THE LOUVRE TRAGEDY.

Waikato Times, Volume 2507, Issue XXXI, 4 August 1888, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE LOUVRE TRAGEDY.

♦ (FROM our own correspondent.) Paris, July 16. TnK " Louvre tragody," as the latest Paris drama is called, differs in nothing from those of a kindred type daily occurring in the capital, except that the actors are prominent and an unnecessary veil of mystery shrouds the affair. The present proprietor of the monster shop known as the Louvre, is a retired military officer, the Commandant Heriot, who succeeded to the property on the decease of his brother, ana at the same time bought out the only remaining active partner. The drama will remain lis inexplicable as that, when Gambetta was wounded by a revolver in the hand, and that many believe was not remotely connected with his death. A military man does not posspss the cast of mind to conduct a mercantile establishment, employing 4000 hands, and turning over sales to the amount of two million fr. a day. Yet that was his work, aiid he threw himself into it. In 1879 his wife died; he was now a widower aged 50, and childless. A most beautiful young lady, aged 25, the sister of one of his chief subordinates struck his fancy. Of course he had only to throw the mouchoir. Strange, his brother had a similar laison in his time. His mistress bore him two children, and he seemed to bo very happy with this irregular fireside. Upon the advice of the Rev. Pore Mousabio, the celebrated orator of Notre Dame, Heriot consented to make an honest woman of his mistress. Thoy were married, and of course the children became legitimatised. His sorrows only now commenced ; in wealth ho was next to a Rothschild ; he had palaces for homes, and two of the most beautiful castles with extensive parks and gardens, in the vicinity of. Paris, as country residences. He was noticed to have become erloomy since some months ; his mind was getting unhinged; some alleged it was due to a fall from a horse, to excessive work, &c. No such thing: he was chagrined that society kept him at bay on account of his laison; he had done well to marry his victim, but society did not fei-1 itself called upon to incense him for ropniring a cruel wrong, although he had au income of five million fr. a year. But what did the mischief, was the flood of anonymous letters pouring in on him, from those jealous at the marriago of his mistress, announcing her antecedents. ■ She hid a lover in tho Louvre, and kept i up a correspondence with him still. One afternoon the wife was out walking with : her children in the grounds of tho Castle ' of La Baisstore. The husband seized the occasion to rmnmuge iu his wife's secret drawers, and discovered the culpable letters, as he was led to believe. On her return home he called her into his study. ' The scene that ensued only they themselves know. He attempted lo murder his wife. In a fit of jealousy he fired three balls at her from a revolver, and inflicted a skin wound. Next ho endeavoured to shoot himself, and lodged the bullet iu his lungs, as the wife pulled tho barrel of the revolver aside, instead of his head. Henceforth all is fog, silence and mystery. Au attempt was made to convey Hiriot to a lunatic asylum. At

tho Louvre, as at the prirate residences, I no information could be given respecting the husband aud wife. Servants were mute and as grave as judge", Soon ' rumour magnified the drama, which had ( been concealed during five days. At last the police interfered, but even the magistrates cannot unravel the mystery Politics were sure to grip the scandal. It is thus had spread the rumour, that it was Horiot who supplied the sinows of war to Boulanger, charging nothing for his board and lodging at tho Louvro Hotel. The enemies of the General organised the conspiracy to, drive Htriot to perpetrate some overt act, arrest him as a madman, look him up, and appoint a reooiver over his property, and so stop the grog of the Bonlangists.