SENSATIONAL PARIS POISONING CASE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1899, Page 3

SENSATIONAL PARIS POISONING CASE.

HUSBAND, WIFE AND LOVER.

In the Assize Court of the Seine on 6th March an extraordinary poisoning case was.unfolded, the accused woman being Madame Bianchini, well known in ' the theatrical world and famed for her great beauty. The accused, who is a little over thirty, was the divorced wife of a M. Basely when she married M. Bianchini in 1893. After the marriage the husband kept a theatrical costume establishment with the help of his mother in law, but he failed, and then undertook the management of the El Dorado place of entertainment, an enterprise in which he was also unsuccessful. He and Madame Bianchini then lived in an hotel, but in order to keep their furniture from the hands of the law they took a flat on the Boulevard de Italiens, in the name of a friend, M. Mayer. This was the beginning of family trouble. M. Mayer, • although having a residence of his own, was assiduous in his visits to the flat of the Bianchinis. This led to

RECRIMINATIONS BETWEEN HUS-

BAND AND WIFE,

and the former resolved to get a divorce. M. Bianchini, however, had a remarkable esteem for his mother in law, Madame Adam, who had lost her money through him, and in order to spare her feelings he simulated a liaison with a mysterious young woman known as Mdlle. G., so that it should be made known that it was he, and not his wife who was deviating from the paths of conjugal fidelity.

Last May M. Bianchini, who was still living- in the same flat as his wife; fell ill. His doctors grew suspicious, and sent him to the Pavilion Henri-Quatre, at St. Germain, where he. was soon brought round. In the meantime the Procurator of the Republic questioned Madame Bianchini,- the result being that she was arrested last November on a charge of attempted poisoning. The investigation showed that on Monday, May 9, last year, he was full of health and spirits at the monthly dinner of the Opera Comique people. At the Opera he met his wife and M. Mayer, and all three drove for supper to Pousset's tavern, on the Boulevard dcs Italiena. Towards midnight M. Mayer went. away, and the husband and wife returned home. In the morning M. Bianchini complained of headache, and as he had to superintend the production of 'Fervaal' at the Opera Comique, his wife gave him an .antipyrine mixture in a tumbler- of water: Later on slje made him drink a cup and a half of coffee. After having done his work at the Opera Comque M. Bianchini returned home ill, and frightened the cook by his congested face and dilated eyes. The cook had Dr. Courteix sent for, and this practitioner toytnd the case so bad that he called in a colleague, M. Chevassu, who diagnosed congestion of the brain, and was doubtful if .the patient would live over the night. Sinapisms and leeches were applied, other doctors were called in by Madame Bianchini herself, and the patient was apparently recovering, when he again became livid, complained of dryness in the throat, and was once more at death's dood.

About- this time Dr. Chevassu began to remark that Madame Bianchini was insisting on being allowed to* buy atropine, which she said a veterinary surgeon had ordered for the sore eyes of her dog.

THIS WAS A REVELATION to the medical man, for he and his colleagues had been, in doubt as to what-the patient was suffering1 from. Dr. .Chevassu now closely watched the patient,..and found that he was suffering from certain symptoms peculiar in cases of poisoning by belladonna and its derivative drugs; then ' there were furtlter consultations, experts in toxicology were called in, and declared that M. Bianchlni • showed symptoms of poisoning by atropine. The patient was removed to St. Germain and was there cured. In consequence of all this she waa arrested.

The prisoner is supposed to have wanted to get rid of her/husband because her mother was steadfastly opposed to the divorce. In court Madame Bianchini answered all the questions put to her by President Bonnet with remarkable calmness and lucidity. She maintained that she married her husband through affection, and that she was still fond of him. She. knew all about his business affairs from beginning to end, and affirmed that he wanted'looking after, for if he was a great artist he was also a big baby, utterly incapable of controlling commercial affairs.. They had lost £40,000 in business, and she herself was frequently reduced to asking dinner from friends. Her husband was in the habit of talking about committing suicide whenever anything, went wrong. In. reply to a direct question of the Chief Justice, accused said that she became the mistress of M. Mayer and went-to the seaside with him in 1897 with the approval of her husband. It was true that she had tried to poison herself with atropine, and was sixteen hours unconscious. That was all because she was poor, and could not even find a franc In the house. She had two. phials of atropine, and her husband took one.

Next ensued a long and detailed examination about her husband's "illness and the drinks which she gave him, but the most important part of the cross examination by the Chief Judge referred.to the purchase of atropine by means of prescriptions alleged by the prosecution to be forged..

ACCUSED'S HUSBAND'S: EVIDENCE.

The husband of the accused, a man of forty, who looked none the worse for his 'illness, was called, but he could not recollect the events happening- just before he was sent to.St. Germain en Laye. All ho knew was that he was in a state of hallucination. Questioned as to his marriage, he said that there were never any great sentimental affinities between him and his wife. She was a bustling, busiiiefas sort of woman, and he loved her as a comrade who was very devoted to him. He knew of M. Mayer's liaison with Madame Bianchini in February, IS9B, and he did not object to the pair, going to Brittany together, as he was harassed by creditors, and did not want his wife to be troubled.

Here Maitre Robert, acting for the prisoner, asked M.- Bianchini ito tell the jury if he believed in his soul and conscience that his wife was guilty of trying to poison him.

'I have been asking myself that question for six months,' was the answer, 'and I am led to say "No." She. was so good and kind. She had been so devoted a friend that I cannot believe her guilty of so abominable a crime.' .

Subsequent to this the journalist, M. -Mayer, "was examined, but could say nothing about the alleged poisoning.

MEDICAL EXPERTS CALLED.

On Tuesday morning the medical witnesses were called. Dr. Cheva3su described how he found M. Bianchini on the occasion of his first visit on May ICtb. last. Subsequently Drs. Charcot and Gilles de la Tourette examined the patient, who next day seemed to have recovered. Witness regarded the recovery as miraculous. Then ensued the morphine and atropine episodes, which opened Dr. Chevassu's eyes. Madame Biaaachlnl first asked him for chloro-hydrate of morphine for herself, and he refused to let her have any. She next requested to be supplied

j.! with sulphate of atropine for her dog's eyes. This struck witness forcibly, and It irresistibly brought his mind back to , the extraodinary state in which he found M. Bianchini's eyes. Owing io pressure, | Dr. Chevassu made out an exceptional i prescription for ten centigrammes of atro- | pine and ten grammes of distilled water, j 'to be used for a dog's eyes.' Soon after | that witness asked the other doctors and : M. Carre, manager of the Opera Comique, I to have the patient removed from his resi- ! dence. ! Dr. Jean Charcot was then called, and 1 said that from the outset there was an idea that M. Bianchini had taken some j drug. After the first consultation witness ! while at home was called upon by Dr. Chevassu, who said that M- Bianchini HAD BEEN GIVEN ATROPINE BY | ■ . HIS WIFE. j This hypothesis was discussed by all the | medical men, and it was resolved to iso- ! late the patient. Afterwards Madame Bianchini was questioned, and she gave up the bottle of atropine obtained through M. Chevassu's prescription. The accused swered all the questions put to her by mentioned. In conclusion, Dr. Charcot, . amid some sensation in court, affirmed that it was impossible to say, after the symptoms noticed, that Bianchini had taken poison. Witness also added that poisoning by atropine could not be scientifically proved. This statement was confirmed by Dr.. Gilles de la ■ Tourette, who examined the patient, with his pupil, Dr. Charcot. The dilated eyes according to this authority seemed to denote what' he termed alimentary intoxication, but it could not be positively affirmed that the patient was the victim of poisoning, by atropine. This affirmation was strongly ■ controverted by Dr. Brouardel, senior member of the Paris Medical Faculty. GUILTY WITH EXTENUATING CIRCUMSTANCES. On Wednesday the jury's verdict wag : 'Guilty, with extenuating circumstances." Madame Bianchini consequently was condemned by the Court to five years' hard labour. Madame Bianchini, apparently very calm, left. the court exclaiming, 'I am innocent.' The jury's verdict was omething of a., surprise. . The. speech of the accused's counsel, Henri Robert Speed, was a masterpiece ; of forensic oratory. He insisted specially on the contradictions of the xperts, and concluded with : these words: 'Certainly there is some . mystery in.the affair, but the Public Pro- . secutor has not elucidated it. There are 1 no extenuating circumstances. It is either ' the scaffold or acquittal.' > . ■', The speech was loudly applauded. , Reuters Paris correspondent says. that , as Madame Bianchini was being removed from the court she attempted to kill her- j self with a hatpin, but was fortunately ■ seized and prevented from inflicting any ' injury. . . *