A FRENCH DOMESTIC EPISODE

Temuka Leader, Issue 1121, 3 January 1884, Page 3

A FRENCH DOMESTIC EPISODE

The righteous indignation of all well regulated Parisian families has been aroused by one of those too frrquei t domestic episodes that set forth in true colors perhaps the vilest institutions that have as yet taken root in the social systems of great cities—namely, private detective agencies. The facts of this episode, which is about to be ventilated in the tribunals, and which, it is hop el, will lead to drastic measures, are briefly as follows :—M. Lenorraanl, a Parisian advocate, married, in 1875, a fascinating aud frisky widow, somewhat older than himself aud of a temperament at once too ardent and too jealous. Their domestic felicity barely outlived the honeymoon, Lenormand was suspected of infidelities, and Madame became incompatible and shrewish. A few months ago Mdme. Lenormand sought pretexts upon which to base an action for a legal separation. She had recourse to one of the private detective agencies that have sprung up in Paris lately with toadstool growth. Soon all the mechanism of the renowned Tricoche Cacolet type was put in motion against the husband, who >’s hale, hearty and handsome, and enjoys an income of £6OOO a year. Ingenious tissues of falsehood, scandal and slander of the most piquant description were fabricated by the fertile imagination of detectives, who, to demonstrate their raison d'etre, did not hesitate to drag in the mire the reputation of honest men and women. Among the many victims whose domestic hearths were assailed by these social vipers were M. and Mdme. Clovis Hugues. M. Hugues is the well known depute des Benches du Rhone, municipal councillor, poet and essayist. M, Hugues recently married a young lady endowed with beauty and wit, tempered with the sterling virtues that make up a good wife. Mr Clovis Hugues’s menage was the happiest imaginable. The other day there was brought to Mdme. Lenormand an utterly truthless story, one of the incidents of which was that Mdme. Clovis Hugues had been previous to her the mistress of M. Lenormand. This scandalous report reached the ears of M. Clovis Hugues. It burst like a bombshell in the midst of his conjugal felicity and narrowly missed ending in a most thrilling and fatal tragedy. Sober judgment, however, prevailed, and a proces en diffamation is about to be instituted which will bring to light the doings of the private detective agencies, against which the feeling of the community is greatly excited.