ost eloquent
advocate, if he could have been present, would have been Auguste Ballet.
"If Providence had permitted him to enter this court, he would cry out
to you, 'Save my friend's life! His heart is undefiled! He is
innocent!'"

M. Roussel concluded his speech at ten o'clock on Sunday night, November
16. The next morning Berryer addressed the jury. His speech in defence
of Castaing is not considered one of his most successful efforts. He
gave personal testimony as to the taste of acetate of morphia. He said
that with the help of his own chemist he had put a quarter of a grain
of the acetate into a large spoonful of milk, and had found it so
insupportably bitter to the taste that he could not keep it in his
mouth. If, he contended, Ballet had been poisoned by tartar emetic, then
twelve grains given in milk would have given it an insipid taste, and
vomiting immediately after would have got rid of the poison. Later
investigations have shown that, in cases of antimonial poisoning,
vomiting does not necessarily get rid of all the poison, and the
convulsions in which Auguste Ballet died are symptomatic of poisoning
either by morphia or antimony. In conclusion, Berryer quoted the words
addressed by one of the Kings of France to his judges: "When God has not
vouchsafed clear proof of a crime, it is a sign that He does not wish
that man should determine it, but leaves its judgment to a higher
tribunal."

The Avocat-General, in reply, made a telling answer to M. Roussel's
attempt to minimise the importance of the cats and dogs: "He has spoken
of the drama of life, and of its ordinary everyday incidents. If there
is drama in this case, it is of Castaing's making. As to the ordinary
incidents of everyday life, a man buys poison, brings it to the bedside
of his sick friend, saying it is for experiments on cats and dogs, the
friend dies, the other, his sole heir, after foretelling his death,
takes possession of his keys, and proceeds to gather up the spoils--are
these ordinary incidents of every-day life?"

It was nine o'clock at night when the jury retired to consider their
verdict. They returned into court after two hours' deliberation. They
found the prisoner "Not Guilty" of the murder of Hippolyte Ballet,
"Guilty" of destroying his will, and "Guilty" by seven votes to five
of the murder of Auguste Ballet. Asked if he had anything to say before
judgment was given, Castaing, in a very loud voice, said "No; but I
shall know h