the opening of the day's proceedings, the presiding Judge, after recalling the fact that the prisoner was addicted to drink, a treated his wife with great brutality, subjected him to a searching examination as to the circumstances under which he had met Eastenskiold. De Randen explained how when his wife was performing at Copenhagen, Eastenskiold .become intimate at his house. He suspected the relations between the officer and his wile, and fought a duel with the lieutenant. The Judge then interrogated the accused regarding the murder at Clermont-Ferrand. The prisoner declared that he was provoked and struck by Kastenskiold, and had ogly•then drawn his revolver and fired. The Renate de Randen was then called upon to give evidence, and her appearance in court aroused great curiosity and interest. In her evidence she admitted that her iiusband had cause for jealousy, and displayed no resentment against him. The jury deliberated forfive minutes only, and then returned a verdict of not guilty. The court consequently acquitted the prisoner.