A Terrible Tragedy.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 131, 2 May 1884, Page 3

A Terrible Tragedy.

A terrible tragedy is reported to have occurred at the Convent of the Serviane, near Marseilles. One of the gardeners of the establishment, named Chave, bad been dismissed about ten days ago on account of his laziness, and he appears to have deeply resented having been sent away. One day last week, after the mid-day meal, the sisters left the convent to walk m the grounds. They had reached a rather secluded spot when they were surprised by the sudden appearance before them of the dismissed gardener. " The Superior (Madame Martini), however, spoke kindly to him, and inquired whether he had found work. Chave did not even reply, but, drawing a loaded revolver from his pocket, instantly discharged all the six barrels at the Superior and Mdlle Leonie de Sorval who was walking beside. The other sisters ran away m the greatest consternation, calling for help, which not being immediately at hand, gave the murderer time to approach his victims and to belabor the head with the butt end of his weapon. Madame Martini, however, had already been killed by a bullet m the head and another m the chest. As for Sister Leoni dc Sorval, she was bleeding profusely from two wound?, of which one m the chest is extremely 3erious. The peasants of the neighborhood, having been attracted by the screams of the terrified sisters, now succeeded m surrounding the murderer as he was trying to make good his escape., Chave, had reloaded his revolvei, kept them, however, at a respectful distance till some gendarmes arrived. Two of them walked courageously to within about three yards of the spot where the as.s«ssin stood with his pistol levelled at their heads. They then told him to lower his weapon, but instead of doing so Chave fired two shots, but fortunately missed his aim. Seeingthe danger to which they were exposing their lives, one of the gendarmes drew his pistol, and without giving the murderer time to take fresh aim shot him through the chest. ' . Another bullet, which wounded Chare behind the ear, caused, him to fall heavily to the ground. He did cot, however, relinquish the hold of his pistol, with which by a convulsive movement he inflicted on himself a third mortal wound.