Murdered By Request

A strange boy ruurderer is Francois Bertholier, a lad of 16, who has been tried beíoro the Aix assizes for killing an oíd man named Blanchard at tho latter's request. In the dock he related his crime with grim composnre. He said: "On Friday, Oct. 13 (mark the uncanny day and date), the day before the arrival of the Rnssians, Blanchard and I went to Toulon. He then spoke to me for the flrst time of hia intention of putting au end to his life. He dwelt on this topic for several hours, telling me about his lamentable physical condition and entreating me to deliver him from his suff ering. ' ' "Did you ask him why he hesitated to commit suicide?" "He told me he could not bring himself to the point and that he had religious scruples. A couple of days later he carne into ray bedroom and woke me up. He said: 'Francois, I count on you for today. I wish it to be all over by this evening. ' I was very astonished. He added: 'I am going to sign a bilí for 1,800 francs for you. You may cash it at my notary's at Carpentras. ' ' ' "This sum of 1, 800 francs caused you to make up your mind?' ' "It did. I bought a sheet of stamped paper and made out the bilí, which Blanchard signed. Then we weut to-Joliette (to Marseilles) to take the steam tramway. Just before starting we went to a cafe, where my friend made me drink glasses of peppermint. He gave me sixpence to buy a knife at a store. In the tramway Blanchard told me to smoke a lot in order to deaden my feelings. "At L' Estaque we entered another cafe, and I was made to drink four or five absinthes. We went along the highroad, when Blanchard, stopping, said: 'This seems to me the right spot "We shall be very comfortable here. ' "We went under the road bridge. My friend undressed and blindfolded his eyes and stretched himself on the flagstones. ' ' "How many blows did you strike with your knife?" "Foor. On the way he had recommended me to strike several times - to strike at the temples and the jugular vein." "Indeed you followed out his advice. You struck with a deftness which a professional murderer would envy. Did Blanchard die at once?" "Yes. He leaned forward a little, heaved a sigh, andthat's all." "What did you do next?" "I had a little blood on my fingers. I washed them in the sea. ' ' "Did you feel noremorse, no terror?" "A little, yes. " The jury brought in a verdict of not guilty on the ground that Bertholier had acted without knowledge of crime, but the tribunal ordered that he should be sent to a house of correction until the age of 20.