The Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle. — 1866-01-13 (Stourbridge, West Midlands, England)

CAREER OF A PRISONER.  The trial of Poncet, the presumed murderer of NT Lavergne at Argenteuil, is to take place at the assizes of Versailles in the course of the present month. Since his arrest the investigations of the police have brought to light some curious details respecting his prev lolls life, of which we quote the following:—  Poneet is tall, well made, of rather prepossessing appearance, and was horn in the year 1837. A considerable portion of his life has been spent among horses, and he is said to be an excellent rider. From the age of eight to fifteen he was page in the service of Baron de Spieni, and next engaged as groom with the Maquis di. Carayon-Latonr. While in th latter employment a robbery to the prejudice of the coachman WPM committed, awl Ponget took to flight. A little later he was arrested wandering about in a state of vagabonflage, and condemned to remain for five years in a house of correction. In March of 1838 he was again in custody for attempting to pass bad Pitney, and on being taken before the commissary of police, irsulted that functionary in so gross a manner that he was aenterced to three years' imprisonment for the offence, although acquitted on tln- main charge. On his liheration in 114(11 he succeeded, by concealing his antecedents, in obtaining employment in the stables of Prince Napoleon. The director, M. Leroy, does not appear to have had any fault to find with him during the time he was there. 'His stay was, however, of short duration. About that time he renewed acquaintance with a man named Nfarjotte, who had been three times condemned for theft, and in the month of March. 18411, the two appeared before the Court of Assize on the accusation of robbery; being convicted they were each sentenced to eight years' hard labour. While at the prison of La Roquette, Poncet met with the notorious forger Giraud of Gatebourse, with whom he arranged a plan to escape from Cayenne. Poncet arrived out first, awl Giraud, on subsequently reaching the colony, found everything prepared, and one night shortly after, the two men put their plans into execution and got clear away in a small boat. They, however, met with diflicultie on which they had not calculated, having at times to ehoose between the risk of being devoured by savages and the danger of dying of hunger. Girand being unaccustomed to such a life of privations, soon expired, and Poncet not knowing what else to do, returned to Cayenne.  Six months later he again escaped and reached an American ship, which landed him at New York. There, the desire of again seeing France overcame his fear of detection, and he embarked for England on his way home. We have already related how, by little attentions to M. Lavergne. he insinuated himself into the confidence of that gentl,•roan on board the steamer which conveyed him from England to France, and, on landing, Poncet carried on shore a portion of M. Lavergne's luggage to lead to the supposition that he %V a. 4 accompanying him, and thus avoid the scrutiny of the police. The expedient sueceeded ; they arrived in Paris, and, twodays after, the dead body M. Lavergne was found lying in a small wood near Argenteuil. Poneet was traced and arrested, and then discovered to be the escaped convict. The accused, remembering the able man., r in which M. Leon de Barthelemy had defended him in 1862, wrote to that advocate to undertake his case a second time, to which rei west the latter has consented,