TWO BROTHERS

Evening Star, Issue 20022, 13 November 1928, Page 8

TWO BROTHERS

EACH DEFENDS OTHER IN COURT AMAZING DRAMA. Ono winter morninig many years ftgc William Bernays, a prominent and prosperous barrister, left his home in Antwerp to go to Brussels. A week went by and ho did not return. The relatives sought the police, and they mado an exhaustive search in all parts of Europe, hut without success. _ Ho had disappeared as completely as if he had dropped through the earth. At the end of tho ninth day tho authorities received a letter from Basle signed Henry Vaughan. It said: "Monsieur William. Bernays lias not disappeared. Ho is dead. He was killed by accident in my Brussels office, 159 Rue do la Hoi. The accident was entirely my fault—or, rather tho fault of my carelessness.” The note went cm to say that Berlin,vs had been shot while handling _a loaded pistol-which lay on tho desk in tho office. But, unfortunately, the shot had boon fired while it was being held by Henry Vaughan. "I saw that ho was dead,” said the writer, " and dead by my hand.” Tho stranger said that lie was an American, and, finding himself in an uncomfortable predicament, felt that he had hotter communicate with the police from a distance. Who was Henry Vaughan? Tho most complete search failed to reveal anything of him or of his history. But tho police went to 159 Rue do la Roi, and, breaking in the door of the office, there found tho dead body of William Bernays huddled up in a chair . in front of a desk. Ho had been killed by a shot from behind, as a bullet bole in his neck revealed. Blood was ou the thick carpet, and there tvas the imprint of a man’s foot in it. Bernays was brought home and buried, but in tbo meanwhile letters signed "Henry Vaughan” continued to come to the police. And then one day the officials came to the conclusion that the letters were coming from Armand Peltzer.

Tliis man had been an admirer of Madame Bemays, and had carried on what ho called a platonic love affair with her. Tho police secured specimens of the handwriting of- Armand and of his brother Leon. They proved to correspond, and tho two brothers were placed on trial for tho murder of William Bcrnays. The story that came out in that trial is probably one of the most amazing that was ever told in a court room. It was proved that Leon, tho younger brother, had grown a beard, stained his face, and disguised himself as a South American in order to lure Bcrnays to tho Brussels office. Tt was also shown that Armand had purchased, not one. but several pistols, and had indulged in target practice in his backyard. Also, there were several incriminating telegrams which seemed to connect him with the tragedy. But tho question which was not solved to tho satisfaction of everybody was which one of tho brothers had committed tho crime. Each defended tho other. “Is it likely,’’ cried Armand, “that Loon, who had absolutely no inters! in Bcrnays’ death, should have, murdered a man simply because I disliked him?” Then ho proceeded in moving language to assert the purity of his love for Madame Bcrnays.

On tho other band, Loon insisted on taking tho blame. “I shot William Bernays,” ho calmly declared, “ because he had penetrated tho disguise which I had assumed in order to carry on a fraudulent piece of business. Is it probable, is it conceivable, that my brother Armand should have desired to murder Bernays when we all know that Madame Bernays had the power of divorcing her husband?” But tho jury did not seem to have any doubt about tho matter, because they convicted both brothers. When asked if ho had anything to say Leon cried: ‘‘l accept the condemnation, but my brother Armand is absolutely innocent, and the jury is guilty of a judicial crime in convicting him.” Arraa'nd, in his turn, exclaimed: “I am innocent, and on tho jury will lie for ever the curse of my children.”