The Express. — 1864-05-19 (London, England)

LONDON, THURSDAY, MAY 19.  AT length LA Pommsams, the French doctor, has been found guilty of poisoning Madame DE PACW, without " extenuating circumstances," and has been condemned to death. It is difficult to believe that the jury could have come to any other conclusion. Only a few days ago, however, a man, who had been proved to have murdered his mother-in-law, appealed to the jury on the ground that for tweaty-five years she had lived in his house, and in answer to his appeal the jury qualified their verdict by finding "extenuating circumstances." It would have excited little surprise, therefore, if the ingenuity of L► PonxestAis had suggested some equally available excuse. Following the ordinary practice of French tribunals, the President of the Court, with the fine dramatic instinct and epigrammatic smartness of his race, questioned LA POMNERAIS as to his life and actions during the whole of two days. He seems to have been turned out of medical societies—he had applied through a friend to the POPE for some holy decoration—had advertised for a wife—and had succeeded in marrying a girl of some fortune by borrowing shares from a friend, of which he represented himself to be the proprietor. The man seems to have been a philosopher in his way. He professed the grossest materialism—denied the existence of a future state— and gave the strictest injunction that if he were ill no priest should on any account be admitted to his bedside. But he was something worse. For having taken advantage of the passionate love with which be had inspired poor Madame DE PAuw, to obtain a fortune by robbing the insurance offices, he denounced her as an abandoned profligate. LA PovtMERAIS' conduct during the trial exhibited a coolness and audacity that roes with the occasion. In prison he seems to have written a comedy, in which he caricatured the witnesses produced against him ; and when the President told him that he had attempted to commit suicide by putting some copper pieces into vinegar in order to generate poison, the prisoner said :—" You may add also " that I endeavoured to open my vein', but failed " in the attempt." The case against LA PestmzeAm was so strong, that escape was almost hopeless. He was defended by M. LACHAED, who also defended Madame LArrAsoe, and who probably made the most of a hopeless case. The facts stated in the indictment were conclusive, and the prosecution seems to have succeeded in establishing the mate• rial portion of them. One great difficulty which M. LAI HALL, had to explain was the fact that LA POMMERAIS had insured Madame DE PAEW'S life for 20,0001. What possible explanation can be given of so singular a proceeding f Here was a miserable woman living in a garret in Paris with her two children. Assume that she was the mistress of LA PoicezaAns--admit that he gave her money—how could he be her creditor I As the Advocate-General said, "the loan of money " to a mistress ! c.- West pas Francais. No one lends " to a woman whom he loves or ever has loved." But even if such a thing could be, he had given her only some five and twenty pounds, and for that the infatuated wretch had bartered her body and her soul Indeed, LA POMMERAIS himself did not venture toclaim more than 400/. And what creditor for 4001. would insure his debtor's life for 20,000/. 1' Very true, said M.