RUSSIAN SCANDAL.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 460, 5 April 1890, Page 4

RUSSIAN SCANDAL.

ATTEMPTED SUICIDE AT A BALL. THE BRITISH MINISTER’S SON SHOOTS HIMSELF.

A cable special to the New York “ Times ” from London says : Victor Morier, son of Sir Robert Morier, attempted to commit suicide by shooting himself with a revolver at a ball. There are two versions of the season for the act, to both of which he seems to attach credit. One is that a defalcation was discovered at the Embassy a month ago, which the Russian police, on being called in, traced uncomfortably near to young Morier. The other is that he met at the ball in question, which was given by Polish aristocrats in the Hall of Nobles, the wife of an Irish earl, who was there with her husband, and who is somewhat celebrated for her beauty. Morier presumed on previous friendship, and received such a rebuff that he shot himself. Young Morier counted so fully on the lady’s consent to elope that he had a . conveyance ready outside with furs and swift horses for flight. On her refusal a scene ensued, and then he shot himself at 2 o’clock on Sunday morning. St. Petersburg opinion takes it for granted that this painful episode will involve the recall of the young man’s father, and it is noted with semi-superstitious interest, that Sir Robert has been chiefly distinguished as the one antagonist of Bismarck who has held his ground. It will add enormously to the strange Bismarck legend to which Arnim, Skobeleff, Gambetta, Prince Rudolf, Boulanger and so many others have contributed, if this doughtiest of his enemies is also unhorsed. The St. Petersburg press severely condemns Victor Morier on the grounds that he showed very bad taste in his attempted suicide, inasmuch as he selected the villa Popowzeff, near the palace, where a diplomatic dinner was in progress, for the assault upon his life. The explanation of the young man’s rash act is that the English Countess of whom he was enamoured sat at the side of the hated and partially successlul rival at table, and appeared to so freely lavish her attentions upon him that Victor withdrew with some show of petulance to an adjoining apartment and shot himself. The report of the pistol startled the diners, and the youth was quickly discovered covered with blood. Lady Morier is en route to her son’s bedside.