A FRENCH TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6422, 17 June 1882, Page 7

A FRENCH TRAGEDY.

A terrible crime lias been perpetrated at Courzicn (Rhone). M. and Mdme. Blanc, two of the wealthiest proprietors in the commune, had been living on bad terms for many months past, and a suit for Bepanition had been instituted before the Tribunal of Lyons. Both were middle-aged and of a jealous and passionate temperament, and their homestead was the constant scene of mutual recriminations. Sinca the interview with tlio magistrates, Blanc had given way to fits of melancholy, and had vainly endeavoured to induce Mdme. Blanc to forget the past and to consent to their living together again. Sho however remained inflexible. He suddenly gave way to a violent passion and threatened her life. " Since you absolutely wish to quit me," he said, " and to carry off your dot of 150,000f., leaving ine as poor as when I married you, I shall refuse to acknowledge the child which you had before our marrmgo. Bnt it is too lato. He bears my name, and lias disgraced it by deserting his regiment. But you shall not leave, and since you insist, I must act with resolution." Ho withdrew and remained shut up for the remainder of of the day. On the following morning, seeing his wife quietly packing up to leave, he went, livid with anger, into an adjoining room, whence he emerged with a sixcliambercd revolver. Madame Blanc had her back towards the murderer, who, without the slightest warning, shot her in the skull. She turned round, and was advancing towards him, when he shot her again, in tlio side. The poor woman, who immediately fell to the ground in an exhausted condition, called for assistance, and Bent for her brother. By a supreme effort she suddenly raised herself, and threw her arms around the murderer, raising herself towards his neck. A terrible struggle then ensued. The murderer fired a third'timc, the shot grazing his victim's hair, and he then discharged his revolver into her hand, compelling her to relax her hold; but not before she had severely bitten his arm, The pain was so great that the rullian dropped the weapnn, and exasperated at tho resistance lie had met with, fell with blind fury on the apparently helpless form of his wife, whom ho endeavoured to I strangle. This led to another fearful struggle. The woman succeeded in dragging herself, still clutching her assailant, into tlfe street. On the neighbours appearing, Blanc hastened to his room, and looked himself in, committing suicide in tho most determined manner, having twice discharged hi* rovolvcr, the first shot lodging in his head, and the second in his heart. Madame Blanc's life is despaired of>