PARIS TRAGEDY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20432, 12 June 1928, Page 11

PARIS TRAGEDY.

DEATH OF CAPTAIN A. E. a H-.JL BOEUFVE. (Fbom Oua Own ConazspoNnxim)- * LONDON, Miy X New Zealanders will learn with regret of the death in Paris on April 18,,-of Captain Alic Eugene C. H. E. Boeufve, late of the Otago Mounted Rifles, only son of Jfce late Robert Boeuive. Minister Plenipotentiaire, France, and of Madame Boeofve, and grandson of the late Jaimes Jameson, of Airfield, Donnybrook, Djublin, at th© early age of 37, and -thfcir regret will be intensified when they know that this officer took his own life, consequent, it is surmised, upon business worries. This is how the distressing announcement first appeared in the Times: ” A man, whose name is given as Alix Boeofve, threw himself from the top of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris yesterday morning, and was killed. It is stated that his mother is English, and lives in London.” In the short space of three months death has bereft Madame Boeufve ’Of husband and son. Son Excellence Robert Boenfve (formerly Minister Plenipotentiare in New Zealand for France) dieflat Chantilly after some months of suffering. When he was appointed to New Zealand, his son, then 12 years of. age, became a pupil at King’s College, Auckland, where n© made many friends, and where he had a very happy life. When war was declared he went into camp at once at Trentham, and left the, Dominion with the Bth Reinforcements, having a commission in the Otago Mounted Rifles. For four years during the war Madame Boeufve lived in Paris to be as near as possible to her" son, during which time her husband ' liras Minister Plenipotentiaire for France a£ Quito, South America. •' From the commencement of the war. Captain Boeufve was with the British armies, doing his duty brilliantly, and on the armistice he was made an officer of the headquarters staS. He had previously been mentioned in despatches- for distinguished and gallant service at Piers'. He had had many marvellous escapes from death, and from an early period his dpty had been that of burial officer. -In I,\B he was specially allocated for service with the Qlaims Commission, for which duty headquarters recognised that-be possessed special ability, his intimate knowledge of French and German making his services particularly useful for this work. Captain Boeufve married e French ladv who survives, with a daughter, aged eight, to mourn the loss of an affectionate husband and father. Captain Boeufve left his home on the morning of the tragedy apparently quite happy. He kissed his wife and child as usual, and walked off, saying that he was going to his tailor and then to his dentist He went also to his office, and, whatever it was that decided him to change'has plans must have happened there. From his office he wrote a farewell letter to his wife, and also a brief statement on a piece of paper which was found pinned to his coat witi. instructions to communicate with his cousin, whose name and address were given. He then made his way to the Arc de Triomphe, which he ascended with about fifteen other people who were sightseers. The hour was then noon. It was noticed that he suddenly stood still, and then he took a long run followed by a clean jump over the parapet, crashing to the ground to instant death. The only mark visible on the body was a scar on the brow. His watch was still ticking. The cousin, on receiving a communication of the tragedy, wired to Madame Boenfve in London, and she left at once for Paris. The deceased was buried in the grave beside his father. The British Legion sent a beautiful wreath, and there were other floral tributes from French military bodies, some of whom were represented. at the graveside. The floral tributes were remarkable for their size and beauty. Undoubtedly the strain of the war had left its mark upon Captain Boeufve, as upon so many other men, and in addition to this he was upset by his father’s illness and death. At the conclusion of his official army duties, he went into, an insurance business in Paris, later placing his capital in commercial enterprises in the French metropolis. He had loss and worry in this connection until the rime arrived when he felt, as he wrote in bis last letter, that the only way to save anything for his wife and child was to- “ go over the top.” ] Madame Boenfve and her relatives are anxious for an inquiry to be made in connection with the business affairs which seem to have brought about the tragedy of his death. They feel that his end was a sacrifice purely in the interest of nis wife and child.