CRIME OF TWO SISTERS

Evening Star, Issue 18031, 27 July 1922, Page 7

CRIME OF TWO SISTERS

MURDER FOR. PALTRY SUM

A COURT SCENE.

The case of two sisters at the Loir-et Cher Assizes on May 20 provides au interesting study for international criminologists (says the Paris correspondent of tho ‘ Daily Express ’), Marie de Saint-Loup, aged eighteen, her sister Angelina, aged twenty-three, and the latter’s lover, Ivan Girard, were tried for tho murder of a man known as Pero Amelot, aged seventyeight. Mario was sentenced to five years’ hard labor, her sister and her lover to ten years. Tho trial proved one of the greatest sensations of this decade. It took place at Blois, where the name of Do S'aint-Loup lias been famous for centuries. But tho two girls, although of aristocratic birth and ancient lineage, were barely beyond the border line of poverty. Exactly how they earned a living is not quite clear. Tho elder girl, a brunette, is decidedly pretty, hut the younger, looked haggard and ill. Both wore shabby clothes in the dock. • ETHER PURCHASE.

According to the prosecution, Marie was living at Vondomo with a man named Jean Cbarpcntior, but in 1921 she went to lodge at Yillefraucho in tho house of Pero Amelot.

She decided to kill the old man, and spoke of her plans to her sister, who told her lover, Girard, a cook in an hotel at Tours. Tho two sisters went home to live with their mother, but wrote to Girard to send some cottonwool and some other. On October 14 Girard and Angelina went to Villofrancho to Pore Amolot’s house. They though tho old man was rich because he was very fond of displaying several pieces of gold which lie kept hidden in his house.

The couple, according to tho prosecution, kept delaying the murder, and then Marie arrived to hasten on tho crime. The old man was given _ the ether and then killed. The criminals searched every nook and cranny in the house, but found only 1,300 francs. The judge brought out tho fact that Angelina had been married at the ago of fifteen to a man thirty-five years her senior, who had children older than his young wife. STATE WITNESS. Girard was then cross-examined as to tho very irregular life he had led, but when mention was made of bis heroic conduct at the front ho broke down and burst into tears. In further cross-examination Angelina said her sister Mario had actually committed tho crime. She absolutely refused to speak until the judge asked her who held tho bottle of ether. Then she replied with a sob: “It was I.” Girard was urged to turn Stato witness, and, nothing loth, he swore that ho never received ope centime of Pore Amelot’s money.

Then Marie interrupted passionately: “Liar” she cried: “You opened the drawers yourself with false keys! ” The second and last day of tho hearing was taken up with speeches for the prosecution and tho defence,. The prisoners heard their sentences without flinching. Mario turned as she left tho dock and waved good-bye to her tiny baby held up to sco her mother in the arms of a warder.