The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-09-18
FRANCE.

/
MURDER AND SUICIDE Paris. for several
days past, has been in stale Of great excite
Ineni, caused by the murder OF the Duchess
OF Praslin, by her husband, and the subsequent
suicide of the Duke. You will find in the
journals long and minute details Of this affair
will give them TO you briefly as possible.
The Duchess was a daughter Of Marshal
Sebastian, beautiful woman, mother Of nine
children, the eldes, being the only one married,
to rich Piedmonese gentleman. residing al
Turin. The second daughter left Paris the
day b fore the murder, TO jim her grandfather,
who was on visit 10 Geneva. The others
were at Paris. 1t appears that the governess.
very accomplished woman, had recently
been dismissed by the Duchess for sufficient
cause, and had gone 10 reside in large board
ing school in Paris, as teacher.
The Duke and Duchess had been for some
time al Havre, and returned the day previous
TO the murder. 1t is said that the Duke on his
arrival at Paris called TO see their late COVER,
ness before he went 10 his own residence. This
was known 10 the Duchess. and high words
were the consequence in the evening.
On the morning Of the 18th inst, between
5 and o'clock, the waiting maid was ava
kened by her lady's bell, and Instantly pro
ceeded TO her apartment, the door of which
was locked from within.
After calling, and receiving no answer. bu,
hearing groaDs, she called other servants and
broke open the door, aud found the Duchess
in the agones Of death, having received seven
wounds, some from poignard and some from
other instruments, The alarm in the house
soon brought the Duke into his wife's apart
,nen,, (they had had separate apartments for
some ,ime,) and he threw himself ON the dead
stances he was soon suspected by the officers
of justice who had come in. and was not
permitted TO depart, nor was any one allowed
10 leave the premises until the chief Of the
police had arrived The Duke being peer
Of France and member of the Kings house
hold. it was a matter of doubt whether he
could be sent TO prison, but two police officers
were kept in his chamber. s.
On Saturday morning he was removed TO a
prison in the palace Of Luxembourg, in such
a state of prosralion that il was found nrces
sary to carry him from his room TO the carriage.
This removal of the Duke TO prison was or.
dered by the Chamber of Peers, which had
been summoned Immediately after the act of
murder became known to the King. 1t is said
that when it was announced al The palace the
Queen tainted, and was afterward in Mysteries
for some time. Notwithstanding il was gene
rally supposed the Duke would make an at
tempt on his own life, he got possession oil
some drug which he swallowed the fac, was
soon discovered, and methods were adopted 10
counteract the effects Of the poison. These
had the desired effect Tor time, but the un
fortunate man died on Tuesday the 24lb.'
The death of the Duke relieves the Chamber
of Peers of the paaful trial that was 10 be
brought before it; but the manner of his death
has produced many severe remarks against
those in authority. Indeed the Paris CORE
spondent of the London Times says, that il
was the wish of some "hgh in authority"
that the tragedy should thus end. ..
Both the Duke and Duchess had large for
tunes. The latter was a friend 10 the poor and
distressed OF every kind. Among the entries
in her memorandum book are these: /" One
hundred francs given TO Mrs. T. to assist in
obtaining substitute for her son; SOL. sent 10
R., whose wife was recently confined" The
clergymen with whom she was acquainted
we've her almoners'
The governess has been arrested; large
correspondence with this WOMAN has been
found in cabinet in the Dukes department.
Four Of the Paris journals, the Reforme.
Gazette de France, Union Monarchque, and
Charivari, have been seized for having pub
lished some strong remarks upon the murder
Of the Duchess, and connected that event with
The general corruption of society in France.
La reference TO the call for assistance by
ringing the bell, it must have been done after
the murderer had left the room. There must
have been great struggle between the Ouch
ess and the assassin, as she retained some hair
in her hand when first found ky the servants.
One account says that the bell must have been
rung while the Duke was completing his horrid
purpose, and that the servant, peiceving that
II was daylight, put on her clothes before an
swerng The summons, thus enabling the mur
derer to escape.
A DUMB LovER.--At the time that Francis
the First, of France, was taken prisoner al
the battle OF Payla, one OF his officers, the
vaorous Chevaler Bauregard, smiuen by the
charms of an Italian lady named Aurelia, OF
noble family, declared his passion TO her.
Aurelia, although she was llaered by the
r..I.,.nl Lie Ihl