AUSTRALIAN GIRL'S TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 263, 10 November 1906, Page 13

AUSTRALIAN GIRL'S TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

MARRIED TO A FRENCH CRIMINAL. (From Our Special Correspondent.) LONDON. September 28. Sad indeed is the story told by the Paris correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" last Saturday of a young Australian girl, who, a few nights before, was rescued by tho police from a hotel with a very bad repntation. She was found bleeding from a nasty bnt not dangerous wound in the shoulder. Her experience is, unfortunate, Iy, only too commonly the lot of English and colonial girls marrying Frenchmen in their own countries. The police had had this house under supervision for pome time, as it was a recognised hesort far bad characters, many of whom come there after serving their sentence In one of the State prisons. Periodical Inspection is made of such premises, and this was the case the other night, when a woman's shrill screams, followed by the sound of breaking class, came to the policemen's ears. The door of the room was quickly forced, and, stretched od the floor, bathed In blood, lay a young woman. Her assailant, who proved to be her husband, gifted tvith great strength and activity, managed to gain a neighbouring roof and effect hie escape. Questioned by the officers, the poor girl, who seemed even more terrorstricken than she was hurt, was unable to answer a word. As a matter of fact, she cannot speak a word of French, and rt was not until a Commissary of Police who spoke English arrived that her pitiful story ivas understood. Thpn Bessie, as she gave her name, related that she was born in Melbourne of very respectable parents, and there had followed the vocation of barmaid, when she met a smart-looking young Frenchman, who occupied a good position tn a bank. Before long the young couple jecame engaged, and subsequently married. All went well for a time, but eventually :he husband became morose and irritable, md, questioned by his wife, admitted a yearning to return to his native country. 'If we can make sure of getting work, let as go," said Bessie. "There will be no trouble about that, especially for you," rejolnpd the husband. But on their arrival n Paris things changed utterly. The happy lome-life of Melbourne vanished, and instead poor Bessie found herself shut up In this wretched house, -which is situated n one of the lowest quarters of the city. Her husband associated with a crowd of -nffians who had welcomed him back with open arms as an old acquaintance. He irank and spent their savings freely, endng by making the most infamous suggestions to the girl. From a horrible fate she had been saved by the happy appeai- ,- ince of the police. With fnll details In ;helr hands, the authorities have looked up )1e antecedents, and it has been discovered ie Is an old offender, whose capture was long sought Six years ago he was sent to the penal settlement in Guiana for killing a man, but he managed eventually x> escape and make his way to Australia. J"or the moment he is stll] nt large, but his dratity is so weJl known that it is scarcely possible for him to keep his liberty much ongPT. Thanks very largely to the good >ffk'cs of a magistrate, Ihe "Telegraph ,, ;nys, tue young wife has lippii received by i kind-hearted family, snid to be ol English rationality, co that, if memory will allow, ier troubles may fcappllj be regarded as X 411 end.