A HORRIBLE SCENE IN PARIS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8606, 18 October 1889, Page 2

A HORRIBLE SCENE IN PARIS.

Thk Paris correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that terrific screams were heard on Tuesday issuing from a small apartment in the Rue do Tocqueville. The door was broken open by the neighbors with some trouble, and to their horror and amazement thoy found a young man making an auto da-fe of his parents. The couple had been thrown on their bed by their unnatural son, who had already collected a variety of inflammable materials about the couch, to which ho had set fire, and waa trying, so far with success, to hold them down until they should be burned to death. The youth expressed tho utmost indignation at being thus disturbed in the execution of his diabolical scheme, and cried out that ho wanted to roast his parents like pigs. When one of the neighbors endeavoured to oust him from the room he struck him violently in tho face with a knuckle-duster, and but for the intervention of the police, there is no knowing what mischief he might have done. Meanwhile the flames were extinguished with considerable difficulty, and the unfortunate couple were rescuod from their dangerous position. They were badly burned, ,but their injuries are not expected to be attended with fatal results. Their son, a thorough vaurien, who has ttlrcdy seen tho interior of a jail several times, was in the habit of pestering them for money, and when none was forthcoming, he beat and belaboured them to such an extent that the neighbours had often to interfere.,

Owing to repeated complaints from the public of nuisance and damage done by dogs, the custodian of the Recreation Grounds has received instructions to summons anyone found in the grounds with a dog in his following ; and further has been instructed to lay poison. The swan in the Recreation Grounds pond known as " Moses" was worried by a dog recently, and had one of his legs broken. Dr. Gault set the injured leg, and " Mosos " is now doing well. In consequence of this the Board intend to be very strict with members of the canine tribe in future. At the Mutual Improvement Society's meeting on Thursday night, Mr H. J. Goodman gave a lecture on " The faculty and pliilosophy of laughter." There was a good attendance of members, the ladies being in the majority. The Rev. Mr Beck presided. For fully an hour Mr Goodman kept his auditors interested, and at times ho roused their risible faculties to a considerable degree. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr Goodman at the conclusion of tho lecture, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr J. C. George. The public will be glad to learn that the Government have refunded to Judge Rawson the whole of his disbursements and costs in connection with the Royal Commission held at New Plymouth in March last. The report of tho Commissioners so thoroughly exonerated Mr Rawson from all the charges brought against him, that #s the law was so defective as not to enable tho costs to be recovered from tho complainants, no other ! course was open to tho Government but to ! pay tliem out of the colonial cheat. The amount paid was £346, 19s 9d, and tho repayment to Mr Rawson was made by the Government voluntarily without any request from Mr Rawson, Referring to the misleading titles of books, tho Library Journal instances the case of a young man who had recently commenced tho use of the gymnasium, aud who waß carefully reading up all lie could find on the line of physical development. He consequently put on his call card at a library Beecher's " Morning and Evening Exercises." Another, while preparing for a vacation on tho banks of Schroon Lake, asked for " Under Canvas," a book which sots forth the evangelical work which the author carried on during several summers in a tent known as " The Muslin Church." An evangelical old lady ' sent to the library for the " Pilgrim and j the Shrine "#nd was surprised to find it was an atheistical book that bore that title. Notice. — The deaf hear with the jubilee vibrating audiphone ; no medicine used with it. A description of it sent free to any person who applies to the patentee, j W. Thome, Mackelvie-strcet, Ponsonby Road, Auckland, N.Z. Ladies, kindly remember that Jones & Co. have in stock a splendid assortment of choice feathers, laces, gloves, ribbons, &c, which are offered at half their real value ; also a Bplendid lot of millinery trimmings, jot ornaments, &c. Don't forget our great j cheap boot sale. Corao early to secure tho bargains. Positively clearing ou< . — Advt When M. Hood decided to wind up her business, she countermanded all her spring orders, but unfortunately tho instructions did not reach Home in time to stop tho first shipment, which has just come to hand. As blic wants to quit these goods at once, they must of course be priced very low, so sho will mark them to correspond with the bargains disposed of during AugUßt and September. Ladies will do wisely by calling at onco, as there aro many novelties, and tho quality of tho shipment ia up to the usual ttaoduvd.—