A FRENCH TRAGEDY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 2263, 25 October 1889, Page 2

A FRENCH TRAGEDY

The problem of tha " Battle of Lifehas just been solved m a most extraordinary manner by three dames of a certain age— Bisters to all appaaranoe, and oomfortably endowed with this world.* go>ds— who resided In a pleasant villa at La Vealnet (says the Paris correspondent of the London " Diliy Telegraph"). For iom? reason h taerto unexplained, tbay were weary of existence, and they determined to die together. The three *omea, having previously provided themselvoa with a perfeot arßcutl of revolver*, net See t) iheir house. They then, m a most methodical manner, bade eaoh other a last farewe'l, and turned tbeir weapons •g»last themselves. Ia two oases tbe shots were fired with fatal effeot, two of the sisters falling to the ground mortally wounded. Tbe unfortunate ladles, whose name wss Ouveller, were In oomfortable olrnama'anoes when they took the villa In whioh tbe dreadful dead was done. Th*»v were all unmwtle^, tho eldest belnc 60 and tbe youngest 45 years of age. Latterly they haU suatatned heavy peouninry losio9| and blMa began to oome m whlih they had to leavo unpaid. When eoo>e debt colleotorj called they talked or seizing a hone, tu r . the youngest sister stationed herself behind ih<* door, revolver In {hand, and swore that she would shoot tha animal rather than give it up so they had to fall baok on their other property. One morning about 8 o'olook * butcher's boy no'ioed thit smoke was i suing from the windows of their villa. He hurried to the Malrle aud gave tbe alarm, and soon several otrHals and tbe firemen were on the ioene of the catastrophe. The smoke was then so dense that tbey ooold not effeot sn 'entry through the front door, so they tried one of tbe windows In this room a horrid speotaole met their v ew. The corpse of the youngest sister, completely charred, was lying on a still burning bed . Th sn exploring f nrther they cam." to an upper chamber, on a eofa m wh oh lay the bodies of the two elder sisters, each with a revolver In her hand Tbe sofa was nlso m fl mes, and the two bodies were badly scorched. On the ground floor were found the Newfoundland dog and a cat both shot ; while io the stable lay ih,> horse riddled with bullets. On a table near the door wee two letters, ono of which explained thet the women had committed Huioide They were going to join their dead mother. The other missive, written to the dealer who supplied tbem with fodder for the horse, contained a sum of money still due. This was the only debt that they oould defray, and m their aff <otlon for the poor beast they had deoided that whatever lt had cost them should be paid. The three sisters — who seem to ha^e been somewhat eccentric In their habits — lived quite alone one iookln? after the favorite horse, another doing the cooking, while the third kept the garden tidy. No one was ever asked to the plaoe This shooking drama is the talk of all the country ronnd, and has created quite a sensation m Paris From further particulars jast to band It appears tbst the two elder slaters were In the habit of frequenting tbe different racecourses within a drive from their houae, and they wero also addicted to • betting — though it is not known whether they lost or gained through their oroQllyities for the turf . It is »o*? regarded ac Certain that they a!! lea their youngest sister Caroline aB she lay m her bed . The position of the body seemed to show that there had been a struggle. They proceeded to the stable, where they shot the horsi, and meeting the Newfoundland dog and the oat on their way upstairs, they also destroyed them. They then dosed the doors und windows, and aotting fire to the bed on wbioh the oorpee of their dead sister lay, and to the eofa on whioh they took their Beats, they blev» ont their brafqs. '' ' r; ■'■ l ' ■''"'•' *' ''•>■■■""