DIPLOMAT SHOT

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 387, 19 March 1937, Page 5

DIPLOMAT SHOT

FORMER ROME ENVOY. PARIS STATION ATTACK. Arrest of Former French Actress. Press Association— Copyright. Park', March 17. While waiting on a Gare du Nord platform for a train to Brussels, the Comte de Chambrun, aged 62, former French Ambassador to Italy, was shot in the groin by a smartly dressed young woman, Madame fle Fontange, who drew a revolver from her hand bag. Mme. de Frontage, who is well known in Paris, was a former actress and journalist. She was arrested.

The Comte de Chambrun was sent to hospital and operated on. His condition is serious.

It is alleged that Mme. Fotange told the police, “The Comte de Chambrun caused ma to lose the love ot a man who is too well known to be mentioned. I confided certain tilings to M. de Chambrun, trusting to his friendship not to repeat them. He has broken my confidence an? lost my love ot the mlan who really loved me.”

Sensational reports are circuTaTTn'p in Paris about the circumstances leading to the shooting," says' the correspondent of the Daily Mail. “I learn that police inquiries have assumed a international character,” he adds. The Daily Mail’s correspondent adds that M. de Chambrun’s assa’l ant was known by the pen-name of Mme. de Fontange. Her real name: is Madame de I'a. Ferriers and s>',e wax. formerly the wife of a deputy-prefect for the provinces. She is described. as l a strikingly beautiful and gifted woman with a wide circle of friends' in French and Italian diplomatic circles. She is 30 years of age. Fired Three Times. The shooting occurred five minutes, before the train to Brussels was, due ■to start. Mme. de Fontange fired three times at point blank range, but M. de Chambrun did not fall.

turned quietly to the police, ■ who rushed forward, saying “Arre t •

Woman.” The doctors say he is not vitally injured and hit life is not danger. Mme. de Fontange, says the Daily Telegraph’s Paris correspondent, fol” the examining magistrate she regretted she failed to kill M. de Chambrun, whom she accused of making remarks about her at Rome and preventing her from approaching a very high per sonage whom she had previously in tsrviewed for her paper. Th° Daily Telegraph’s correspondent adds: "It is stated that the has fallen passionately in love with this person' l -' 0 ” Le Matin reports Mme. de Fontange as saying: “M. de Chbmbrun made me lose the affection of a great Italian statesman.” A friend said Mme. Fontange and M. de Chambrun had know each other tor some time. They met for th' first time at Rome, where Mlle. Fontange went a year ago as the representative of a Paris evening newspaper to obtain interviews, of which she obtained a number, inefuding one with Signor Mussolini. M. de Chambrun was appointed Ambassador at Rome( in 1933. He retired last year. He is a member of one of the oldest families in France.