Lebret

According to the theory of the prosecution, Auguste believed that he had paid that money to Lebret through the intermediary of Castaing, and not to Castaing himself.

A Book of Remarkable Criminals 1918

To Lebret and the Martignons Castaing said that Hippolyte had made a will in Mme. Martignon's favour, but had destroyed it himself some days before his death.

A Book of Remarkable Criminals 1918

Castaing, however, had ascertained that Lebret would be willing, if Auguste would outbid his sister and pay 100,000 francs, to destroy the will so that, Hippolyte dying intestate, Auguste would take the greater part of his brother's fortune.

A Book of Remarkable Criminals 1918

Did Lebret, as a fact, receive the 100,000 francs?

A Book of Remarkable Criminals 1918

If the statements of Auguste made to other persons are to be believed, he had paid the 100,000 francs which he had raised through Prignon to Lebret, his father's former clerk, who would seem to have acted as legal and financial adviser to his old master's children.

A Book of Remarkable Criminals 1918

According to Auguste's story, his sister, Mme. Martignon, had offered Lebret 80,000 francs to preserve a copy of a will made by Hippolyte, leaving her the bulk of his fortune.

A Book of Remarkable Criminals 1918

Auguste agreed to accept Lebret's terms, raised the necessary sum, and handed over the money to Castaing, who, in turn, gave it to Lebret, who had thereupon destroyed the copy of the will.

A Book of Remarkable Criminals 1918

He had ingeniously kept Auguste and Lebret apart by representing Lebret as refusing to deal direct with Auguste, and by these means had secured to his own use the sum of 100,000 francs, which Auguste believed was being paid to Lebret as the price of his alleged destruction of his brother's will.

A Book of Remarkable Criminals 1918

He had seen that his brother Auguste was squandering his share of their inheritance; he told Lebret that whatever he might leave to Auguste should not be placed at his absolute disposal.

A Book of Remarkable Criminals 1918

By keeping Auguste and Lebret apart, Castaing prevented awkward explanations.

A Book of Remarkable Criminals 1918