MELODRAMATIC TRAGEDY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18025, 25 February 1922, Page 2 (Supplement)

MELODRAMATIC TRAGEDY.

A QUARREL OVER TWO SONS A tragedy whirh might afford a scene for tho Gran'd Guignal took place recently at Marseilles. A wealthy and much-respected couple pamed Tortora had been entertaining to luncheon their two sons, both of whom possessed flourishing businesses of their own.

When the young men had left, a quarrel arose, and Mme. Tortora accused her husband of favouring tho elder of their two children. After an hour's dispute, she seized a. sword hanging on the wall and chased her husband out on to tho verandah of the house, giving him- a serious wound. Ho seized a spade to defend himself and with the first blow killed his wife by splitting her skull. Soveral of tho neighbours had run to tho scene but, frightened by the violence ofjihe man, they dared not enter tho garden. M. Tortora appeared on the verandah with blood pour-, ing from the wound in his side, and hold-* ing on to a pillar explained what hac 1 happened.

' I have killed my wife," he cried, " be:ause sho was a shrew and has always jmbiltored ray life with her nagging tongue and her violence. Now I am about to die too."

As he uttered the last word he threw himself into the fitreet below aud was picked up dead.