HER SISTER-IN-LAW

Evening Star, Issue 14186, 11 October 1909, Page 1

HER SISTER-IN-LAW

Madame Arletto, a successful artiste and poetess, who, at Mistral’s, own proposition, has been made a Felibrienne, has barely escaped being shot to death by her own sister-in-law, who had an imaginary grievance against her. Madame Arlette is known in literature, and on the stage has had a good artistic career. Alter winning her laurels at the Conservatoire, she made her debut at the Grand Theatre at, Marseilles, and for some years also appeared at the Bouffes Parisiens. At Marseilles she bad married an author of several novels, and she displayed no small literary talent herself. She wrote some poems, for which she was complimented by Mistral and M. Paul Parieton,« who had her elected as a member of the Felibres. She became known final!v as the

“Poetess Arlette,” and went only occasionally on theatrical tours in recent years. A sister-in-law, who, it is alleged, had the mania of persecution, , and who for that reason lived apart from her husband, had taken a great dislike to her. She accused her, quite wrongly, as is now known, of having alienated her husband’s affections. The fact is" Madame Arlette had done everything that, she could for the poor woman, and for some time past had been supplying her with means to live. However, her sister-in-law, who had twice begun divorce proceedings against her husband and then dropped them, sent, it is alleged, threatening letters about a month ago to Madame Arlette, in which she accused her of having reduced her to poverty. Madame Arlette was so frightened that she had a chain put on her door, to avoid being taken by surprise. Her sister-in-law, however, called unexpectedly with a revolver, which she liad concealed in her clothes, and rang at Madame Arlctte's flat, when she knew that she was at homo alone. As soon as the door was slightly opened she took out her revolver and fired two shots. Madame Arlette was hit in the chest, near the heart, and fell lown unconscious. Her sister-in-law quietly sat down on one of the steps of the stairs, and when the revolver was taken from her she did not seem to know what she had been doing. Madame Arlette was taken to hospital at once, and the bullet was extracted. Her condition is very serious, but if no complications ensue she may recover. At the police station her sister-in-law, who was arrested at once, seemed finally to realise what she hail done, and regretted her act. She said that she had only intended to frighten Madame Arlette.—Paris correspondent ‘ Daily Telegraph.’