AN ACCOMPLISHED SCOUNDREL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1666, 19 September 1887, Page 3

AN ACCOMPLISHED SCOUNDREL.

Pranzini (just executed for murder ia Paris) seems to have possessed all the qualifications necensary for success m life except a moderate share of common honesty . His linguistic attainments (said an English paper during the trial) are almost Mezzofantian m their range. Ho speaks English, French, Turkish, Italian, Greek, Arab and Hindustani. He was enterprising and energetio, ready to grasp at every opportunity of making his way m the world. He acoompanied Skoheloff as interpreter m his Turkish oampaign m 1878, and the year after he organised a oaravan with which he travelled through Afghanistan, Beloochistan, and Burmah, clearing some £1200 by the venture. He served with the English expedition m the Soudan, and g»t an excellent character from his chiefs, not only for energy, but even for honesty. He sfiems to have possessed his share of ornamental ac complishmenta also. Thus, we find him declaring that the nearest approach to ! familiarity on which he ever ventured m the course of his few and innocent visits to Marie Regnault, waa that he one day played the waltz " Excelsior " for her on the pianoforte. — " St James' Qazatte."