The prisoner was then asked if she wished to call anybody to prove that she was with child, and she replied, "I do not wish to call anybody."

The jury of matrons then retired, and a few minutes afterwards they sent for a medical man, and one being forthcoming, he went to the room in which they were. A few minutes afterwards they returned into court.

The Clerk of Arraigns-Are you agreed in your verdict, and do you find whether the prisoner at the bar is with quick child?

The Forewoman-We say she is not.

While this was going on, the prisoner looked wildly round the court. The Clerk of Arraigns directed that she should be removed, on which she turned towards him, as if she would have said something; but the gaoler, taking her by the arm, said "Come on," and she was led away.

The sentence was afterwards remitted on the ground of insanity.

III.

THE PARK-LANE MURDER.

THE trial of Marguerite Dixblanc for the murder of her mistress, Madame Riel, in Park-lane, on Sunday, April 7, was commenced at the Central Criminal Court, before Baron Channell, on June 12. The Attorney-General

(Sir J. Coleridge), Mr. Poland, Mr. Besley, and Mr. Archibald conducted the prosecution. The prisoner was defended by Mr. Powell, Q.C., Mr. Gough, Mr. Wildey Wright, and Mr. Mirehouse. M. Albert was engaged as interpreter. The prisoner, who when placed at the bar exhibited a remarkably calm and composed appearance, was seated during the trial.

The Attorney-General, in opening the case to the jury, said it was his duty to state, as clearly and shortly as he could, the few facts of this awful crime. The only question would be whether the prisoner committed that crime, and he was very glad to see that the prisoner had the assistance of his learned friends, who would do everything that could be done honourably on behalf of the prisoner. He was afraid, however, that there would be no doubt that the prisoner committed the crime, and that the jury would be compelled in the result to return a verdict to that effect. The Attorney-General then proceeded to give a short narrative of the facts of the case, to prove which the following evidence was adduced:--

Eliza Watts, examined by Mr. Poland-I was formerly in the service of the deceased as housemaid, at No. 13, Park-lane. I had been in her service about four months before this occurrence took place. The household consisted of Madame Riel, her daughter, the prisoner, and myself. The prisoner was cook, and she came into the service last January. On Easter Sunday, the 31st of March, Mdlle. Riel went to Paris. The prisoner did not speak English, but I was able to understand what she said, and she told me that she was going to leave Madame Riel's service on the 21st of April. On Saturday, the 6th of April, Madame Riel dined at home with a friend, and after dinner the food was placed in the pantry. This pantry was on the ground floor-the same floor as the dining-room and parlour. The deceased kept the key of the pantry, and she always locked the door, and put the key in her pocket. Deceased always kept the door locked. There was an iron

safe in the pantry. Before the dinner was over on the Saturday I spoke to the prisoner, and told her that madame wanted to speak to her, and she went up to her, and afterwards the prisoner went out. This was about nine o'clock. I did not know what she went out for. She did not return until nearly midnight. Madame Riel's friend at this time was gone, and madame had gone to bed. I sat up for the prisoner in the kitchen. She let herself in with a key-the key of the area. She brought with her some articles of food for the next day. I slept on the third floor, and the prisoner occupied a separate room on the same floor. The deceased's bedroom was on the second floor, and on the first floor was the bedroom of Mdlle. Riel and the dressing-room. I and the prisoner and the deceased were the only persons in the house on the 6th of April, during the night. On the morning of the 7th I got up at half-past seven o'clock as usual, and went down-stairs, and about eight o'clock I took the deceased her breakfast in her bedroom. She had tea and bread and butter. I lighted the fire in her bedroom, and then left her in bed. I and the prisoner remained in the kitchen, and at half-past nine o'clock I went again to the deceased's bedroom. She rang the bell after this, and I went again to her in her bedroom. At this time the deceased was up and dressed, and she told me that I might do up her room, and I did so. The deceased put on her bonnet and dress, and said she was going in the Green Park for a quarter of an hour, and she went down-stairs, and she told me that if a lady came to ask for her I was to say that she would be back in a quarter of an hour. She had her little dog with her. I believe this was about twenty minutes past eleven o'clock, and I did not go down until just before twelve. While I was up-stairs I did not hear the slightest noise or disturbance in the house. I saw nothing of the deceased when I went down-stairs, but I saw the little dog was down-stairs. The prisoner was in the pantry, and she told me that madame had gone out, and that she had locked the door of the kitchen, and had taken the key away with her. She had told me that madame had not ordered any second breakfast. About twenty minutes after twelve o'clock the prisoner asked me to go out and fetch some beer, and I told her it was Sunday, and that it was of no use going before one o'clock, as the publichouse would not be open. The prisoner asked me several times before one o'clock to go and fetch some beer, and about five minutes after one o'clock the prisoner gave me a jug, and told me to go for the beer, and I went out for that purpose by the front door, and the prisoner looked out and said that the public-house was open. The public-house was on the same side at No. 13, in the direction of Piccadilly. I went for the beer, and when I got back I found that the door was shut. I rang and knocked several times, but could not get any answer for some minutes. I asked the prisoner why she had not answered the door, and she said she thought it was madame who was at the door. I and the prisoner then went into the kitchen, and had some beer and something to eat. It was a usual thing for me to fetch the beer on Sunday. I did not notice any difference in the appearance of the kitchen at this time from when I went out. After this I went up-stairs to dress myself, and the prisoner also went to her bedroom, and remained there a long time, an hour and a half or more. I had called out to her to ask her what she was doing, and why she did not come down, and she made me no answer. When she did come down-stairs I again asked her why she had been so long up-stairs, but she made me no answer. In the afternoon, about four o'clock, a French lady

came to see Madame Riel. She had come to dine with Madame Riel, and I told her Madame Riel was out, and she waited until seven o'clock in Madame Riel's bedroom, and then left. The prisoner prepared some soup only for the dinner on the Sunday, and she did not make use of any of the other provisions she had brought in on the Sunday evening. During the afternoon the prisoner told me that she was going out to church. I saw a pair of gloves on the table, and I observed that madame had not taken her gloves. The prisoner made me no answer. When the prisoner said she was going to church, I said that she had better not, as madame might be angry if she found her out when she came home. The prisoner made no reply to this, but about six o'clock she changed her dress, and put on a green satin shot dress, and hung up the one she had been wearing behind the kitchen door. After she had changed her dress, the prisoner and I went into the drawing-room and sat down, and later in the evening, about eight o'clock, she went out, and I never saw her again until she was in custody. I sat up for the prisoner till twelve o'clock, and finding that she did not return I went to bed. I got up the next morning at six o'clock, and found that madame's bed had not been slept in, and that the prisoner was not there. Mdlle. Riel returned the same morning. Madame Riel told me that she was expected, and the prisoner was also aware that she was expected home on that morning. When I saw her, Mdlle. Riel asked me where Margaret was, and I told her she had gone out and had not returned, and she was alarmed, and sent me out to get assistance, and shortly afterwards the police came. While I was absent the pantry door, on the ground floor, was opened. Mdlle. Riel had a duplicate key of this pantry. I went in after I had been out for assistance, and saw the dead body of madame lying there.

Mr. Poland-Did you disturb the body?
Witness-Not at all.

Examination continued-Dr. Wadham came shortly afterwards, and the body was taken into the back parlour, where it was examined by the medical men and the police.

The area of the

Cross-examined-I had myself lived with Madame Riel for five months. There was one other servant in the house previous to Marguerite. That servant remained only three weeks in madame's service. There are houses opposite No. 13, and the public-house is only two doors off. house is very narrow, and the window of the kitchen looks into the area. The area railings were boarded up at this time. When I was not engaged in the household affairs, I was almost constantly with the prisoner, and I never observed anything extraordinary in her conduct, and we got on very well together. The deceased was a very passionate woman. I could not understand what she said, but her manner and gestures were sometimes very angry and violent. All that took place between the prisoner and deceased appeared to me to be in an angry tone and gesture. French people, I believe, always do talk in this manner to each other. (A laugh.) The reason the other cook left was because she did not understand French cookery. I have myself complained of madame's temper.

Mr. Powell And I suppose not without a cause?

Witness-Oh no, sir. (A laugh.)

Cross-examination continued--I have seen madame apparently very angry with a man who was employed in the house doing some painting. This

man was in the service of a tradesman in the neighbourhood, and he came to the house to do some painting work on the Monday morning after the discovery. The prisoner understood very little English, and I mostly communicated with her by signs. It appeared to me that the prisoner and deceased had high words on several occasions. Madame Riel was of a very suspicious temper, and frequently suspected things that had never occurred, and when she was excited she would throw her head up, and throw up her hands. I frequently noticed her doing this. I did not notice anything unusual in the appearance of the prisoner on the Sunday. It was not a usual thing for Madame Riel to go out in the morning. The lady did not come to the house until two or three hours after I had fetched the beer.

Mr. Powell-Did you see the prisoner writing a letter on the Sunday?
Witness-No.

Are you sure of that ?-Quite sure.

Cross-examination continued-There was a cord in the kitchen. It was extended over the hotplate of the grate. I never saw any cord in the prisoner's bedroom. The prisoner was out from nine o'clock until twelve on the Saturday night, but I cannot say whether she went out on the Friday night. If she had been out for any long period on the Friday I should have missed her. I am quite sure of that.

Mr. Powell said that this fact might become material in the course of the inquiry.

Re-examined by the Attorney-General-I cannot say what Madame Riel said when she was angry. All I know is, that she spoke in a high tone of voice. The rope I have mentioned was not in the kitchen after it was whitewashed. It was removed at that time, and I have never seen it since. I cannot say whether it is the same cord that was found round the body of the deceased. I had no means of identifying this cord. I cannot say whether the prisoner had any cord in her boxes.

By the learned Judge-If the prisoner had gone out for an hour on the Friday I must have missed her.

By the Jury-Marguerite Dixblanc was a very passionate woman.

A juror-A woman who would act immediately, and on the impulse of the moment ?

Witness-Yes. I think she was passionate, because she spoke very loudly. That is my only reason for thinking so.

By Mr. Powell-Madame Riel went out on the Friday afternoon, and did not return till seven o'clock, and I now remember that the prisoner and I were working together the whole afternoon. I remember the dinner being ordered on the Thursday at seven o'clock, and the prisoner was not sent to fetch the provisions for that dinner until very late. She had to go to Leicester-square to get French provisions, and she did not get back until nearly seven o'clock, but I do not remember that high words took place between the prisoner and her mistress on that afternoon. It was known to me that a lady was coming to dine with madame on the Sunday, but I cannot say whether the prisoner was aware of it.

Mademoiselle Julie Riel, examined by Mr. Archibald-I am the daughter of the late Madame Riel, and lived with her in the house in Park-lane. The prisoner came into our service about two months before my mother's death. gave her notice to quit about the 20th of March. I only gave her a week's

notice, according to the custom in France. The prisoner wished a month's notice or to be paid a month's wages. I left London for Paris at the end of March, and I was to return on the 8th of April, and I arrived about seven o'clock in the morning. The witness Watts opened the door, and she told me that the prisoner had gone out the previous evening, and had not returned. I also was told that my mother had gone out on the Sunday to take a walk, and that she had not returned. I could not tell what had happened, and I sent Eliza Watts for some assistance, and while she was gone I made a search in the house to see if my mother had left any letter for me. I first went up-stairs, and then came down and looked in the coalcellar, and then I opened the pantry on the ground floor with a duplicate key that I always had in my possession. I found the door locked when I first tried it. There was an iron safe in that pantry, and I had a duplicate key of that safe also. My mother used to carry the keys of the safe and pantry about her, with other keys. The moment I opened the door, the first thing I saw was my mother's cloak on the ground. I lifted it up, and then saw the body of my mother. I noticed that the door of the safe was opened. I was very much alarmed at this sight, and ran into the street, and I recollected that Dr. Wadham was living next door, and I went to him, and he arrived at the house a very little time afterwards. After I had returned to the house my attention was directed to a dress, which I recognized as one that belonged to the prisoner. It was a brown dress, and one she was in the habit of wearing. Before I left for Paris I had given my mother some Bank of England notes. I think about 307. I cannot say whether they were 57. notes, as I did not look at them. I gave them to my mother on the Friday or the Saturday before I left. Those bank-notes were given to me by Lord Lucan on the same day I gave them to my mother, perhaps about ten minutes before. My mother kept her money and valuables in the safe, and I found that all the money had been taken out of it. All the property that was in the safe was a small box of jewellery, some gloves, and some stones. My mother always carried a porte-monnaie, and sometimes wore rings, but she did not do so generally. On Friday, the 12th of April, I returned to Paris with the body of my mother, and while I was there I was shown a porte-monnaie and some other articles by the French police. The little jewel-box in the safe was locked when I found it. The French police also showed me some keys and some money that I was told had been found in the porte-monnaie. It was my mother's porte-monnaie that was shown to me. I was also shown the pantry key, and another that belonged to a little up-stairs room in Park-lane, where nothing but dresses were kept, and I think the key of the kitchen door.

Mr. Archibald-What was the age of your mother at the time of her death ?

Mdlle. Riel-She was forty-six years old.

Malle. Riel was then cross-examined by Mr. Powell. In answer to questions put by the learned counsel, she said-I have never permanently resided in England, and have only visited it from time to time. I have lived in England since the war, from January last year. I do not now reside at the house in Park-lane. The servant, Eliza Watts, resides there, and I go to the house occasionally. It is the custom in France only to give a week's notice to a domestic, and the prisoner was willing to leave if she was paid a month's