A FRENCH TRAGEDY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1963, 31 October 1889, Page 3

A FRENCH TRAGEDY.

The problem of the “ Battle of Life ’’ has just been solved in a most extraordinary manner by three dames of a certain age-sisters to all appearance, and supposed to be comfortably endowed with this world’s goods who resided in a pleasant villa at Le Vesinet (says the Paris correspondent of the London Daily Telegraph). Eor some reason hitherto unexplained, they were weary of existence, and they determined to die together. The three women, having previously provided themselves with a perfect arsenal of revolvers, set fire to- their house. They then, in a most methodical manner, bade each other a last farewell, and turned, their weapons against themselves. In two cases the shots were fired with fatal effect, two of the sisters tailing to the ground mortally wounded. The unfortunate ladies, whose name was Cuvelier, were in comfortable circumstances when they took the villa in which the dreadful deed was done. They were all unmarried, the eldest being 60, and the youngest 45 years of age. Latterly they had sustained heavy pecuniary losses, and bills began to coine in which they had to leave unpaid. When some debt collectors called they talked of seizing a horse, but the youngest sister stationed herself behind the door, revolver in hand, and swore that she would shoot the animal rather than give it up; so they had to fall back on their other property. One morning about 8 o’clock a butcher’s boy noticed that smoke was issuing from the windows of their villa. He hurried to the Mairie arid gave the alarm, and soon several officials and the firemen were on the scene of the catastrophe. The smoke was then so dense that they could not effect an entry through the front door, so they tried one of the windows. In this room a horrid spectacle met their view, The corpse of the youngest sister, completely charred, was lying on a still burning bed. Then exploring further they came to an upper chamber, on a sofa in which lay the bodies of the two elder sisters each with a revolver in her hand. The sofa was also in flames, and the two bodies were badly scorched. On the ground flour were found the Newfoundland dog and a cat, both shot; while in the stable lay the horse riddled with bullets. On a table near the door were two letters, one of which explained that the women had comifiitted suicide. They were going to join their dead mother. The other missive, written to the dealer who supplied them with fodder for the horse, contained a sum of money still due, This was the only debt that they could defray, and in their affection for the poor beast they decided that whatever it had cost them should be paid. The three sisters —who seem To have been somewhat eccentric in their habits —lived quite alone, one looking after the favorite horse, another doing the cooking, while the third kept the garden tidy. No one was ever asked to the place. This shocking drama is the talk of all the country round, and has created quite a sensation in Paris, Some further particulars just to hand it appears that the two elder sisters were in the habit of frequenting, the different racecourses within a drive from their housei and they were also, addicted to betting—though it is not known whether they lost or gained through their proclivities for the turf. It is regarded as certain that they killed their youngest sister Caroline as she lay in her bed. Thie position of the body seemed to show that there had been a struggle. They proceeded to the stable, where they shot the horse, and meeting the Newfoundland dog and the cat on their way upstairs, they also destroyed them. They then closed the doors and windows, and setting fire to the bed on Which the corpse of their dead sister lay, and to the sofa on which they took their seats, they blew out their brains.