The Sun. — 1853-09-13 (London, England)

MURDER OF A HUSBAND BY HIS WIFE AND SON.— The Court of Assizes of the Vosges, in its last sitting, tried a woman named Demangeon, aged 54, for the murder of her husband, and her son Maurice, aged 20, as her accomplice. At an early hour in the morning of the 29th of June last, as a man was passing along a field in the hamlet of Ivoux, he found the body of a man stained with blood lying in a path. His head was covered with terrible wounds. Near him was a stone stained with blood, and to which some of his hair adhered ; and at his feet was a basket of eggs, several of which were broken. But there were no marks of any struggle having taken place ; and it was evident from the nature of the wounds that they had not been inflicted with the stone. It was consequently assumed that the man had been murdered in some other place, and then carried to the field. From the dress, deceased was recognised as a farmer, named Demangeon, Hagisles Belles. He had lived in an isolated house with his wife and son. They were sent for. The woman showed no emotion, the son threw himself on the body, uttering cries, but shed no tears. The woman said that her husband had left home in the morning for the neighbouring markettown with 30f. in his pocket, and that he had, probably been murdered to facilitate a robbery. It was proposed to carry the body to the house ; but the woman vehemently objected, saying that she dare not enter it if the corpse were there ; and she offered money to have it conveyed elsewhere. No notice was taken of her objection. On arriving at the house the sheets, mattress, and the bedstead of deceased were found to be stained with blood ; as were also certain articles of dress of the mother and the son, the ceiling, walls, So. An axe, which had evidently been recently washed, but which was still spotted with blood, was also found. It was then remembered that the old man had had constant quarrels with his wife and son ; and that the former had frequently expressed a wish to see him dead—the latter to leave home. They were both arrested. The woman shortly after confessed that she bad murdered the old man with the axe as he lay asleep, and that she had afterwards conveyed the body to the field ' • but she solemnly protested that her son knew nothing of what she had done. The son, on his part, said that he had been awakened by hearing his father cry ; that on getting up he had seen his mother strikinge, him on the head with the axe, that all at once her strength had failed her, and she had cried, " take the axe and finish him ;” whereupon he had struck him a tremendous blow on the head ,pith all his force, and had put an end to his life. The mother subsequently admitted that what her son had stated was true, and added that she had long resolved to get rid of her husband, as she hated him, and as living with him was insupportable to her. She further said that she had been actuated partly by avarice, inasmuch as the old man had determined on paying the penalty to prevent his son going for a soldier ; whereas she had said to the son, " Let us murder your father. We shall thereby save the money, as you will be exempt as a widow's son !" The jury declared both guilty, but found that there were extenuating circumstances in favour of the son. The court condemned tl.e woman to death, and her son to hard labour for life. They both heard the sentence unmoved.—Galignani.