The Sun. — 1847-08-21 (London, England)

ASSASSINATION OF A FATHER IN-LAW. A man named Mann was tried last week by the Court of Assizes of the Bouches-du-Rhone for the assassination of his father in-law, named Imbert. The prisoner was born at Strasburg, but got his living as a stonecutter at Marseilles. There he married the daughter of Imbert, at that time aged only 16. In 1846 the prisoner, his wife, and father-in-law went to live at Ala. The prisoner was remarkably jealous of his wife, even to the extent of seeing with pain her communications with her father. Notwithstanding this, he took one of his workmen, named Vogt, to live with him, and, having only one room, made him sleep in the same chamber as himself and wife. His business caused him frequently to be absent from home, and he nevertheless allowed _Vogt to continue to sleep in the same room with his wife. This led to a criminal intercourse between them, and on his return home one evening the prisoner found them in the same bed. Although he Was of a violent and irascible character, he made no complaint or reproach at this discovery ; but his wife, fearing that his calmness was only the result of a determination to take terrible vengeance, left him, and went with her children to reside with her father. He complained of being thus abandoned, and accused Vogt of having taken away the woman. He, however, would not allow Vogt to quit him, or to cease to work with him. Having during a whole week made in vain repeated entreaties to his wife to return to him, he went one morning to her father's house, where he found them seated at table together. He again begged his wife to return to him, but she refused. He then cried, " A misfortune will occur?" At the same moment he seized a knife. His father-in-law begged him to lay it aside; he refused, because be said he intended to kill himself. "You are too cowardly for that!" retorted the father-in-law, thereupon the prisoner rushed on him and stabbed him. The man cried "I am assassinated," and fell dead. The prisoner then stabbed his wife several times, though fortunately the wounds were only slight. He then rushed into the street covered with blood, and cried, " I have done what I wished. I have satisfied my caprice." He held his young son by the hand, and said, " Come my son, your father is about to die." He proceeded to his pllce of work, no one daring to stop them, and shouted to some men that if they did not fly he would kill them. He shortly after plunged a knife into his throat. With bloodstreaming from the wound, and with the bloody knife in his hand, he hastened to the. guard-house, and said. " Arrest me ; I have just killed my father. in-law and my wife." At the same moment he fell exhausted. For some time after he was unable to sreak, but he signified by signs that he killed those two perbo.ts. He was conve) ed to the hospital, where, after a chile, he began to recover. A close watch was placed on him, a Leeper being continually by the side of his bed. He nevertheless conti hod to escape by rising oue night, and putting on the clothes of another patient. fie then hastened to his own house, where he found Vogt and his wile together. He tried to seize them, but they escaped. He then called the neighbours to bear testimony that adultery had been committed by them, and afterwards went to the commissary of police, and reconstituted himself a prisoner. tlis wife gave evidence against him, and in doing so admitted with great effrontery that she really did not know who was the father of the child will had. driven him to which she was enceinte. The :prisoner said that all the thatfacts t he alleged misconductag a insot f himh wife but he pleaded were true ; with having carried desperation, and he accused his father-in-law of having encouraged it. He even charged him on an incestuous connextion with his daughter. This, however, was not proved. The jury found the prisoner guilty of murder without premeditation, and on provocation, and the Court condemned him to five years' imprisonment.