MURDER TRIAL IN PARIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9157, 25 March 1893, Page 10 (Supplement)

MURDER TRIAL IN PARIS.

The Paris Assize Court was crowded a few days ago to hear the trial of Luna de San Pedro, a Spanish artist of considerable renown, of Malay origin, who on September 22 last) killed his wife and mother-in-law in a fib of migovernable anger, and then attempted to kill his brother-in-law, M. Felix de Tftvsra. The prisoner married Mdllo. de Tavera in 1886, and for several years lived very happily with her. In 1892 Madame Luna was advised by her doctor to spend a season at Mont Dote. There she made the acquaintance of M. Dussacq, who paid her very assiduous court. When she returned to Paris her husband was astonished to find she had discarded the mourning for her daughter, who had been dead only a few months, and was wearing elegant light-coloured dresses. A great change had come over her during her absence. Formerly she wanted her husband to accompany her everywhere, but now she sought to go about Paris alone, and to absent herself from home.

r These circumstances raised the suspicions of her husband. He made objections to his wife's constant absences from home, and one day, in a fib of rage, he made a bundle of he'r light-coloured dresses and burned them. One day, while M. Luna was walking in the Bois de Boulogne with his wife, she suddenly pretended that she made an appointment with her dressmaker, and walked quickly away. He followed her.closely, knowing that she would not rccognisehiinon account of her being extremely short-sighted. Madame Luna got into an omnibus, and M. Luna took a seat on the knifeboard at the top of the same vehicle. She shortly afterwards alighted and went into a house, and he followed. Here he was suddenly confronted by M. Dussacq, and as M. Luna could not say whom he had come to see, the concierge turned him out of the house. He remained a long time waiting outside, but his wife did nob show herself, though she ultimately returned home, and at first protested she was innocent, but on the following day confessed her guilt. M. Luna had promised pardon, bub he announced at once his intention to go and live with his wife and children in great retirement at Vigo. This decision was intolerable to Madame Luna, who, taking counsel with her brothers, M. Felix and Trinidad de Tavera, sent for a Spanish lawyer, M. Regidor, who came from London on purpose to seek to obtain a legal separation between M. and Madame Luna. On September 22 M. Regidor and the brothers De Tavera presented themselves at the house of M. Luna. He flew into a violent passion, and ordered them off the premises. They withdrew while Madame Luna and her mother went upstairs into the bedroom occupied by the latter. M. Luna followed, bub found the door bolted, and was bold that it would not be opened to him. On his threatening to burst it open the women threw open the window and shouted for help. M. Luna rushed downstairs, and seizing a revolver opened the drawing-room window. His two brothers-in-law came running up in response to their sister's cries for help, but M. Luna, aiming at them, shot M. Felix Tavera in the chest. M. Trinidad de Tavera and M. Regidor, believing him seriously wounded, carried him away. M. Luna then reasconded the stairs, and, bursting open the bolted door, fired at his wife, whom he found crouching in a corner. The bullet entered her temple and killed her on the spot. He then turned against his mother-in-law, and inflicted a mortal wound on her. Then, suddenly calmed by the terrible spectacle, he took his little son in his arms and sab sobbing near the window till he was arrested. In court his attitude was that of deep regret. He, formerly so passionabe, answered the judge's questions with the utmost meekness. During the proceedings the prisoner swooned, and the trial was suspended for half an hour. Maibre Bouin, bhe Public Prosecutor, demanded a heavy penalty for Luna, who was ably defended by Maitro Albert Danob. The jury reburned at half-past six, and returned, after three-quarters of an hour's deliberation, a verdict of "Nob , guilty."