A TRAGIC STORY OF FRENCH LIFE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1808, 27 October 1888, Page 3

A TRAGIC STORY OF FRENCH LIFE.

The remlte of free love in France have been strikingly exemplified by a fearful family drama which is just now being unfolded before the Assize Court of the department of the BeuxSevres, The facts briefly stated are these:—ln 1870 M. Ohevallereau, a law student at Poitiers, lived with a pretty milliner, Julia Ferrand. She bore him four children, one of whom, a daughter, died. After several years of cohabitation, M. Ohevallereau, at the instigation of his father and his friends, threw of Julia, and refused to recogiise her children, who were thereby reduced with their mother to destitution. One of the sons — Honore —partially lost his reason, and had to be placed in an asylum. The two others—Gaston and Ernest—who were struggling in Paris, sought out their father at Poitiers; but he threatened to ihoot them if they returned there again. The boys therefore went away in fear and trembling; but in a few months' time, poverty pinching them worse than ever, they resolved to try their luck at Poitiers once more. They bought a revolver, and on their way to their father's house practised with it on some trees. On entering the paternal chateau they were received by a housekeeper, who gave them two glasses of wine; but when M. Chef vallweau came in he threw the glasses out of the door and his sons alter them. Ernest Ferrand then drew out his revolver and shot his father, who tottered to his room and expired. The boy Honore, who was in the asylum, on hearing that his brothers were arrested, committed suicide, ; Gaston and Ernest were put on their v trial before a Niort jury, which after twenty minutes'deliberation acquitted