A HORRIBLE FRENCH CRIME.

Te Aroha News, Volume III, Issue 152, 1 May 1886, Page 4

A HORRIBLE FRENCH CRIME.

The pppers are publishing voluminous details concerning a horrible occurrence that; took place this week in the South of France cloce to the town of Perpignan, near the Spanish frontier. A priest, the Abbe Malgene, occupied a small house contiguous to the Convent of theLitfcle Sisters of the Poor, of which he waß chaplain. He was a man 40 years of age, possessing considerable private fortune, and spending the greater portion of his income in works of charity. He waa consequently very much esteemed in the district. His servant was a woman 60 years of age, whom he had only recently engaged. A few days ago he received a visit from another priest, to whom he was related, the Abbe" Suiroles, 58 years I of age. The two priests were dining together at about 7 in the evening, when, according to the servant's statement, three men entered the house, threw a mantle over her head, and having tied her hands and feet, left her in the kitchen. Presently they returned, and having unbound her compelled her to show them where M. Malegne kept his money and other valuables in the different rooms. Having ransacked all the indoors and closets they brought her back to the kitchen, and, having bound her as before, left her. She fainted, and in this state remained for about an hour. She then managed to free hereelf and give the alarm. When the neighbour? entered the diningroom they found the two priests lying upon the floor drenched with blood. They were both dead. The Abbd Malegne had had the

carotid artery severed, and was stabbed in six other places. The Abbe" Suiroles appears to have struggled desperately with the murderers, for hia body was covered with frightful wounds. He was, in fact, mutilated from head to foot, and was scarcely recognisable. The room was in the greatest disorder; the tables and chairs were overturned, and the lamps smashed to atoms. Securities to the value of about 7,000 francs were taken, [but the assassins, considering them worthless, scattered them about the garden. The property which they actually took away was not worth more than about 600 francs. Several Spaniards who were arrested on suspicion were afterwards released, there being no evidence against them, The most important arrest made up to the present time is that of the servant, who i.« strongly suspected of being an accomplice. There areseveral circumstanceswhich make her story very difficult to believe. Moreover, since she has been in custody she has given different versions of what took place, which cannot be reconciled. The affair has caused the greatest excitement at Perpignan, and another atrocious murder, which occurred in Paris yesterday, increases the general uneasiness at the terrible catalogue of violent crimes in France which the year has already presented.