A PEASANFS BRUTALITY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 25, 29 January 1921, Page 15

A PEASANFS BRUTALITY.

At Saiat Martin dcs Rols. near Blois. on a little farm llvps a widow, Mdme. Chandaughter Germaln-e. now only 10. Is a handsome girl of the peasant type, and had fessloa to her mother. Reproaches and laments, the widow knew, were useless, and when she fonnd that the father of the expected child c"nld not marry her daughter, she decided that a simple sort of youth, named Lerey. Just 21 years of ago. who worked on the farm, should become the husband. Keeping the girl's condition secret, she easily induced him to marry so fair a bride. Two months after the marriage tho child was born. His wife wonld Inherit some 2".000 francs' worth of good land, with the enws and the horses. Madame Chandonne declared that since the birth of the child Lerey was for ever pesterhim by deed of gift, and in this wish his wife seems to have been in accord with him. The widow refused, and jealousy of the child worked havoc in the man's mind. He bought a bnttle of taupislne, a preparation of strychnine, at the local chemist's, and the neit day, taking the baby's bottle, he -. meared the teat with the polsin. Curiously, tae inTant, when he tried to make her take It in her mouth, refused, and cried and struggled. Enraged, he pushed the teat into her mouth, and an hour later the baby died in agony. At the trial there was scarcely any defence. Lerey admitted his guilt. The wife's evidence was given without emotion, and with the same indifference she heard her hnsband condemned to five years' penal servitude.