Juan Luna Double Murder Trial--Eugène Aristide Marre (Witness)

Professor Marre

In my ongoing research into the double murder case and subsequent trial of Juan Luna in Paris, I encountered one of the defense witnesses, Eugène Aristide Marre, a distinguished French linguist and expert in Malay and Malagasy languages. Marre served as a professor at the École des langues orientales vivantes and was a member of the Société Asiatique de Paris. He earned prominence through his translations of medieval Arabic mathematical treatises, including Khélasat al Hisáb (The Essence of Calculation) by Behâ-eddin Mohammed ben al-Hosaïn al-Aamouli, written in 1846 and published in 1864, and Talkhīṣ ʿamal al-ḥisāb (The Summary of Arithmetic Operations) by Ibn al-Banna' al-Marrakushi, published in 1865.

In addition to his academic contributions, Marre served as a primary school inspector in Brittany and, as an officer of public education, authored numerous works on Arabic and Indian mathematics. His scholarly interests extended beyond mathematics to Oriental poetry and legends, particularly those from Malaya, where he was recognized as a pioneering figure.

Appointed to the chair of Malay and Javanese at the École des langues orientales, Marre conducted extensive studies on the Malagasy language of Madagascar. During the French invasion of Madagascar in 1896, at the request of General Gallieni, the commanding officer, Marre distributed copies of his Malagasy grammar and vocabulary to the officers of the expeditionary corps.

Marre’s notable contributions also include the rediscovery of the manuscripts of Nicolas Chuquet, a medieval French mathematician, in 1870, after they had remained unpublished for 400 years. These manuscripts were subsequently published in 1881. He also advocated for the naming of streets in Paris after distinguished mathematicians, such as François Viète, the founder of algebra; Christian Huygens, the Dutch scientist renowned for his work in optics; and Sophie Germain, a pioneering French woman mathematician. Additionally, Marre uncovered 17 letters—15 of which were previously unpublished—addressed to Blaise Pascal by René François Walter de Sluse.

In his later years, Marre focused on producing a series of dictionaries and grammars dedicated to the Malay language, including a detailed study of Tagalog titled Grammaire Tagalog.

Illustrado Connection

Marre of course, partied with the Filipino expatriate community in Paris during the late 1880s. His association with the institution École des langues orientales vivantes brings to mind a prominent Filipino scholar of the time, Trinidad Pardo H. de Tavera.--Tavera, an outstanding Filipinologist, made significant contributions to Oriental and Philippine studies, including language, anthropology, and folklore. His extensive training and qualifications in medicine are noteworthy; he earned his licentiate and bachelor's degrees in medicine at the Faculté de Médecine de Paris. In the mid-1880s, he enrolled at the École nationale des langues orientales vivantes (now Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales) and studied under Pierre Étienne Lazare Favre, Marre's predecessor as chair of the Malay and Javanese department. In December 1885, Tavera received his diploma in Malay language.

Marre and the Tavera family were well-acquainted, and Marre was frequently invited to their home for various occasions.

Witness for the Defense

On February 8, 1893, during the deliberation of Juan Luna's defense in the murder case involving his wife and mother-in-law, Eugène Aristide Marre took the witness stand. His appearance was likely surprising to Trinidad Pardo H. de Tavera—a close acquaintance and professor from the esteemed institution—given that Marre’s testimony could potentially undermine the case against Luna, who was accused of killing Tavera's sister and mother. When Marre finally spoke, he affirmed his close relationships with both the Tavera and Luna families. He described Luna in his own words as: "un grand artiste, un grand coeur, une âme pure, magnanime et noble," which translates to "a great artist, a great heart, a pure soul, magnanimous and noble."

Part of a Grand Plan of the Defense?

Marre was a key component in a broader defense strategy. Whether one views it as brilliant or otherwise, considering that the accused had indeed shot his wife and mother-in-law at point-blank range, the defense's success in securing his release was striking. The defense's approach skillfully played on racial and emotional themes, capturing public attention in a case that generated significant scrutiny, arguably rivaling the later Dreyfus Affair in terms of public interest.

This strategy extended beyond mere legal tactics. Luna's supporters included prominent Spanish artists, such as painter Madrazo, who attended the trial to show solidarity with their beleaguered colleague. Spanish journalists and art critics signed a petition attesting to Luna’s kind-heartedness and excellent character. Félix Resurrección Hidalgo, a fellow Filipino artist residing in Paris, also testified to Luna's good qualities. Additionally, the Filipino communities in Paris and Madrid lent their support, signing similar attestations of Luna's exemplary character. These endorsements were read aloud during the defense, reinforcing Luna’s image as a victim rather than a villain.

It is crucial to understand the racial dynamics at play. The defense effectively shifted the narrative, portraying Luna not as a "savage," a term some contemporary Filipino writers use to describe him based on language and court decisions, but rather as a person of notable character. This reimagining of Luna was pivotal in eliciting sympathy and support. Consequently, Luna’s acquittal was influenced not only by the facts of the crime but also by the public perception of him as a wronged individual, rather than a mere criminal.

In hindsight, the trial’s outcome reflects a deeper racial and emotional bias, suggesting that, in the eyes of his supporters and the public, Luna was seen as the victim in the tragedy.