BOULANGER'S SUICIDE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XII, Issue 3929, 3 October 1891, Page 2

BOULANGER' S SUICIDE.

Tno Act Premeditated.

Comments of the French, Press,

[United Press Association.] Brussels, September 80.

The news of the death of General Boulanger by his own hand is confirmed.

It appears that the General, accompanied by bis niece and secretary, droye to the cometery, and leaving his companions outside, walked up to tbe tomb of Madame Bonnemain and scattered flowers on it.

4t the same time he appeared to be in a meditative and gloomy mood, and suddenly drawing a revolver which he had concealed about him, placed the muzzle close to his head and fired.

The bullet entered bis right temple, death being instantaneous, and the lifeless body of the General fell across the tomb of Madame Bonnemain, who at her death left a large fortune to Boulanger. Since the death of Madame Bonnemain the General has been inconsolable, and has suffered severely from insomnia.

October 1. Letters and telegrams addressed to his wife and daughter were found on the body of General Boulanger, in which he expressed a desire to die owing to the loss of his mistress. In some political notes left among his papers, Boulanger urges the French Revisionists to persevere with the programme they have sketched oat.

The General, it appears, had previously attempted suicide at the hotel at which he Jwas staying, and his friends, suspecting he would repeat the rash act, consequent on bis nervous demeanour, followed him to the cemetery.

On their arrival they found the General so calm and self possessed that they at once acceded to his wish to be allowed to spend a few moments at Madame Bonnemain's tomb alone. They had not long retired when the fatal shot was fired.

Boulanger had often remarked that his life was a burden and he would soon die. He bad become quite emaciated and haggard in appearance.

A blood-stained photograph of Madame Bcnnemain was found near his heart.

The General had purchased a vault next to that of the deceased lady and everything points to the conclusion that the deed was premeditated. Before leaving for the cemetery he kissed his mother, remarking that he was going to a fete. Pabk, October 1.

The comments in the Paris press on the General's suicide are half generous and half contemptuous. London, October 1. Boulanger's wife, from whom he had been separated for some years, had recently offered to forgive him and share her husband's exile, but her letter was never answered.

The funeral takes place on Saturday. The clergy of Brussels refuse to officiate.