A PARIS CRIME.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XXXII, Issue 8918, 11 September 1907, Page 4

A PARIS CRIME.

Albert Solielland, a young Paris workman, was sentenced to death at the Seine Assizes for the murder, under brutal and revolting circumstances of a little girl of 12 named Marthe Erbeldiug. The crime was committed in January last. Soleilland’s family and the child’s parents were friends. One afternoon he received permission to take Marthe to a matinee at a music-hall, and, instead of returning her to her parents, he took her to his lodging, where ho assaulted and murdered her. The assassin then wrapped the body in a brown paper parcel, and deposited it in the cloakroom at the Gare do I’Est, where the police subsequently found it. Suspicion fell upon Soleillaud, but lie protested his innocence, and told Marthc’s parents that he had lost her in the crowd whilst leaving the music-hall. He professed to bo sympathetic, and insisted on taking part in the search for the missing girl. He was subsequently arrested,>n after a few days imprisonment confessed his crime. The defence was that the prisoner was irresponsible for his acts, but the jury found him “Guilty” of murder, without extenuating circumstances, and he was sentenced to death. When asked what he had to say, the prisoner for the first time showed signs of fear. His lips moved, but no words issud from them. At the moment when the death sentence was being pronounced there was a dramatic interruption. Soleillaud’s wife, who was in court, rushed towards the dock in a frenzy, and brandishing a revolver cried “Wretch! He would have done better to kill himself than to bring dishonour upon my child! Let me kill him !’ ’ The guards had forciby to remove Mdme. Soleillaud, but the audience vigorously applauded her sentiments. The condemned man fell back on his scat and hurst into tears. He was removed to prison under a heavy escort, as the crowd had threatened to lynch him.