The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1864-12-31 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

MURDER OF TWO WIVES BY AN ARAB. A IS to gular trial recently took place before a council of war St constantine, in Algeria, • man having to answer to the charge of murdering his two wives. The evidence reveal, .1 many curious traits of Arah life, and showed how the natives understand and apply their rights as husbands, and how they potash adulterons wives:—  Ali-ben-Tabar, of the itizeloux tribe, bad two consorts, Fatma-ben-el-Ady-Belkassen and Couika-benLakden-ben-K ipuf. Both were remarkably beautiful, and on this account their husband had paid a considerable sum of money for them. Ah-ben-Tabar was sleeping under lain tent, and on awaking and casting a glance around he was astonished at not seeing his wives repotting on their mats at his side, lie left the tent and carefully inspected the vicinity of hie dwelling. At a short distance, under a clump of trees, he fancied he heard a sound of voices. lie advanced slowly, like a leopard about to seize his pry, but at this moment some clouds which had obsetired the moon passed away, and, as the flood of pale light suddenly shell upon the earth revealed his form, two men isatantly ran from under the trees and took to flight. The distance was too great to allow Taber to osertake them, and besides this, his immediate object was to know if his two wives, or one of them, had been false to him. He soon reached the trees, whence two women flew towards his tent. These fugitives were Bel-Kassen and Kipuf. The Arab quickly appeared before them, and instantly they were ordered to fail on their knees. The mandate was immediately obeyed, but their trayers and supplication's met with but one response, -" Their names !" Tears and sobs were redoubled, but Taber reiterated in a stern voice his demand to know who were the men who had taken to flight on his approaeh. Receiving no reply, he seized • stout stick, and ceased not to shower blows upon the faithless women till he knew that they were dead. Two other women, relatives of Taber, attracted by the shrieks for mercy, quitted their tents and became spectators of the tragic scene, but whether it was that they c.sisidered the hnsband to be taking lawful vengence, or whether they feared his rage would cause hun to turn upon them, they remained silent and motionless. At daybreak Taber left his tent and presented himself before the rfficer in charge of the Arab bureau, to whom he said, "I have killed my two wives. I have avenged my outraged honour !, ' At the trial eight witnesses proved the facts, I,nd two of them, called at the 'wiriest of the father of one of the women, stated that the cause of the quarrel which bad arisen between the accused and his victim', was idleness on their part. The interpreter to the council observed that this assertion might very properly be doubted, as the father would have a double motive in inducing the Court to believe in the truth of his witnesses? statements; for, if relied on, the stain of dishonour would not attach to the memory of his daughter, and, in addition, he would be entitled to recover damages against the husband. Taber, in his examination, said, "1 purchased these two women for douros, and by killing them I have lost that amount. If I had considered my money before my honour I shonld have let them live." . .  The judge of the tribunal urged that the penal law should be carried out, admitting, however, that the council might take into coniideration the excuse of the accused founded on the flagrant crime of adultery; but the council, taking into consideration the facts and circumstances and the outrage dune to the husband, pronounced • sentence of acquittal.