Extraordinary Discovery of a Crime.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 368, 15 May 1889, Page 3

Extraordinary Discovery of a Crime.

A\ extraoidjjjary case has just been brought into the police courts in the South of France, b'omo months ago the wife of a well-known wine merchant was found doad, in her bed. She? letL a letter behind her, in which she stated! that she had taken poison Jjecause she had deceived her husbandj who was the 'kindest of basb&nds and the best of men. 'The ailaii* created ' .great surprise at the time," -as the deceased lady, who lelh two'dr tljuee^you^g children,., was known as a gooff \vjte and motheiv. and lo ail appearances lived Happily with her husband., ' T.Ke jury at tlie' IFIque&t returned" a verdict that &he wrote the letter, and dojnhinitted suicide while labouring undei u' ! Ht ot-tetnpoiary insanity. The husband appeared bo teei'his lots keenly at the thro,'JbuG~ m the couise of the year consoled himself by becoming engaged Lo a rich youngwidow of his aquamtance. The marriage arrangements were complete, and the wedding was" ju&t about to take place when the intended bridegroom was arrested on the charge of murdering his lirsfc wite, the person who gave the information to the police being the nurse of his childien. AccOiding to the girl's statement the evening before thecatastrophe she had occasion logo into her mistress's bedroom for something. Thinking that the room was empty, she opened the door without knocking, and was surprised to see her master engaged in mesmerising his wife. She re- j membered that on a former occasion, when her mistress was ill, her husband had , put her to sleep" by the s>ame means. The girl was afraid ot receiving a scolding for j nob knocking, so, iinding that she was not j observed, sho withdiew as quietly as possible, remaining outside the door to.listen. After a few minutes' silence she heard her master dictating to bis wife the letter which was found in the 100 m after her death. He then appeared to be encouraging her to drink something. At this moment the young woman heard a movement, as though somebody was coming towards the "door, and, becoming alarmed, she slipped away. The next morning the unfortunate lady was found dead, and the police were sent for. The nurse says that she was afraid at the' time to state what had taken place, tearing that she might get herself into trouble. When sho heard, however, that ; her master was about to be mairied again, Bhe felt It her 'duty to go to the policp and inform against him.