A PARIS MYSTERY.

Thames Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2804, 8 February 1878, Page 3

A PARIS MYSTERY.

The Paris correspondent of the Standard writes on November 11: —

A most tragic occurrence-—whether accident, suicide, or murder remains to be proved—is now the talk of .Paris. It appears that early yesterday morning one of the dredging barges on the Seine came across the body of a young woman floating on the water near the Bridge of Grcnelle. The deceased, said to be of remarkable beauty, was most elegantly dressed. She wore a black silk gown trimmed with lace, had gold bracelets on her arms, diamond rings on her fingers, and flowers in her hair. These facts joined to the absence of any bonnet or ottier covering, at once led to the conclusion that (lie deceased had been to a wedding or party of some kind. One of her rings bore the date, engraven inside, of 4th Aout, 1877." The body was taken to the dead-house, where it was recognised during the day. It fumed out to be that of Antonia Balade, aged 22, the wife of M. Louis Franipourmois, a hairdresser, established in the Hue dv Bac. Madame Frampourmois was the youngest daughter of Monsieur Balade, a retired hairdresser, living in the .Hue Taitbout. She was married to M. Frampourmois ahout three months ago. The union was what is called a marriage of love, and, according to all accounts, the couple appeared to be very happy. On Thursday last, M. and Madame Frampourmois were invited to a wedding at which all the relations on both sides were present. During the dinner which took place after the nuptial ceremony, and which was given at one of the most fashionable restaurants near the Bois de Boulogne, a quarrel arose about money matters between M. Balade and M. Frampourmois, but, thanks to the mediation of the other guests, it was settled amicably, and the wedding/efe passed off without any further drawback. M. and Madame Frampourmois set out on their return home, and arrived at their house in the Rue dv Bac about midnight. Here we find ourselves in the presence of two versions of what followed. According to one, Madame Frampourmois bitterly reproached her husband for having quarrelled with her father, and the husband replied in a passion, "If you prefer your parents to me, you had better go and live with them at once ;" on which the young woman flew into a passion, and expressed her intention to start immediately for her father's house. According to the second version, the key of the apartment which the couple occupied on the first story was not to be found, and M. Frampourmois, reduced to sleep in the shop himself, sent his wife to pass the night with her parents. Whichever version be true, it is proved that the husband entered the porter's lodge and asked for the key of the shop, saying, "that he had lost the key of the apartment.' 1 The porter heard no high words exchanged between the youpg couple ; on the contrary, they were talking very calmly, and apparently in the best of humour. It was the young woman who opened the door, and as soon as she had departed the husband retired to his shop. Before his wife left, however, as she was in evening dress, he placed his overcoat on her shoulders to prevent her catching cold. On the following morning M. Frampourmois sent a change of clothes to bis wife, but on the servant arriving at the house of the parents, it was discovered that nothing had been seen there of Madame Frampourmois. The family/alarmed, at once set about searching for her. All her friends were visited, but in vain; no trace of. her could be found. At length it was resolved to go to the morgue, and on entering that sinister building the first thing that struck the eyes of M. Frampourmois was the body of his beautiful young wife, lying exposed on one of the marble slabs. How did Madame Frampourmois, who left the Bue dv Bac at a quarter past 12 o'clock, find her way into the Seine at the Bridge of Grenelle, about a mile distant ? Her husband says that on leaving the house she got into a cab immediately. The affair, however, will no doubt be cleared up as soon as the police have found the cabman. In the meantime the husband has been arrested.