Edward Parker Deacon Explained

Edward Parker Deacon (October 2, 1844 – July 5, 1901) was an American heir known for killing his wife's lover in her apartments at Cannes, France.

Early life

Deacon was born in Paris on October 2, 1844, the "descendant of an old and once distinguished family" from Boston.[1] His parents were Edward Preble Deacon (1813–1851) and Sarah Annabella (Parker) Deacon (1821–1900). He had a brother named Austin Deacon. His father had served as an attaché of the U.S. Legation in Paris under General Lewis Cass.[2]

His paternal grandparents were Commodore David Deacon and Anna Hutchinson Deacon. His maternal grandparents were Peter Parker and Elizabeth Allston (Read) Parker. His maternal aunt, Ellen Parker, was the wife of Albert Gallatin Van Zandt, and his uncle, Harleston Parker, married Adeline Ellen Reynolds and was the father of architect J. Harleston Parker.

Personal life

On April 29, 1879, he married Florence Baldwin (1859–1919) in New York City. Florence, who spent much of her life in Rome, was the daughter of Rear Admiral Charles Henry Baldwin and Pamelia Caroline (Tolfree) Baldwin.[3] Before their eventual divorce, they were the parents of four girls (and one boy who died in infancy):[4]

Manslaughter and imprisonment

On February 19, 1892, Deacon discovered Emile Abeille, his wife's lover, in his wife's apartments at the Hôtel Splendide at Cannes. After breaking down the door to the apartment, Abeille hid behind a chair and Deacon shot several times, killing the man.[13] [14] Deacon, who surrendered to the police immediately after the shooting, had "the sympathy of the entire American colony,"[15] and was released on 10,000 francs bail.[16] When Edward surrendered himself to the court,[17] Florence left France "in order to avoid the possibility of being subpoeaned as a witness at the trial."[18] "In court at Nice a verdict of manslaughter was handed in and Mr. Deacon was sentenced to one year's imprisonment."

Deacon was "confined in the prison adjacent to the Palace of Justice" in Nice, France, where he was "entertained like a guest,"[19] After he was released from prison, he was pardoned by President Sadi Carnot, Edward and Florence were divorced in 1893,[20] and Edward was awarded custody of the three older children.[21] He took them to the United States,[22] where he remained for the next three years.

Mental illness and death

Deacon became mentally unstable and in 1899 he was "sent to the McLean Hospital for the Insane. He was at Newport when his derangement was first noticed and was expelled from a reading room there because he persisted in taking ice from a water pitcher to cool his head." Deacon died at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts on July 5, 1901.[23] After a funeral at Trinity Church, Newport, he was interred at Island Cemetery.[24] Shortly before his own death, he "came into possession, through the death of his mother, of a large trust fund."[25] His estate was left in four equal shares to his children with William P. Blake of Boston as executor.[26]

Deacon and her sisters returned to France to live with their mother.[21] [27]

References

Notes
Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: E.P. DEACON DEMENTED. . 7 March 2022 . . 23 August 1897.
  2. News: Killed by E. P. Deacon . 7 March 2022 . . February 19, 1892 . 1 . en.
  3. News: Times . Special to The New York . DUCHESS RECEIVES $50,000.; Former Gladys Deacon Is Beneficiary Under Will. . 7 March 2022 . . 5 August 1924.
  4. News: THE DEACONS AGAIN.; SUIT FOR DIVORCE BROUGHT BY THE HUSBAND IN THIS CITY. . 7 March 2022 . . 29 December 1892.
  5. News: Apple Jr . R. W. . Dowager Duchess of Marlborough, Friend of Proust, Degas and Rilke . 7 March 2022 . . 18 October 1977.
  6. News: MARLBOROUGH WILL WED GLADYS DEACON; Dukes Engagement to Former Friend of His Ex-Wife Announced in London.BRIDE-TO-BE WELL KNOWNHas Several Times Been Reported Engaged to Marry Members of European Nobility. . 7 March 2022 . . 2 June 1921.
  7. News: MISS IDA DEACON DEAD.; A Younger Sister of Miss Gladys Deacon, the Famous Beauty. . 7 March 2022 . . 24 May 1904.
  8. News: Times . Special to The New York . DEACON WEDDING POSTPONED; Put Off Till January Because of Illness of George Lee Peabody. . 7 March 2022 . . 10 September 1910.
  9. News: MISS EDITH DEACON TO WED H. G. GRAY; Boston Girl, a Sister of Princess Radziwill of Poland, Engaged to New York Lawyer. . 7 March 2022 . . 18 October 1916.
  10. News: PRINCESS RADZIWILL DIES IN GERMANY; Widow of Prince Anton Succumbs at Her Kleinitz Palace at 75 Years, ONCE LEADER IN SOCIETY Her Grandson Married Dorothy Deacon -- Visited on Birthdays by Emperor William. . 7 March 2022 . . 13 July 1915.
  11. News: PRINCESS RADZIWILL WINS ANNULMENT; She Was Miss Dorothy Deacon and Was Married in London in 1910. . 7 March 2022 . . 11 January 1922.
  12. News: Times . Wireless To the New York . SUES PRINCE RADZIWILL.; Ex-Wife, Formerly Miss Deacon, Demands Funds for Daughter. . 7 March 2022 . . 13 January 1926.
  13. News: KILLED BY E.P. DEACON.; THE AMERICAN COLONY AT CANNES, FRANCE, EXCITED. . 7 March 2022 . . 19 February 1892.
  14. News: THE DEACON FAMILY TROUBLES; EVENTS WHICH FINALLY LED TO THE KILLING OF M. ABEILLE. . 7 March 2022 . . 17 May 1892.
  15. News: THE TRAGEDY AT CANNES.; MR. DEACON HAS THE SYMPATHY OF THE ENTIRE AMERICAN COLONY. . 7 March 2022 . . 20 February 1892.
  16. News: DEACON RELEASED ON BAIL. . 7 March 2022 . . 10 March 1892.
  17. News: THE CANNES TRAGEDY.; MR. DEACON'S TRIAL WILL, PROBABLY BEGIN MAY 2. . 7 March 2022 . . 7 March 1892.
  18. News: MRS. DEACON LEAVES FRANCE.; HER HUSBAND SURRENDERS HIMSELF, BUT IS RELEASED. . 7 March 2022 . . 30 April 1892.
  19. News: DEACON NOW IN PRISON.; ENTERTAINED LIKE A GUEST -- EFFORTS TO SHORTEN HIS SENTENCE. . 7 March 2022 . . 22 May 1892.
  20. News: MR. DEACON'S DIVORCE.; THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH IT WAS GRANTED ON WEDNESDAY. . 7 March 2022 . . 3 February 1893.
  21. Web site: Gladys, Duchess of Marlborough: the aristocrat with attitude . Vickers . Hugo . The Telegraph . 7 February 2011 .
  22. News: EDWARD PARKER DEACON HERE.; HE HAS COME TO AMERICA TO STAY, BUT HE MAY GO BACK. . 7 March 2022 . . 24 March 1893.
  23. News: EDWARD PARKER DEACON DEAD; Member of Wealthy Boston Family and Figure in Sensational Shooting in Paris a Victim of Brain Disease. . 4 March 2022 . . 7 July 1901.
  24. News: Deacon Interment at Newport. . 7 March 2022 . . 8 July 1901.
  25. News: Times . Special to The New York . Want Guardian for Edward P. Deacon. . 7 March 2022 . . 28 February 1901.
  26. News: Guardian for Deacon Children. . 7 March 2022 . . 30 July 1901.
  27. News: SOCIAL EVENTS IN ORANGE.; Mrs. Deacon Living Near Llewellyn Park -- Dancing Parties Resumed. . 7 March 2022 . . 29 October 1893.

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