MURDERED AT THE TELEPHONE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 81, 1 May 1909, Page 3

MURDERED AT THE TELEPHONE.

COUNTESS KILLED IN HER OWN HOUSE. Pariß, March 10. The Countess de Flcrieu was murdered under extraordinary circumstances early this morning at her house near Algiers, at a place called Coustantine Ferry. The murder has aroused great excitement owing to the personality of the victim, who was a leader of Algiers society, and to the strange conditions under which the crime was discovered. These recall the play, "Heard at the Telephone." which is well known both in London and in Parte. Count de Flerieu left home a few days ago for France, and the Countess remained alone in her house at Coustantine Ferry with the servants. At about half-past eight last night a iriend of hers in Algiers was called to the telephone by the Countess, who told her that she had only rung tier up for a chat became she felt so lonely. "It is horribly lonely here," she said. "I am all alone in tin's great place with a ma : d .who is at the other end of the house, and cannot even hear when I call." "Where are the other servants?" asked her friend. "They have been called •" said the Countess' voice, and then communication was nit off.'

The other lady was nervous, ami, without any very precise reasons, felt uneasy about the Countess de Flerieu's safety.

Eaily this morning she went to see her, and arrived just as th u shrieking maid found the body of her mistress. It was lying near the telephone instrument, the receiver of which was unhooked. There were eleven knife wounds in the body. The room had been ransacked, and the Countess' jewellery wrenched from her lingers and throat.

None of the servants heard any suspicious sounds during the night.