ANOTHER STRANGE STORY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1529, 11 April 1887, Page 4

ANOTHER STRANGE STORY

Another strange story cornea tr> ns from Paris, which, had it occurred to the imagination of our romancers, might have been S Jit tie fortune to it poseeasor The police, it seems, arrested, one morning, a drunken cock, who was found to be m possession of a large Bum m gold, and he being asked for explanations, told the following tale— namely, how that tauntering one day near the Central Market, he was accosted by a irell-dreeßed man, who asked him if he would like to torn an honest penny, Not being averse to this proposal, he accompanied his patron to a large house m the Rue de Rivol, and being conducted into a private room, he vfai abiuptJy addressed thus, " Mon gaic,on, you mast kill me!" For the moment the oook thought he bad got hold of a madman, but the explanation wan well—reasonable enough — if you like, viz, that he, the individual desiring extinction, had unfortunately been speculating with hia mother's money, and had d roppad something to the tune cf 120,000 franca. His life, however was insured up to 200,000, bo that his death, other than by hh own hand, would recoup his parents and leave a handtomd Burplus. Animated by this filial motive, therefore he was williog, he said, to give his murderer 30,000 francs, and he then and there ottered an instalment of 2000, and this amount the cook accepted, promising to cell the next day and fulfil the contract. However when the time drew near courage failed him ; and the same evening having drunk freely, he was, as already stated, arrested, and made a confession. Next day the police accompanied him to the huuße, and there sure enough, found the weald-be snicide, for suoh m efieot he was, and at orce arrested him on the UvUbJ? charge U inciting to crime acd

?eeking to de r r->nd the insurance office. This was rather sn unexpeot.d result} and the disappointed man heaped bitter ••ei.roaches on the head of his bttrayer. The story strange as it is, seema to be perfectly troe, and I think it will bo agreed, if offers tbe basis for a capital sensational novel of the first water.