BRUTAL THIRD DEGREE

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 807, 30 October 1929, Page 9

BRUTAL THIRD DEGREE

ALLEGATIONS AGAINST PARIS POLICE UNHEARD-OF CRUELTY United P.A. —By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, Tuesday. The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Mail” says allegations of unheard-of brutality in inflicting the third degree are made in. the Paris Press against certain police inspectors. The _charges are in connection with the questioning of Almazian, the Armenian tailor, who is accused of murdering his friend. Francis Rigaudin, whose body was found in a wicker trunlc at the Lille railway station. “L’Oeuvre” and other newspapers point out that a statement made by Dr. Paul confirms the brutality. “L’Oeuvre” says other scandalous methods used—though they did not leave their mark —included stripping naked the witness, who was presumed to be guilty, at police headquarters. The paper says the witness was even given highly salted food and then was refused a drink. Also the classical trick of preventing the questioned man from sleeping was employed. “L’Oeuvre” demands the severest examination of the facts.

What is known as the “Wicker Trunk Mystery," which has excited Parisians for several weeks, culminated ill a relentless third degree examination for 48 hours of an Armenian tailor, Almazian (said a recent message from Paris). The body of a man, Francois Rigaudin, an accountant, was found in a wicker trunk at the Nord railway station at Lille, on September 13. It was known that Rigaudin was the lover of Madame Almazian, a young Parisienne. Almazian, who has been -without sleep for two days, and is slowly breaking down under the relentless inquisition, cries continually: “I am innocent.” But the police hope for a confession at any moment. Policemen are taking turns in questioning the suspect. They are utilising bits of evidence found in the tailor’s shop, such as recent human bloodstains on the floor and wall, a piece of wire of the same size as that used to tie up the trunk, and fragments of cotton wool similar to that wrapped round the dead man’s head. The police also read aloud the wife’s love letters to the dead man.