The Warwickshire Herald. — 1885-06-27 (Birmingham, West Midlands, England)

MURDERERS' STORY OF THEIR CRIME. The trial has taken place at the Assize Court of the Seine of two men who murdered a trunk maker in the Rue d'Angoulane, in February last. The victim, Delaunay, was found murdered in his chop, his body literally gaping with horrible wounds. These were chiefly inflicted by knives and scissors, the two which proved mortal being a knife thrust in the throat and the deep puncture of a pair of scissors in the same place. The murderers were coon arrested. One, named Mayer, was a former assistant in Delaunay's shop; the other is called Gaspard. The murder was planned at the house of a man named Gautier, who is also on trial, and had plunder for its object. The trio had learnt that Delaunay had recently obtained a consider& le sum by the sale of a "roundabout" machine, used at fairs ; but after they had perpetrated the crime and ransacked Delaunay's place they only found a sum of LI. The accused are young men. Gaspard is a painter. and his mild appearance made it difficalt to bel:eve that he had had a band in so b!oodthirsty a crime. Mayer is a Cheap-Jack, and Caliber, at whose lodgings the diabolical plan was hatched, sold tickets outside theatres. Mayer stated that he met Gaspard at Caulier'a. There Gaspard told him he was out of work and wanted a job of a lively scrt. Mayer immediately suggested that old Delaunay should be robbed, but not killed, to which Gaspard coolly replied that lie would arrange aff about that. The two then went to Delaunay's, having previously armed themselves with knuckle-dusters. The victim was knocked down, but offered a formidable resistance. Gaspard, who made the attack, cried out to his accomplice, after having inflicted 50 wounds on the victim's head, for something sharp which would finish him. Mayer gave him a pair of scissors, which Gaspard drove into the throat of Delaunay, who actually drew the blood-stained instrument from his wound. Gaspard then called for something else still sharper. Mayer s?arclied Delaunay's pocket and drew out a knife, which Gaspard plunged with his two hands into the victim's throat and nailed him to the floor. The work was then complete. This was Slayer's accumt, related with consummate coolness. Gaspard made a somewhat similar confession, alleging, however, that his accomplice had also assisted in overpowering the victim, and had stebbed him with the pair of scissors. On the table before the court were the pifeex de conviction, consisting of a hatchet, a knife, a pair of scissors, two " knuckledusters " and the blood-stained clothes of the victim and the accused persons. Mayer and Gaspard as-re found guilty and sentenced to death, but Gautier was acquitted.  Her Majeaty's assent has been given to an ordinance paaaed by the Legislative Council of the British settlements on the river Gambia placing foreign ships on a footing of perfect equality with British ships. The ordinance is alai made applicable to all canoes and boats belonging to natives inhabiting towns and places adjacent to the river.  The Khedive has, in reco7nition of their services with the Egyptian army, conferred the rank of major on all the British officers serving with that force now holding the rank of captain. A curious case against a son of fraudulently obtaining money due to his tither has been before the Hastings magistrates. William Wenborn, on hie father being taken into custody, went to his parent's employer, Mr. Durose, and obtained 10s. by representing that his father had sent him for the money to help him in his difficulty with the police. Subsequently Wenborn the elder demanded his money from Mr. Durcee, and the frond being discovered the prisoner was arreeteil at Folkestone. The accused, before being formally committed for trial, admitted obtaining the money, and said he did so to help his *Liter.