The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1870-01-06
A REMARKABLE Story.

liSneS Inc following remlnISceDce OF the
famous Duchess of Prsslin murder, in
France, and asserts that one of the actors
in that domestic tragedy of twenty-five
years ago has since become the wife of
one of the clergymen who married Rich
ardson and Mrs. Mcfarland
One of the priests who were present at
the mock marriage that has so shocked the
moral sense of the community, is in his
own person an example of the most free
and easy principles of marriage, as he has
allied himself matrimonially to woman
who was deeply implicated in a scandal
and murder case in Paris, years ago-froIn
the criminal punishment for which she
escaped only by the suicide of the princi-
pal criminal with whom she was impiica-
ted.
The story of this woman's career runs
in this wise In the year lS47 the Duke
and Duchess of Praslin, one of the oldest
and noblest families in France, occupied
their almost princely chateau CT Vaux =
The Duke and Duchess were latterly not
happy in their union Their dIssensions
had become a matter of public notoriety.
One cause of quarrel was said to be the
influence which the governess of his daUgh-
ters, a Mile. Henrietta de Lucy Despories,
had gained over the Duke. But differ
ences had c-ept in as far back as 1887
long prior TO the entrance of the governess
into the family. The Duchess objected
to the continuance of this lady in the fam
lily, and particularly complained of her
eStranging from her the affections of her
daughters. This subject of discord in
creased with years, and eventually grew
TO such "A height that at last Mile de Lucy
had TO quit. She did not, however, leave
France, as the Duchess expected, but she
went TO reside in boarding-school near
Paris. Here the Duke visited her, and
here she was about to get an appointment
as instructress; bnt the principal of the
establishment required prior letter Of
recommendation from the Duchess of Pras-
lin. Such letter, therefore. became vi
tai to Mile de Lucy, and the Duke
dertook TO procure it He was TO have
obtained it the very morning the Duchess
was found murdered. The departure Of
Mile. de Lucy from The Prasin family
! took place at Paris, July IS, 1S47, just
about a month before The occurrence of
the fatal catastrophe. The Duke and
Duchess were then apparently reconciled,
and they went from Paris 10 their country
chateau together. The people, assembled
at Melun for the celebration of the patron
festival of St Ambrose. saw them there
together arm in-arm, and were glad in
consequence, for the family of Praslin was
popular with them; it was believed that
they had become friends for the future
The Duchess herself was much beloved
This concord between The Duke and Ouch
ess was, however. mere shadow. She
still had her sorrow, and would often feel
and express a kind of presenlment of her
approaching end One day the Duke re-
quesed her to descend into the funeral
vault at Vaux, which had recently been
repaired /; she refused. saying, ''Shall
not soon 20 into it forever? ?' II was un-
der this state of circumstances that on the
17Ih of August, 1847. all the Prasln
family left their chateau and came to their
superb residence III Paris, in the Rue du
Faubourg st. Honore, No. 65, at eight
o'clock in the evening, by the COrbell rail-
way. After their arrival Tie Duke, with
three Of his daughters and the youngest of
his sons, went 10 Mn. Lamaire's, the mis-
tress of boarding house mentioned, to
visit Mile de Lucy Desportes. He saw
her about The letter and left her about ten
o'clock, arriving at his house little be-
fore eleven, when he conducted the young
ladies to their apartment, and Immediately
retired to his own.
NVI,;1a ba D,,La yuoc ka Tlucbacs
with her two eldest sons, tool: hackney
coach, drove to booksellers, and after
staying a short time there, returned home
at haIf-past nine. The Duchess then re-
tired to her sleeping apartment, where she
put on her night apparel, ordered and took
some orgeat, laid herself down TRANQUILITY,
aud beginning to read in bed, dismissed
her maid with the desire that she would
call her at three o'clock next morning.
The maid never saw her alive again at
five that morning the Duchess had ceased
to exist. Her body, thrown down near
the chimney, with the head and back
against sofa, lay de!uged in her blood
and pierced with more than forty wounds.
The news spread like wildlire, and all
Paris was excited An investigation in
stantly began. According to the opinion
of the experts called in, three kinds of
wea pons must have been used in the per-
petration of the crime -one cutting, one
a pointed and one bruising weapon-or
at least they said the assassin made use
of an arm which had at the same time
point, blade and stout handle, like a
yatigan.
The blood had spurted on all sides. 1t
formed itself into pools, cutters, drops and
various stains 1t was seen upon tic bed,
upon The curtains, on the bell-rope, and
indeed upon almost all the furniture in the
room.
Everything proved that the Duchess