ATROCIOUS MURDER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 162, 3 August 1909, Page 3

ATROCIOUS MURDER.

I '' Al '?,^' SS Wm USTKXB LWiIOVW) TO HUSBAND* UKOAA's. The trial of a peculiarly atrocious ,'-L, i S ' • l ,ru ?Pw«us young iarmer, .. ncd Louis ooalis, W as shot one even- '<« M October last at seven o'clock wuile lie was watering |,u ] lul - st . s t ~ pond with,,, a stones throw „f his own

door .Suspicion,fell upon his wite, who »as tweniy-seven .years of age, .nd -, farm hand named Joseph I-'oSciult of o'-ioteen. The latter w!,s arrested 'and. alter a searching interrogation, confessed to having contrived the murder in the following circumstancesFoucaulfs brothei Louis, who- was also employed o„ the larm, had been or some time tile lover of -ilnie. Joins- When he left to perform his military service ill a JJussar regiment hj» was succeeded- by his brotoer Joseph Willi whom the farmer's wife established similar guilty transactions. Jiemg on tin- worst of terras with her husband,, who 'drank, and .beat lie--, -\ime. Johns became possessed with th.: hxed idea of killing him and niarrvin-' Louis loucault. j„ pursuance of'tli" plan she gave Joseph money to buy .-, gun, and constantly urged him to shoot the iarmer, saying: -'I wisr, x miimv nuiv to handle a gun. J. would do it mvsel I '. I'i-ially she persuaded him to do" the deed under a promise to marrv the soidier brother and to pay the younger for committing the crime. The murder was done at dusk, bot ; i barrels being discharged at the farmer through a liedge at close quarters. The wife sat indoors callouslv listening to her husband's moans. His calls were heard for fully half-an-bour. At length, seeing that the servants were "rowiii" suspicions, she went out with°a lantern.

Jolais was only able to sny, "What a long time you have boon in comhg," bofore he lost consciousness. He (lied without uttering another word. It was his wife's endeavors to throw suspicion.upon various innocent persons that lea to her arrest.

The jury found both prisoners "Guilty," but with extenuating circumstances. Each was sentenced to seven years' penal servitude.