THE ASSASSINATION OF A JOURNALIST.

Tuapeka Times, Volume III, Issue 113, 7 April 1870, Page 7

THE ASSASSINATION OF A JOURNALIST.

It would be impossible to describe the emotion produced in Paris, by the conduct of Prince Pierre Bonaparte, the Emperor's cousin, in killing a young and rising journalist, Victor Noir. The facts are briefly these : — I For some time past some violent writing has been going on in the journals of Corsica, one side reflecting on Napoleon the First, the other defending him, Among the defenders was the Prince. The language was pure Billingsgate by all parties.- The anti-Napoleon joui'nal at Corsica is represented here by its Parisian correspondent, also a writer for the "Marseillaise," Eochefort's paper, and which entered con amore into the war". The result was, that the Prince challenged Eochefort to give him satisfaction, not only for the insults hurled at himself, but, for a long time, at the Emperor, Empress, and their son. Eochefort, despite the prohibition of his electors, accepted the challenge, and his seconds were to wait on the Prince on a subsequent day. But the correspondent of the Corsican journal had decided to challenge the Prince, and also one of the writers of the "Marseillaise," both grossly insulted by His Highness. Their seconds were also to wait on the Prince on the same day, and it was those of M. Grroussct — correspondent as above — that arrived first. They were M. M. Victor Noir, and de Fonvielle. The Prince temporarily occupies an old house at Anteuil, in the suburbs of the city. The seconds in question were shown into the study, and the account of the interview is contradictory. The Prince asserts he was offered in an insulting manner the challenge of M. Grrousset to read. He did so, and informed the gentleman he had no affair with any one but Eochefort, whose seconds he thought they were. Some irritating words followed, Victor Noir then struck the Prince on the cheek, who retired, drew a pistol, a six-shooter, from his pocket, deliberately aimed, and lodged the ball in Noir's heart, who died in ten minutes after. Fonvielle attempted to get his revolver ready, but failing, sought shelter behind an arm chair, where the Prince fired on him, lodging a ball in the collar of his coat, and another in his skirts as he jumped out of the window. Fonvielle's account is that the Prince entered the room, livid with rage, insulting all the staff of the " Marseillaise," and finished by striking Noir in the face, who, retiring a few steps, stupefied, was instantly shot down by the Prince. The affair has taken all the proportions of a political quarrel, the Eepublicans sympathizing with their brother murdered. He was only 20 years of age, was employed in a linen draper's shop up to fifteen years, and was to be married to-day. The intended bride has become a lunatic. The authoi'ities will not allow the body of Noir to be exhibited at the office of the " Marseillaise " before interment, an emeute being anticipated. The Prince gave himself up at once to the police, even before the order of the minister, countersigned by the Emperor, arrived for his arrest. He is 54 years of age, and son of the Prince Canins, by his * second marriage. He is of middle height, very corpulent, and wears a moustache and beard, a la Americane. He is gouty, walks with difficulty. In 1868, he married the girl he had seduced, a workman's daughter, and by whom he has a son, aged 12, and a daughter. He came to Paris to induce the Emperor to legitimise the union. His life was that of a rough cavalry soldier. — Paris Letter, Jan. 12.

The Number Seve:*. — This number is very frequently used in the writings of the bible: — On the seventh day Grod ended his work. In the seventh month Noah's Ark touched the ground. In seven days a dove was sent out. Abraham pleaded seven times for Sodom. Jacob served seven years for Eachel ; and yet other seven more. Jacob mourned seven days for Joseph. Jacob was pursued a seven days' journey by Laban. A plenty of seven years, and a famine of seven years were foretold in Pharoh's dream by seven fat and seven lean beasts, and seven ears of good, and seven ears of blasted corn. On the seventh day of the seventh month the children of Israel fasted seven days, and remained seven days in tents. Every seventh year the land rested. Every seventh year all the bondmen were set free. Every seventh year the law was read to the people. In the destruction of Jericho seven priests bore seven trumpets seven days ; on the seventh, day they surrounded the walls seven times, and at the end of the seventh round the walls fell. Solomon was seven years building the temple, and feasted seven days at its dedication. In the tabernacle were seven lamps. The golden candlesticks had seven branches. Naaman washed seven times in Jordan. Job's friends sat with him seven days and seven nights, and offered seven bullocks and seven rams as an atonement. Our Saviour spoke seven times from the cross, on which he hung seven hours, and after his resurrection appeared seven times. In the Lord's Prayer are seven petitions, containing seven times seven words. In the Eevelations we read of seven churches, seven candlesticks, se\en stars, seven trumpets, seven plagues, peven thunders, seven vials, angel*, and a wpypn-I'cad.ed monster 'j -