A TRAGIC STORY OF FRENCH LIFE.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1978, 24 October 1888, Page 3

A TRAGIC STORY OF FRENCH LIFE.

The results of free love m France have been strikingly exemplified by a fearful family drama which ie just now being \ unfolded before the Assize Court of the department of the Deux-SSe-reb. The facts briefly stated are t leae : -In 1880 M Chevaliereau, a law student at Poitiers, « lived with a pretty milliner. Julia Kerrand 6he bore him four children., one of whom, a daughter, died. After several years of cohabitation, M. Chevallerenu, at the instigation of his father and his friends, threw off Julia, and ref need to recognise her children, who were thereby reduced with their mother to destitution. One of the sons — JHonore — partially ost his reason, and had to be placed m an asylum. The two others— Gaston acd Erneßt — who were struggling m Paris, sought oat their father at Poitiers ; but he threatened to shoot them* if they returned there again. The boys therefore went away m fear and trembling; but m a few months' time, poverty pinching them worse than ever, they resolved to try their luck at Poitiers once more. They bought a revolver, and on their way to their father's house practised with it on some trees. Oa entering the paternal chateau they were received by a housekeeper, who gave them two glasses of wine ; but when M. Chevallereau came m he threw the glasses out of the door and his eons after them, Ernest Ferrand then drew out his revolver and shot his father, who tottered to his room and expired. The boy Honore, who was m the asylum, on hearing that his brothers were arrested, committed suicide, Oaston and Jbrneat were put on their trial for the murder before a Niort jury, which After 20 minutes' deliberation " acquitted" them.