NOISE BRINGS TRAGEDY

Southland Times, Issue 21589, 29 December 1931, Page 12

NOISE BRINGS TRAGEDY

SEQUEL TO A PARTY. NEIGHBOUR AND REVOLVER. A campaign for the suppression of nocturnal noise led to a murder trial in Paris. The prisoner, Raymond Felisaz, had shot dead a neighbour who had disturbed his sleep by holding a noisy party. He was acquitted. Felisaz and his wife occupied a flat next to that of M. Moitry, a cafe proprietor. The latter was fond of holding parties which lasted far into the night, and on many occasions Felisaz had complained to his landlord that he was unable to sleep. On an April night, when M. Moitry was holding another of his parties, Felisaz bore the noise patiently until shortly after midnight, and then rapped on the wall and asked for silence. Felisaz was answered only by sarcasm and insults. Rising wrathfully from his sleepless bed, he summoned the whole party to accompany him to the police station, in order that the differences might be thrashed out in the presence of an officer. But he armed himself with a revolver, simply, he said, as a precaution against an attack in the streets. The complaint was duly registered by the police officer in charge. When the party returned to the house a fresh discussion broke out, during which Felisaz was knocked down. He then drew his revolver and shot M. Moitry dead. The jury accepted his assurance that the shot was not intentional, and he was acquitted.