A PARIS MELODRAMA.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7802, 5 September 1903, Page 4

A PARIS MELODRAMA.

\ — ♦ — COUNTESS'S PLOT TO MtJRDER A RIVAL. The Countess of Maljespadlle caused B great sensation in Paris last month, by a strange drama, in which she played the part of villain. The countess, whose husband had 1 left her obk account of her conduct, had been living for some time in the house of a metallurgist in the Boulevard St Germain. He abandoned her, however, and after some time she learned that he was paying attentions to another woman. Upon hearing this tlhe countess resolved to avenge herself. She hired three men, to whom she promised £120 if they would kill her rival, whom, she would indicate as they accompanied her in the street. The men promised to do so, but after leaving her fchey felt scruples and repaired to the 'house of the metallurgist, to whom they told the story. He thanked them, but asked them to accompany the countess as though nothing had happened. On tfie appointed day the three men met the countess, wh?. had. hidden a large hunting knife in her bait. She hired an automobile, and they drove to the house occupied by her rival. The countess rang the bell, and as soon as her rival appeared, dashed a quantity of corrosive powder in her eyes. The girl screamed with agony and fell to the ground. Just at this moment the metallurgist made his appearance, andi rushing! at the countess struck her over the head with the butt end of a revolver: A number of policemen appeared on the scene, and the whole party was taken to the station. Only the countess was detained in a cell, tihie others being allowed to go. A few minutes afterwards heavy blows were heard from the direction of her cell. On opening the door a policeman found the countess lying on the ground with hen skull fractured. She had tried to commit suicide by dashing her head against the «walls. She was taken to a hospital in a critical state.