AN EXTRAORDINARY DUEL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 29 March 1913, Page 9

AN EXTRAORDINARY DUEL

The Moscow- correspondent of tho Paris Excelsior gives an account of a remarkable tragedy which caused a great sensation in the first-mentioned city. M. Yvon Potokin managed in Moscow a school of fencing, employing his wife as an inspector. M*me. Potokin also gave elementary lessons in fencing to young officers, and her husband, believing that one of the officers paid too much attention to his wife, challenged him to a duel. Just as the meeting was about to take place Mmc Potokin sprang up, and declaring that her husband's challenge was a reflection on her honor, claimed the right to fight him first. M. Potokin agreed, and the duel between husband and wTfe began. During the first three bouts M. Potokin contented himself with parrying his wife's attack, but during the fourth bout one of the seconds, addressing Mmc Potokin, said: "Stick him through; he is not worthy of you." Thereupon she lunged "at" him, and inn him through the heart. Mmc Potokin and eight officers who were present at the duel were subsequently arrested.