DAUGHTER ACCUSED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 697, 24 November 1933, Page 7

DAUGHTER ACCUSED

ALLEGED TO' HAVE PREPARED POISON FOR HER PARENTS. MOTHER'S REVENGE. Paris, September 25. By openly ranging herself on the , side of the prosecution against her daughter, now known as the "Modern Borgia," and the "Girl of a Hundred Loves," Mme. Noziere has swung a considerable volume of public opinion : in favour of Violette Noziere. j lEighteen, pretty and demure, Vio- ' lette faces a charge of parricide, and of attempting to murder her mothsr in one of the most amazing dramas in the history of France. Her father died after drinking a poisou draught, prepiared by Violette, it is alleged; and her mother was also Tendered seriously ill in the same | way. Now convalescing after her illness, the mother has lodged an official complaint against her daughter "as the best method of defending her husband's memory" — an event without precedent in legal history. "What a tragedy," was the comment to-day of M. Henri Geraud, Violette's counsel. "A mother, the legal guardian of her diaughter, be•comes her chief accuser!" It is a sordid, almost incredible, story that the police have pieced together, partly from the evidence of witnesses and partly from the statements made by the accused girl. The story of ia dull child, living amid dull, depressing surroundings in an unhappy home, into whose life came the love of a young student. O'pinion Less Hostile. And for his Violette surrendered herself to the habitues of Paris nighthaunts and frequenters of the boulevards — anywhere to get money for the youth she adored. In her statement to the police* she is alleged to hiave said that she used poison to revenge herself on the man who ruined her — (her father; 'and it is to combat this allegation that the mother has ranged herself on the side of the prosecution. The mere possibility that the girl's accusations rnight be true has done much to render public opinion less hostile towiaxds her. To test the girl's statement the authorities decided to confront mother and daughter. but as soon as Mme. Noziere heard Violette's voice in the next room, she shrieked: "You have killed your father. Unhappy girl, go and kill yourself. Kill yourself. You have no right to live!" fWlhen the girl rushed to her mother and flung herself at her knees, crying, Noziere replied: "I will forgive you only when you hiave been guillotined." The mother alleges that Violette had made at least three previous poison attempts on her parents' lives, hesides an attempt by fire.