A REMARKABLE LETTER

Evening Star, Issue 17958, 3 May 1922, Page 9

A REMARKABLE LETTER

L ANDRE'S FAREWELL TO HIS PROSECUTOR. “AN INNOCENT AND QUIET MIND.” An extraordinary document which, tho newspaper declares, was written by Land ini' tho day before ho was executed, has been published by the 1 Matin. It is in tho form of a long letter to Me. Godefroy. tho Advocatc-Gencrai; who was tho prosecutor in the case, ami part of it, including tho signature, is reproduced in facsimile. Tho thru handwriting and detached, ironic, though sympathetic, tone of tho'letter show that the condemned man must have been astonishingly calm and resigned to his falo. Tho letter begins by inviting Me. Godcfrov to go through the whole proceedings since they, the accused and his licensor, had first met three months hotore. There aro compliments to tho talent of Me. Godol’roy, who had the advantage of knowing a great deal about him; and Laudru describes how, while Me. Godefroy was closely ■watching for any word or gesture that would betray him, lie, too, wins watching the lawyer. “I had indeed tho right, I think, to know you in -my turn, and 1 followed you not only daily, but hourly,” says Landui. Then, with a strange; persistent pressure of words, the pud-oner reconstructs what he- says lie saw in Mo. Goaofroy’s mind —namely, doubt of his guilt. His first exact answers to tho questions put to him aroused that doubt, says Landni. and all through the trial it grew, and tho prosecutor knew that tho prisoner knew wlm! was in his mind. Lau'dru contemptuously sweeps aside the gossip of tho concierges produced as evidence, declaring that Me. G ode troy, has too much non so not to value it at its proper worth, and, with a, half-ironic sympathy for Me. Godefroy in the distress which that, doubt must have caused him, La-ndru goes on to talc of tho “ famous kitchen stove which was ono of your hones." and its complete failure to produce any dramatic effect when it was produced, because it was to small and 1 1 arm 1 css -1 onki ng. “U made you frightened, my little stove, all alone there, in your great hail, didn’t it.? Not with the fear that same might suppose, but with another fear that" was all to your credit.” Then Laudru traces tho growth of that fear and doubt in Me. Goclcfroy’a mind all through tho trial, and ho cuds by asking why. ’ when he was brought back into court to hear tho verdict of the jury, Me. Godefroy could not, meet his gaze, ami why tho Advocate-General so indignantly rebuked the crowd for its unrecnily behaviour.

Then Land™ adds; “With a kindness that moved me, you asked whether I had' any statement to make. You felt, (he necessity of reassuring yourself. What had yon to do with my declaration if you were'sure of my guilt, and why, even today, are- you still seeking for the vanished women if yon are certain that I killed them? It'was all over. Sentence had been pronounced. I was calm; you were upset. Is there, then, a conscience that? troubles uncertain judges a-s it ought to torture criminals? Fare,well, sir, our common history will doubtless end tomorrow. 1 die with an innocent and quiet mind. I hope, respectfully, that you may do the same.”