MURDER OF A PRIEST.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1825, 11 August 1913, Page 7

MURDER OF A PRIEST.

POETESS ACQUITTED. SENSATIONAL TRIAL IN FRANCE Br Telograph—Prcus Association—Oopyrlrht Paris, August 8. Madamo Orespy, the poetess, has been acquitted of tho murder of tho Abbo Chnssaiug, after a sensational trial. In January last tho Abbo was found dead in tho apartment of Mme. Crcspy at Ageu, near Toulouse, with a bullet in his forehead. The relations between tho priest and Mmo. Orespy were common knowledge in Agen, and to prevent a scandal his bishop had decided a few days previously to transfer tho priest to Montastruc. The news of tho Abbe's death was first conveyed to tho police by Mme. Clrespy, who declared that tho priest had shot himself. It was aftorwaixls alleged by tho police that tho fatal shot was fired from somo distance at tho Abbe,, and Madame Orespy was arrested and charged with the murder'. During the trial there were swift exchanges and fierce words between the defence and tho prosecution and between Mmo. Orospy and the witnesses. . The Abbo Lic'haud gave evidence that for oveir a year tho murdered man liad been weary of tho liaison, and one day said: "How that woman plagues me." 110 feared she would do ham a mischief. Mmo. Crespy's dressmaker desoribed tho accused as hysterical, crazy, and jealous. Mmo. Crospy had told her that the.ro was nothing liko a sensational love crime to boom books. A fierce dialogue ensued between the prisoner and tho witness. Mmo. Crwspy broke down when a former poet-lover of hors declared har incapable of committing tho crime. Tho police frequently intervened to suppress disorder in the court. Mmo. CTOspy's counsel mode a bittex attack on the Abbo Chossaing, and.produced a letter found on tho body indicating that ho had betrayed tliTee 'jvomen. This oaiused a sonsation, and tho crowd, which had been hostile, cheeired Mme. Orespy when her acquittal was announoed.