FIGHT FOR HUSBAND’S PARDON

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1929, Page 7

FIGHT FOR HUSBAND’S PARDON

QUARRELS AMONG FRIENDS PARIS', Nov. 23. Two women ore doing lheir utmost to save their husbands from passing the rest of their lives at Devil’s Island, the 'French penal settlement in the Caribbean Sea. These women, who are convinced of their husbands innocence, are Mine. Mestorino. wife of Charles Mcstorino, the Paris jeweller who narrowly escaped the guillotine for the murder of a brother jeweller, Gaston Truphemc; and Mine. Se/aiec, whose husband was sent to Devil’s Island instead of being executed. This steji was taken because of a doubt as to whether lie committed the murder for which he was sentenced . Another sentence which is causing much controversy is that of Dr. Bougrat, the Marseilles physician who was sent to Devil’s Island for the murder of a patient, M. Rumelie. The latter’s hoilv was found in a cupboard in the doctor’s consulting-room. HOPE OF ESCAPE. There is now a tragic feud in progress between Mrne. Mestorino and the Truphemc family. She states her intention of going to Devil’s Island with her husband, and does not disguise the hope that, like Dr. Rougrat, he will escape from the convict settlement, so that she can rejoin him in Soulh America. The family of Mestorino’s victim demand that the sternest measures be taken to prevent his escape. Mestorino, it npifiears, cannot be sent to Devil’s Island until next April, when the next contingent of of>3 convicts will lie transported. Mmc. Scznce, whose husband was reporter! recently to have escaped from Devil’s Island, addressed a large audience at one of the biggest halls in Paris this evening in furtherance of her campaign for her husband’s rehabilitation. New evidence has been found which suggests that Ncznoc was the victim of a miscarriage of justice, and his wife is determined to leave no stone unturned until she discovers the truth.