A MADDENED BARON.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXV, Issue 7498, 22 August 1891, Page 3

A MADDENED BARON.

He Becomes a Wholesale Murderer.

Pabis. June 28. A startling tragedy was enacted last night at 46, Bue Jacob. Baron de Plinval, who, although only 24, has acquired a reputation as a high roller, after dining with Mme. Mikeo, who keeps ft oounter at the University Exhibition, went home. The. Baron's father, seeing the person by whom his son was accompanied, naturally enough refused to admit them to bis house. Bopulsed here, they immediately returned to the Baron's apartments in the Bue Jacob, and thare -ill of a sudden the young Baron appeared to bo seized with madness. With the assistnnco of his frail companion he proceeded to pilo the massive furniture in his room against tho door so as effectually ' to barricade it. Then he removed his rifle from its usual place and, having loaded it, took his seat at the window while Mme. Mikeo stood by his side with a box of cartlinges. Do Plinval immediately began to fira at all tho people who were passing in the street below, whilo tho lady handed him the cartridges as fast as he emptied his gun. De Plinval fired fully twonty shots in rapid succession, Mme. Caohacazzi, who lives in another apartment in tho samo house, was his first victim, aB she rocoived a shot in the breast By this time tho nsws of what was going im had spread and there was an immense crowd iD tho street. Baron do Plinval conceived idea of stacking the crowd and creating a sensation in another way. He then began to throw iho contents ot his apartment into the courtyard below. Chair succeeded chair, and other pieces of furniture followed. Heavier ornaments, with which aim could be taken wore hurled at tho heads of the crowd below. Two policemen endeavoured to enter tho building, but tho two men fell to the ground shot by the madman. Almost simultaneously the drapery in the room had been fired by him. In a few minutes tho whole place was ablaze. The first firoman who made an effort to direct a stream of water on tho burning building met the fate which had been meted out to tho two officers of the law, for Do Plinval took deliberate aim and shot him. Then he commenced a final fusilado from the window. Bottles and glassts wevo firod with nil tho force with which he was capable, e,nd they wore intersDorsed with bullets. Suddenly tho noise ceased, and at this the police took courage to make another atk. tsmpt to storm the apartment, which during all this time had continuod to burn. They started upstairs to cut open the doors, when suddenly they heard the most heartrending shrieks from the courtyard. Baron de Plinval and Mme. Mikeo had precipitated themselves from the window. A rush was at once made for that part of tho place andjhe was picked up in an unconscious condition. In one band he clutohed the rifle which bad done such deadly execution and in the other was a sword cane. No hope is held out for the recovery of either De Plinval or his inamorata. CChey were both taken to tho hospital.

Tho Druid's Dramatic Club have decided stage Dion Boucicault's five-act drama *"lhe Octoroon," on ßth and 9th Ootober.

A correspondent wrties as follows to one of tho Wellington journals : — " Are thore no scavengers in the city ? Is there no system of street cleaning ? Wellington at the present time is, I Bhould Bay, tho dirtiest place in or out of Her Majesty's dominions. Molesworth-slreet is strewn all over with every conceivable filth that accretes in the track of civilisation, and has been so for weeks, and many'obher parts of tho city are in tho same stato. When the dry weather comes all this stuff will blow about, and be the cause of disease and death." The proposed design of the Soldiers Monument may bo sesn this evening in tho window of Mr Ferry's tobacconist's shop, Bidgway-Etrcet. It is proposed to erect the monument in the Domain at the ond of Maria Place, near the Lrill Shed. Such a position should show the monument well from Victoria Avenue, standing as it docs 12 feet from tho ground. The base of shell rack is 18 feet long by 15 feet broad, nnd oupht to show in marked contrast Iho Waikawa bluo stone of which tho Cynotaph proper will bo composed. There will be bjx white marble slabs with the names cut in and filled with lead. This lettering is expensive, costing in this case about i 35, but very effective and very durablo. The wreaths of bay leaves running lound the moulding at tho top of the monument givos a fine finish to the design, and is exceedingly appropriate. We recommend our readers to go and see the design, and at once state tbeir criticisms, if any, aB the Committee will meet very soon to consider whether they will approve of the design or not.