DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 66, 7 March 1908, Page 3

DOUBLE TRAGEDY.

A man named Jolibois, who shot dead ' two persons and wounded two others in Montmartre, France, some two months ago, was placed on trial for murder. Miserly by habits, Jolibois carried in his pockets all his savings, amounting to about £240. Wandering idly in the streets on a .Sunday afternoon, he resolved to visit a woman named liepignon. who lived in a small hotel, the woanui demanded moiiev from him, a'j.l when he refused to give all she a-k-d roused the house by cries of murder. ■ lolibois tried to escape, but the landlord ■ and a waiter barred his progress on the I dark and narrow stairs.

According to the story of the prisoner, who hears an excellent character, he became panic-stricken at this point, believing lie was in a den of thieves. Demented with fear, lie drew the pistol which he carried to safeguard his money j and fireu at random three times, killing I the waiter, named Redoul, and wounding] the landlord. Then he lied, terror--tricken, dmvn the stairs, at the foot of which an infantry officer named Mannier, who had heard the shots, .-eizod him. i Still thinking he wa- lieset by thieves, .lolilioi- lired again, mortally wounding Mannier. and lied wildly down the street, lie was trip|ied up and raptured, hut first wounded another man. I'rom the very first he pleaded that he had only fired in self-defence, and this was hi- plea again during his trial. When hi, father gave evidence of his regular life and good character. ,f„]ib„j, sohlK'd aloud, and cried across the court ■'Thank you. father, thank you!" The Court condemned him to five year.,' hard labour, and ordered him t 0 pav CI 20 to Ihe widow of the officer whom he shot.