A ROMANTIC LAW SUIT.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 5392, 27 May 1879, Page 3

A ROMANTIC LAW SUIT.

The Civil Tribunal of Toulouse has just given judgment in a remarkable case the main features of which are peculiarly French. The late Robert Magre, about whose estates his widow and his relations are disputing, was a cavalry officer of large fortune. On ooming into it, he retired from the military service, and went -to live at Toulouse, his native town. The winter before last he arrived in Paris to spend the fashionable season. A friend; wrote to enquire of him whether his, heart was free, and if he would like to marry Mdlle Blanche de Perrier, who was described as beautiful, just eighteen, well dowered, noble, and religiously educated. M. Magre had never seen the ' young lady, but knewsh'e was of gonuine nobility. An affirmative answer was telegraphed, and the suitor followed it by express to offer himself and fortune to Mademoiselle. Between the day on which the proposal was made in February, and the wedding in March, barely time for the publication of the banns elapsed. Settlements favorable to the young lady, who had nothing but her beauty, were drawn up, the consent of the parents obtained, and a splendid trousseau was prepared with a celerity which cost the suitor a mint of money. On leaving the church the newlymarried couple started for Nice, the bride taking with her a Spanish maid, Paquita. The first night a " scene " occurred in the bedroom, and ended in the bride falling on her. knees, confessing a prior attachment, and her expectation of being a mother in October. A circumstantial account was given by her of ■ her mishap, of which Paquita was a confidant, and it was then repeated in writing and signed. A despatch transmitted to the Comtesse dv Perrier announced that the whole party would start for Toulouse at daybreak, in consequence of the revelations Blanche had madeUnder maternal influence at Toulouse, the brida declared that her confession was untrue, and explained that fatigue and nervous excitement had led her into calumniating herself and family. The husband, hoping this might be so, agreed to keep silence and to live in a separate wing in the countess's . house until time should prove the falsity or veracity of the confession. It showed the lady had told the truth. M. Magre then made the full statement of his situation to a magistrate as a step to disowning the coming infant and quitted Toulouse for Madrid, Simultaneously Paquita went there also. She waß devoted to her mistress, in all her secrets, and on seeing that she tracked him M. Magre' wrote home that she was related to desperadoes, and he feared being murdered by them. He jumped to the conclusion that to prevent the expected child from being bastardised, his death was compas&ed. The day his wife gave birth to a son, in last October, he was assailed by armed men with kuives, and mortally woundod. On his death bed he made a will in favor of his own family, and a further declaration, which with the confession made at JNice, he entrusted to a notary. The suit brought by his mother was to establish this will, and the disavowal of paternity it contained. The counsel for the widow and infant did "riot refute the allegations of the other side, yet judgment was given from motives of publec policy, that the child of the man murdered in Madrid is his legitimate offspring, and will inherit his large fortune. The murder is under diplomatic investigation.