HIS REVENGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 44, 22 February 1927, Page 9

HIS REVENGE.

Leap to Death at Wife's Feet. ft BILLIARDS DISALLOWED. (Keceived 10.30 a.m.) PARIS, February 21. After a quarrel with his wife because she forbade his playing billiards, Gaston Orpholan climbed to the second platform of the Eiffel Tower at night time and signalled to the police to fetch his wife. He declared his intention of precipitating himself at her feet. His wife watched Gaston calmly chain-smoking cigarettes until five o'clock struck when he jumped and was killed instantly. The suicide caused a sensation in Paris. Orpholan was a chimney sweeper and had been drinking. He left his wife's bedroom at 3 a.m., and ran to the Eiffel Tower. Two gendarmes rushed to him gesticulating, but Gaston escaped from their clutches and climbed up 3SO feet. The gendarmes meanwhile brpught the fire brigade. A big crowd quickly assembled, including Gaston's~wife, but the police hid her behind a tree, judging it better that Gaston should not know she was present. Finally Gaston stood upright, momentarily. . There was a sigh 'of relief amongst the vast crowd, but it turned i to shneks of horror when Gaston hurled himself into space. j