A Father’s Crime.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 2, 2 January 1914, Page 5

A Father’s Crime.

A TRAGEDY IN PARIS.

BECAME SUDDENLY DEMENTED.

[By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association. I Paris, December 31.

An octogenarian father fatally shot Fragson, the well-known music-hall artist. The latter was taken to the hospital in a dying condition. The father became suddenly demented, and when arrested 1 said that Fragson

was a good son until he met an English dancing girl, who was a tango-

Fragson was living with bis father at a flat in the Rue Lafayette. After dining with a lady named Paulette he went home to dress for an engagement at the Alhambra music-hall. His father, whose name was Albert Pott, was living alone. Ho was kept waiting for some minutes. A violent quarrel ensued. The father drew a pistol and fired. When a servant knocked up the weapon he said 1 he had shot his son because he was a criminal. Interrogated at the police station, he declared that life had become a burden “through a woman my son has imposed upon me. This has caused frequent quarrels. 1 intended to kill myself in my son’s presence. I cannot explain why 1 fired in his direction.”

Paulette alleges that Pott had recently tried to suffocate Fragson and herself by turning on the gas jets. She had' long watched the preparation of Fragson’s food, believing that Pott intended to poison his son. Pott is in prison and is much agitated. He states that Paulette tried o persuade Fragson to put him in a home for the aged. , Fragson’s friends state that the father suffered from persecution mania. Fragson was earning £SO a night. It is reported that he left £BO,OOO. The father of Fragson evidently became unhinged in mind over Paulette diverting bis son’s affections. Fragson bitterly reproached his father for keeping him waiting at the door. The father declares that when his son jostled him he momentarily saw red and fired.

Anoter version states that owing to Fragson’s approaching tour of England lie had arranged that his father should be cared for in a nursing home during his absence. The father declared ’ne would prefer suicide to going to inch a home.

THE POLICE THEORY.

By uledtrio Telegraph—Copyright ) Phies—Sydney Sun Special Cables.

(Received 8 a m.) Paris, January 1

The police theory is that. Fragson’s atlier meditated upon the crime. He bought warm socks in the morning in nder to keep his warm in prison, ft is alleged that the father was ungrateful, though he was supplied with the best of everything, and was insufferably jealous of Fragson's female friends.