The Portland daily press., 1870-07-21
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BY TELEGRAPH TO THE
PORTLAND DAILY PRESS.
Domestic News.
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IhE so-C-DE OF THE FRENCH MINISTER.
WASHINGTON, July 90 M. Paradol shot
hlmselt IN MS sleeping chamber, and the cir
cumstances show that the act was premeditat-
ed. Ihe inmates of the house at the time
were MS housekeeDer and French serving
man. The woman heard the report OF the pis.
tol and rushed to the room, where she fou I'D
rdradol lying dead on the floor, bleeding from
dlately over the heart. The weapon used was
small single barrel breech-loading Colts pis-
tol, found on the floor under him. He walked
out yesterday and purch Sed a pair of these
pistols. The other was found on his bureau
with cartridge beside it, 1t was not known
that NJ. Paradol had killed himself till after
daylight, as the servants were timid about 60
Ing on the street at night in Strange city.
Ihe body was embalmed and prepared for
burial; Nothing further will be done until the
arrlva! OF NJ Bcrthemy, who has been sum
moned from New York. M. ParadOl had pre-
pared himself for bed, but had evidently re-
manned up for some time med dtating suicide.
He had nothing on but his night shirt, and ap-
parently stood facing the fireplace, near the
center OF the loom, when he discharged the
pistol. The body W: found lying on the back
with one leg drawn up and the left arm out.
stretched above the head. The French Minis
ter took possession of his house on Friday last.
and Saturday evening sent his son and dauCh-
ter, who accompanied him to this country, 10
Newport, r. [ e, intending to join them n q
saying, II will kill myself. Mr. Berthemy,
come back and stay'' A coroGer's inquest
Will be held at o'clock this evening.
AN INQUEST
was held this evening on the body of M. Pre-
vost Paradol at his late residence. There were
present amCng others besides the Jurors M.
Dijardin. Chancellor OF the French Legation,
M. Bodiscofcist, Secretary of the Prussian Le-
gat.On, Senior Potestad, First Secretary of the
Spanish Legation, and the Marquis a. Cham
brum. The jury, composed of citizens, assem-
bled in the parlOr where the body lay. The
corpse was pa :tiy uncovered showing a wound
directly over the heart. The jury then then
withdrew to the upper chamber in which the
suicide was committed.
M. Dijardin was the first witness examined,
He testified that he was with NJ. Paradol yes
terday on Pennsylvonia avenue, aud while
wanted to buy pistol. M. Dijardin endeav-
ored to dissuade from doing so, seeing that he
was nervous, but the minister insisted on buy
ing pistol, and for that purpose went to Saw
ages where one was purchased. On Monday
the minister wrote him a note which was sub
sequently handed to him. He was about
breaking it open but was requested by the
minister not to do so uuiess some accident
should happen to him. After hearing of the
suicide this morning a. O'Clock he opened the
note. Although written on Monday it is dated
July Dist The translation is as follows
1t any accident should happen [ pray M.
D:jardin to attend with M. Biggs and the Con-
sui General at New York, M. Delaplace to see
that my family and servants are sent home. 1
hope that the measures to be taken will be fa-
c:litated by my friends that have made in the
United States.
(Signed) PROVOST PARADoL.
Mr.. DUardin said his valet to-day brought
him note left on the table, which read as fol-
lows: II kill myself Bertheny, come back
and stay.
(Signed,) P. PARADoL."
The jury rendered the following verdict
That said Anatate Provost ParadOl came to his
death at about o'clock a. M, on the 2Oth day
of July, in the year 1870. They further ind
that the cause of the death of said Anatate
Provost Paradol was gunshot wound over the
heart, produced by pistol discharged by his
own hand while labOring under temporary alb
erration of the mind.
1t appears, apart from the testimony before
the jury, that NJ. ParadOl visited Savage's store
again yesterday evening and bought second
pistol, saying to the clerk, II take this one so
ting his hands on his pantaloons pockets, 'are
no more trouble to carry than pocket knife"
HJ then paid paid five one dollar notes in
new money and left the store. Upon purchas-
ing the cartridges in the morning it was evil
don't he felt that little ammunition would ac
complish his purpose as be seemed disincin
at first to purchase full box, saying that he
only wanted 10 or %, but on being informed
that box could not be broken he purchased
an unbroken package. The pistol was breech-
loading imitation of a Deringer.
CAUSE OF THE SUICIDE.
One of the foreign ministers who had for
number of years been a bosom friend of the
deceased, in di, ,cussing the sad affair of the
death of M. Paradol, stated that he was the
subject of most uDgovernable temper. DUR
ing which he entirely lost bis self-possession
and committed acts of which afterwards he
had not the faintest recollection. In the op.n.
ion of the minister referred to it was doubtless
in one of these fits that he committed the act
of self-destructicl. According to the same
authority be left Paris under highly unfortu-
nate circumstances. His friends had become
seriously estranged from him on account of his
political course, which, until of late years, had
been in warm opposition to the Emperor
He had as bosom friends such men as M.
Theirs and Favre, whose antagonism to war
was to draw upon him the hostility of
the French population; and this latter fact,
announced to him at the same time as the
formal declaration of war against Prussia,
had the effect of arousing his sensitive ma
ture to the highest pitch of excitement A
number OF causes of similar nature added to
the attrihutOn of his mental system until the
Overstraned cords snapped aSSunder and he
sought relief in suicide.
THE ALASKA FUR TRADE.
Secretary Boutwell, to-day opened bids for
the exclusive privilege of catching fur seal on
the Islands of st. George and St. Paul in
Alaska for tv enty years, from May 1, 1870.
There were seventeen bids, ranging from $685.
600 to $163, 10 per annum. The Alaska Com
mercial Company had the preference of Con-
gress and would have secured the contract had
they tried within ten per cent of the highest
bidder, but their offer was the lowest of all.
The decision was reserved.