THE MEAUX MURDER.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 205, 30 August 1926, Page 7

THE MEAUX MURDER.

A RECONSTRUCTION. FRENCH POLICE METHODS. GUYOT PROVES THE GUIDE. (By Cable.—Press Association.— Copyright.> LONDON, August 29. A unique example of French legal methods was provided in the reconstruction of the Guyot crime. The event closely resembled a superb holiday, the whole of the scenes being re-enacted. Guyot himself accompanied a horde of officials, the party numbering 20 cars. The party filled 20 cars. The examining magistrate pulled up at many points to make an examination. * Guyot was most obliging. In the most unemotional manner he narrated his story of the events which led to the death of Marie Beaualguet. Three miles from the spot of the tragedy the police car stopped. Guyot was released from his handcuffs and ordered to take the wheel, to demonstrate to the police inspector, who sat alongside him, how, while he had steered with one hand, he had gripped the throat of Marie with the other. The following thousands of the pursuing mob surrounded the party and prevented progress, and the magistrate decided to postpone the reproduction of that particular incident. Thousands of sensation-seeking spectators filled the field wherein Marie's body was burned with a haystack, and when the police party arrived scores of gendarmes and mounted police found it difficult to preserve order. At last the officers built a haystack, which Guyot, still under instructions, fired. Samples of gas from the emanating flames were taken in order that they might be compared with the gas which came from the dead girl's stomach at the post mortem. After this significant investigation, Guyot drove the chief police car again and demonstrated to the inspector once more how he had seized Marie by the throat. Guyot protested that he had seized Marie only after she had violently upbraided him and struck him. "I held her throat until she died," said Guyot. Further questioning made Guyot very annoyed. He said he had told everything he knew, and did not see the point of probing. After this protest the party returned to Meaux.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)