DOG GUARDS CORPSE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 8178, 20 July 1912, Page 9

DOG GUARDS CORPSE

DIED UNDER STRANGE CIRCUMSTANCES. DRUGGIST AND WOMAN POUND POISONED. A woman living apart from her husband in a flat in the Rue Reaumur, lor winch t-he paid a rent oi ill, wun her little girls, who are fifteen and thirteen years of age, was lonnd dead in her room, with tlio corpse of a druggist, who was in a large way of business in tho Opera district, lying near her on me lioor. due of the children had knocked at tho door, and, receiving no answer, had called the man-servant, who broke it open. Tho littlo girl at onco recognised the druggist, to whom her mother had frequently given orders for medicine. Tlioro was not a scratch or a bruise on either of the bodies, nor was tho faintest odor of gas to be detected. Tne druggist was still breathing when tho doctor who had been called in arrived at tho bouse, but despite his efforts, death soon followed. When the police commissary came to hold his investigation, the whole establishment was in, tho greatest confusion. Tho two daughters wore in hysterics; a maid had to be prevented from throwing herself out of tho window; and tho dog, a splendid animal, would not allow anyone to approach tho corps© of his mistress. At last tho official was able to proceed to his examination, and tho obvious inierenco was that tho deaths had been caused by poison, as a box of cocaine capsules were lying on a table near a couple of glasses, which had contained some liquid. M. Mabiilo had been in business in the Rue do Castigliono for some time before ho set up in the Kuo do Alqgador, and wan well known to all chemists established in tho quarter, of some of whom ho had been a fellow-pupil. His friends cay ho had made a very good match which enabled him to take over the shop in the Ruo do Castiglione, at which ho had been an assistant, when his employer retired. Unfortunately, Mabiilo, though clever and intelligent, was not practical.' After a while ho seemed to lose interest in the business, and turned his attention to automobiles. Tho result of this speculation was that he one day found himself in a critical position, from which ho was saved by M. Barlet, who took tho business over for .£2OOO, and set him up in the Ruo do Mogadqr. Madamo Barlet was at that, date in trouble with the law, but she was finally acquitted, and when she was back At the flat in tho Ruo do Reaumur,, hex husband introduced Alabillc to her, and they became great friends, tho druggist lunching or dining with the couple nearly every day. Soon AI. Barlet perceived that a close intimacy had sprung up between his wifo and Alabillo, and he settled at Orleans, applying at the samo time for a divorce. Mabille' took chloral and cocaine, and he initiated .tho woman into the fascinations of the drugs. Why did Madamo Barlet kill herself? The explanation is simple: She was again in trouble with the law, and this was preying on her mind. One of her littlo girls, who were spending the holidays with her, overheard her saying to Mabille, “No, rather than return to gaol I would kill mvself, and you would die • with mo, would you not?” “No,” Mabiilo had replied, I would not agree to such a thing. Don’t desnair; it will all come right.” Madame Barlet burst 'nto tears, and had ever siuco been extromelv depressed. Besides the capsules and tho two glasses which had contained a .whitish liquid, a revolver with the six chambers loaded, a largo sum in scrip, and jewellery valued at ,£I6OO were found in the room. That Mabille had had/ no idea of Madame Barlet’e fatal project seems clear from the tact that he had lighted the heating apparatus and turned on the water in the bathroom. This had been done not long before the tragedy was discovered by the man-servant, as the water extinguishing the gas flames had only begun to overflow from tho bath and to trickle under the door.