EXTRAORDINARY LAW CASE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 596, 19 September 1873, Page 3

EXTRAORDINARY LAW CASE.

One of the most curious cases on record in the French law courts has just been referred to the Appeal Courts of Rennes for dec.sinn. The facts of the affair may be thus briefly stated. On the 4tb of September, 1870, M. Lavainville, who was Prefect o Finis! erre, was suddenly replace Iby a Republican functionary. In tbe month of October ho went out to walk with his wife, his little girl, and four other relations, along the rocks of Penrnark. They were all standing admiring the ocean, when suddenly a high wave swept over the cliff ■"here they were standing, high above the level of the sea, and carried away five of the party. M. Levainville and his sister-in-law, who were at some little distance from the others, alone escaped. Not only was the ex-Prefect ruined by the Revolution of the 4th of September, not only did he lose wife and child, but be is now obliged to plead in Court for a small property, the verdict depending on the decision of the judges as to which perished first—his wife or his daughter. If the wife was the first to perish, her property would go to her daughter, who died a few instants after, and then, according to law, the father would inherit half of it. If, on the other hand, Madame Levinville survived her child Gabnelle the property must go in another direction. The Court of Gnimpcr has decided in favor of the daughter having perished first, but simply on the ground that, being older, Madame Levainville was Jely to struggle the longest. Against tnis decision the ex-Prefect has appealed.