A STRANGE STORY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 1028, 18 May 1869, Page 2

A STRANGE STORY.

The Paris correspondent of The Times gives the following : —A strange story of an’ intention to poison has been running the round of the Paris journals for some days back, but the narrative was so vague that all that could be gathered from it was that a Polish nobleman had proposed to a young woman known for her personal attractions, but only mixing in a certain circle anxious for amusement and gaiety, to accompany him to the masked ball of the Grand Opera for the purpose of attracting the attention of a gentleman that should be pointed out to her, and then of giving him a bonbon which would cause almost instant death, having all the appearance of apoplexy. In the midst of the confusion the young woman was to escape, and for her assistance she was to receive 20,000 f. The Figaro now gives the names of the parties, and states that the case is in the hands of justice. The principal prisoner is a Polish Count, and his accomplice a medical student, also of the same country, but of French descent; the intended victim was Duke Rodger de Bauffremont, and the young woman through whom the whole plot was brought to light is Madame Belvel. The Count made her acquaintance at the house of a third party and came a few days after to make her the proposition and give the large|sum mentioned. He was particulary anxious for her to send a letter proposing a rendezvous at the Opera, but she got alarmed and refused. He then went away, but on calling a second time informed her that he had written in her name. On the Saturday evening at 5 o’clock the Count left, and said that he would be back at midnight to conduct her to the ball. She immediately went out and informed the Commissary of Police of her quarter, M. Crepy, of the whole affair. Between ] 1 and 12 o’clock that official and M. Bellanger, another commissary, went to Madame Belval’s apartment in the Rue de Penthievre, where the Count had already arrived. He was at once arrested and searched, and on him were found 11 bonbons of the Maison Boissier, wrapped up in the paper of that house, but which evidently had never been opened. As to the poisoned one, nothing of the kind was found on him. In his pocket were 241 f. and some tickets for articles pledged at the Mont-de-Piete

and it was afterwards ascertained that the Count, far from having 20,000 f. to give away, was in embarrassed circumstances. On Madame Belval stating that the Count had left a freind in a carriage at the door. M. Crepy went down and arrested him, and the other, on going upstairs to the apartment, dropped intentionally a little parcel containing two bonbons carefully wrapped up. The commissary, however, heard the sound and picked up the packet, and the contents were, in fact, found to be poisoned. The prisoner did not deny the design attributed to him, and of course, was taken into custody with the Count. The motive of this extraordinary in intention on the part of the Count is said to be a desire to get rid of the husband in order to enjoy more tranquilly the society of the wife. On a search being made in the apartments of the two prisoners there was found in that of the principal one a telegram addressed from London to Ostend by the Duchess de Bauffremont to the Count, which document will play a prominent part in the trial.