The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-12-16 00:00:00

TRAGEDY AT NICE.

An English clergyman, resident at Mee, sends to The
Times the following statement :

"Another of those scandalous scenes which present
themselves so frequently every season along the Riviera
has Just occurred at Nice. Oa Wednesday (6th inst.)
evening, at 7.30, Messrs. Huilliet, Thaon, and Gran-
villiers were simultaneously informed that two persons
were in immediate and pressing danger of death at Rue
Beaulieu, No. 1, first floor. These three doctors in-
stantly ran and found, in fact, a man and woman who
had, both of them, their heads shattered by bullets
from a revolver. The woman, of fair complexion and
beautiful, between 30 and 35 years of age, lay
stretched upon a boa. The ball which had struck her
had penetrated her skull a little above the right eye-
brow. She was totally unconscious and beyond the
reach of remedial art. The last rites of religion were
administered and she expired at 9 p.m. The man
was seated in a fauteuil, propped up hy .several
chairs, and appeared to have a dim idea of what was
passing. His clothes were covered with blood, and
at his feet on the carpet lay a revolver, surrounded by
a pool of blood. After having fired point blank at the ,
woman he bad discharged another barrel into hisanouth.
The ball had traveraed the roof of the „month mid saaa
lodged in hi 's' head. He was carried to the loLospital•
O f- St. Bach, where he died .the . following, clay, at.
eight o'clock. He was a native of Italy, aged
thirty-four, the woman was a native of Hungary.
She usually spent the winter at. Nica The man
for three or four years past had been on terms
of intimacy with the lady, but he was an excessive
gambler, and after having spent his own fortune at the
table he began to deal with that of his mistress. In
spite of her attachment for him she resolved to leave
him. In vain he offered to marry her and a rupture
occurred. On Wednesday evening M. de X—, a half.
pay officer, was paying a visit to the lady, when a

violent ring at the bell was heard. The maidservant
announced the Italian, and M. de X— wished to with-
draw, but Madame begged him to remain, adding
that she might need his help. • See left to receive
her visitor, with whom she had a lively alt,rea-
don in the ante-chamber. What passed after wards
Is not exactly known, but some few pa-ticulars
have _transpired. Tne Italian pushed Madame
into the dining-room,
_and bolted ,:he dcor, M. de
X—, faring, with good reason, that this extraordinary
visit could only have a fatal 1-sne, bade the servant
listen. Some words rapidly exchanged in the dining.
room were heard, among which were especially distin-
guished these by the lady—' You cannot mean it l'
-'You are joking!' and then came two shots from a
revolver, at a slight interval. M. de X— broke
the glass -of -the door, put his hand within,
drew the bolt, and eutf=ri.d. A horrible
spec:4ole presented itself—the Italian and Madame
lay both on the floor in a uea of blood. This
drama has made a vivid impression on the inhabitants
of Nies, and it is almost certain:that the motives were
gambling and jealousy."