SHOT CABARET “KING”

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19893, 23 May 1936, Page 18 (Supplement)

SHOT CABARET “KIN G”

Dancer Accuses ex—Lover of Murder. “He Was Jealous—He Killed My Louis.”

There was a dramatic development in the hunt for the murderers of .\i. Louis LepleE. the Paris cabaret “king" » \\ho was shut dead by four masked men—when hla dark-eyed lm’er. Edith tiaalnn, underwent “third degree" at police hrmlqum‘tcrs, says a Paris paper. Alter Mlle. Session—who is known 3': l'l"l> lilfillt life under the nickname ..r “L 1 \lnme Piai“——— had been questioned for more than two hours. ”16 door opened and she turned to see a handmmo young Algerian walking smillnzly towards her between police Officers. He was Henrl \‘alette. Ln Meme Plat'a former fiancee. The police had tracked him down and confronted her with him. because oi’ her statemenis about his movements before the murder. Then {allowed a remankabie scene. in which the girl bitterly accused Volume of complicity in the crime. Biting her lips with emotion. she desrrihed how she and \‘aleite usedl in tour the streets of Montmartre. Shel singing and he playing a mandollne. "Ho Wu Jealous." “ One day, while I sang. .\i. Leplee heard me. liked my voice. and made me the star singer and dancer in his cabaret at “ Horny‘s “ night club. “I thought at first our paths would still run together. but. it was not to be. i ceased to love Vaiette. I fell head over heels in love with M. Leplve, who had indeed been like a father to me. “Vaictic became jealous. Only tour (1335 age he made a violent scene in .\l. chlcc‘s flat. lie went to the

‘night club, too, and menaced M. Le.plee there.“ t Then, stretching her hand towards tt’alette. who smiled at her sarcastirally, La. .\lome Piaf declared in a ’hixlhpitchcd almost hysterical voice: “lie got three accomplices. They lwent with him to my Louis‘ at. and the himself fired the shot that killed. lie has already been in prison. The lcrime was just another crime to him It The person who appeared to be least affected by the grim meaning of the girl‘s words was \‘slette himself. Laughed at Her. \Vhen she had finished he looked her straight in the eyes and laughed at her. “ I am no murderer." he said. “ You are talking nonsense. I have a. pert‘eet alibi. You can check up where I was at the time of the murder, by calling on my employers." The confrontation ended with an lmpassioned declaration by the girl in which she said: “I pledge myself to avenge the death of M, Leplee. I owe it to him. . . .“ Meanwhile. the police are studying the dossiers or the sensational case of Oscar Dut'renne. who was murdered in the Paris theatre of which he was director. three years ago. There are certain striking points of similarity between the two crimes. .Slnce early this evening there has been a constant stream of former friends of the dead cabaret ” king" to police headquarters for questioning. Many of them are colourful figures in the night life of .\lontmarte and Mentparnasse,