The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1847-09-22
THE PRASLIN TRAGEDY IN FRANCE.
The Examination of the Duke,
OF
Mad'ile do Luxxi, the GOverness.


rsrrRRooAroRv OF THE rnAsLrN (cHARLrs
LAURIE HuoUEs THEoBALp), AGED a.
You know the horrible crime imputed YOU you know
al the wach have been laid down before
you and which exclude the very appearance ofs doubt
boring under by confession Of the truth for you cannot
you dare not deny The q1sson very precise but
have not strength to 1t would require very
You say would require very long explanations to
the question have just put YOU Yes"
Ne' IL sucsnt7-It requires great moral strength
to answer yes or MOAN immense strength which
No long explanations can be requisite to answer the
question have just asked you'll repeat, 1t would
require moral strength which do not possess to an
At what hour did you leave your children the evening
tsfors the crime' At half past ten whereabouts;
whist did you do after you left them9- went down to
my chamb-r and got into bed Immediately.
Gla yIa sl sopr 90 n nat rsu :,fs
Wss your resolution liked when you went to bed'-
resolution.
When you awoke, what was your first thsught!-I be-
ieve was awakened by cries in the house. and that
hurried to the chamber of Madame de Prasn (Ths
cused dded with sigh)- would ask you to restore
to 70 By interrupting this interrogatory.
When you entered the chamber OF Madame de Praslin
you could not be ignorant that all the issues you
were shut-that you alone could enter!l ignorant
Of that.
You entered the chamber Of Madame dc erasn several
times that morning.; was she In bed the hrst time you
went there!-Nc; she was unfortunately stretched
the floor
Was she not lying the spot where you would appear
to have struck her the last time!How you put
question to me!
Because you did not me at FIRST. How did you
come by the scratches see on your hands got them
the evening before leaving ..Prasin, was packing
up my things with Madame de Praslin.
How did you come by that bite your thumb
The surgeons who have visited you have declared it is
a bite? Spare me- my weakness Is extreme.
You must have passeda very painful moment when
entering your chamber you perceived yourself
with the blood you had shed, and which you tried to
wash out! That blood has been erroneousy explained
did not wish to appear before my children with the
blood Of their mother.
Do you not feel very unhappy at having committed
this crime! (rhe accused was silent and appeared lost
In thought)
Were you not under the influence of bad advice i'm
polling you to commit this crime! have received
advice; no one would advise such act.
Arc unot tortured by rsmorse and would it not have
strength fails me entirely to-day
You do nothing but speak Of your weakness. asked
anv esrson 20 wanS fs me only OF
easily judge OF my weakness.
You have jus. had strength enough to answer good
your strength did not fail you for that (Thc accused
Your silence answers for you that you are guilty, You
are come here with tho conviction that am guilty
cannot changeit.
contrary you were explain differently what appears
only susceptible Of explanation by your guilt! do not
think can change that conviction in your mind
viction! (rhe accused after pause, declared 1t be-
yond his power to cvatlnue)
When you committed this horrible act did you think
Of your chldren!-As to the crime did not commit it
as TO my children they the constant subject Of
thoughts.
Dare you affirm that you have not committed this
orins1-Grhs accused rested his head upon his hands
cannot answer such questonO
M de praslin you are under mental torture, and a.
answering ne-hs accused did not answer and begged
as favor that his nterrogatory might be interrupted
and put OIL to another day. In compliance with this
quest the interrogstory was stoppedJ
FIRST INrERRoGAroRY MADEMoIsELLE pELuzzY-
pEsPoRrEs, ACID 81.
When did you enter the family Of the Duke de Pras
lin as governess?-O On March, |, l94l.
What salary did you receive!-At Lady Hislops near
London received ,soof ayenr; at NJ de Praslin's
was to have something more-2, oOOf, with board and
lodging.
Did you receive that sum from the moment you en-
What were your functions in NJ. de Praslins house.
hold!-l had the care and education of the nine chill.
dren 1t found necessary afterwards to add an un
der governess After that the Duke took private tu
tor for the boys, but he became dissatisfied with him,
and dismissed him after some time He then placed
first one SOD, and then second with NJ Boussu, pro-
lessor Of the College Bourbon. i remained charged
with the sducstisn Of the three eldest girls and the
the Convent Of the sacre- Ceur as NJ de Praslin him.
self acknowledged that 1t impossible to maintain
harmony between head governess and under one
How long Is 1t since the under governess left the house
Of the Duke 10 Praslin?-About three years.
Thsinformation which We have received has made us
aware that for length Of time you behaved badly to-
wards Madame de Prasn that you did not show her
that consideration aud Difference that you oh
done and that endeavored to ALLEVIATE from her the
affection of her husband and her children NO never!
never When entered into Madame de Prasliu q house
matters already very awkward footing The
Duke wanted to direct by himself the education Of his
children the Duchess herself told me She informed
me that was to the Duke alone that should have to
render account and the Duke himself also repeated
to me the same. Three or four governesses had
ceeded each other in the house in the of
months; the Duke could not sgree with any them
Madame de Praslin told that should reside alone
with the children in side Of the hotel should
take my meals alone with them; and that should allow
them merely their mother refused to to
these propositions and declared that would accept
the situation that was offered The Duke then decided
meals with the family but that the children should
main under her exclusive control and direction. At
later period during stay at the Chateau OF Vandreul
where alone with the Duchess the part
in the readings and direction of the studies of her chill
dren On his arrival, the Duke, having learned this
very much dissatisfied and expressed that dissats-
faction somewhat strongly, whereupon the Duchess alb
stained We were then established at the Chateau de
Praslin where the governess and the children lived
trely apart except as regarded the meals, which
taken en- tamiHe. never endeavored to keep away
the children from their mother but there existed be-
tween the Duke and Madame de Prasn of differ
encc which could not prevent: was, perhaps greatly
dssvorsd to pain the Duchess The Duchess Expressed
sentiments of jealousy towards me- but which had not
D"chsss NO." m IN the world Still generally the
fectionate and that often to forget her nus
tee haa no fortune no friend at Paris obliged
10 keep my position, with so much the resignation
that the Duke had promised give pension Il had
the courage-such was the term he usedto terminate
the education Of his three eldest girls
the annoyance which that task might occasion me-
DID the pension which speak Of form part the
first terms agreed between you and the Duke Mo- all
that was SPOKEN Of was annual salary.
Had the Duke 2xed the amount OF tho pension? No:
but always reckoned that 1t would be bOof year. or
60of for each Of the girls Such believed to be- his de-
cided intention, according TO conversation which we
had together.
IL 10 certain that, in the latter months especially the
Duchess dc Prasljn had conceived very violent jeaou
81 against you and that she had doubt to the
innate relations which she supposed exist between
you and her husband! Never; no Sir, never. The |
Duchess may have said to Others but she never said
to Two years ago, when In Corsica with my pupils
one OF the estates OF the Marshal sebastan jour
nal published that had taken to flight with the Duke
de Prasn. In consequence Of this resolved to leave
the house immediately but the Marshall father Of the
Duchess opposed this, representing that such q mea-
would be q confirmation Of the rumor The Ouch |
showed great codnes and dissatisfaction at seeing
abandon my determination and remain in the house