Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-07-20
SHOCKING TRAGEDY!
The French Minister, Preyos!
ParadOl, Commits Suicide !!
The Terrible Deed an Act of Insanity!

we have to announce the shocking intelligence
OF the death OF the new French Minister, Provost
faradol, by his own hand. About one O'Clock
ihis morning he shot himself through the heart.
at his residence, 920 New York avenue, between
9Th and 10th streets. The terrible deed was
done while he was laboring under temporary ab-
erration Of mind from excitement occasion ID
by the war complications of Europe, and tn,
worrying labor and the undue exposure to the
not sun he had undertaken in the emergency
The excessive heat of the past few days had
prostrated him greatly, seriously disturbing his
mental faculties, and it was announced yester-
day, in The STAR, that he was quite ill from
this cause.
The fatal act was committed in his chamber
the front room OF the second d-story-and the cir
cumstances attending it show that it was pre-
meditatcd. The inmates OF the. house at the
time were his housekeeper, Mary Walter, and a
French servant man. The former heard the re-
port OF the pistol, and rushed to his ROOM where
she found him lying dead upon the foor bleed
ing from the left breast, theball having entered
Immediately over the heart and no doubt pro-
duced death instantly.
Tho weapon used was a small, single-b barrel
breech-loading Colt pistol, which was found on
the floor under him.
Messrs Harvey & Marr, undertakers, were
sent Tor this morning early, it not being known
outside of the house that he had killed himself
until after daylight, as the servants were timid
about going on the streets at night in strange
city. In fact, they seemed to have been at a
loss what to do. The body was embalmed by the
undertakers, and prepared for burial, though no
further action will be taken until the arriya,
OF Nj. Berthemy, the late French Minister who
Is in New York, but was telegraphed for this
morning. He will arrive here in the late train
this evening, or early tomorrow morning and
the funeral arrangements will then be made.
The body will no doubt be taken to France for
interment.
Mr.. Paradol left France on the I'd of july for
this country as Envoy Extraordinary and Min
ister Plenipo;entiary to the United States, re.
heving M. Berthemy, who has resided here for
several years past. When he left France there
were no signs of a conflict between France and
Prussia, but uIon his arrival in New York
he received the first Intelligence of
the unfriendly relations between these two
countries, which seemed to disturb his tranouil-
ity greatly, and the effect Of the intense heat
during the past few days served to PROSTATE
him, although he was soon out again. and Der
sisted in walking rapidly about attending to va
rious matters connected with establishing his
residence, &c. He also seemed much i'm
pressed with the responsibility OF his posi-
tion, never having been in the diplomatic
service before, inducing the fear that he would
not be able to discharge the duties properly
Though he spoke English with considerable
f'ueney, he seemed to be troubled lest he should
not be able to express himself with that pre-
cision OF language needed I'm diplomatic inter-
course, and was nervOusly worried when he
failed in this respect. Thus, in an interview
with Secretary Fish, when he designed to saw
only that he had seen by the newspaper dis
patches that France had declared war, he was
understood to say that he had himself received
official dispatches to that effect; and the fact that
he was thus misunderstood seemed to disturb
him considerably. He was also much annoyed
by the fact that when interviewed" by the re-
porters in New York on his arrival, he failed to
convey his ideas upon the European crisis with
the exactness satisfying to literary man.
/ When he committed the rash act he had pre-
pared for bed, but had evidently been sitting in
his room, meditating upon the deed. He had
nothing on but his night shirt and slippers, and
shot himself while standing in front of the fire.
place and near the center Of the room. He was
found lying upon his back, with one leg drawn
up, and his left arm stretched out above his
head as he fell
He took possession of the house last Friday.
and on Sunday evening sent his son and
daughter. who accompanied him to this country.
TO Newport, X. l., where he intended to joir
them in the course Of a few days, to spend the
summer.
Coroner Potter was sent for this morning
and upon arriving at the house examined the
body, and the circumstances OF the suicide, as
above stated, though no inquest has yet been
held. Upon the arrival Of NJ. Berthemy it will
be decided as to the necessity OF an inquest, and
If he should desire it one will then be held
The house occupied by Mr.. Paradol Is the
same recently occupied by Nj. de Billie, the
Danish Minister. 1t seems to have a fatality
about It, On the morning Of November 3, 1852.
1t will be remembered by the readers of The
STAR, that young man named Lewis H. Jones.
clerk in the Land once, and residing in this
house with his mother, shot himself in her pres-
ence. They we're both in the back parlor, and
she was conversing with him in regard to his
irregular mode Of living, and concluded her
maternal counsels by embracing him and Civ
ing him an affectionate kiss, which tenderness
on her part he returned by stepping of a few
feet, and putting pistol to his forehead said,
'I'n kill myself" Suiting the action to the
word, he fired, and died from the wound almost
instantly.
M Paradol was about Al years OF age. He
was OF remarkably pleasing address, about
feet g in height, full but not corpulent, black
hair and moustache, large, clear hazel ewes,
and with all the alertness and vivacity charac-
teristic OF Parisians.
Secretary Fish had issued invitations for a
dinner party at his residence this evening in
honor Of IA. Paradol, to which the representa-
tives Of those nations friendly to France residing
here had been invited Senator Sumner, Gen.
Schenck, and one or two other prominent states.
men were among the invited guests.
FURTHER PARTICULARS.
Emperor Napoleon was advised by telegraph
early this morning Of the death Of NJ. Paradol,
together with all the facts in the case.
Mr.. Paradol retired rather earlier than usual
last evening, and the servant, in leaving the
rauaarked .. hone will rest Well:,,