Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-10-21
Stranger than Fiction.

York. is Albert LaVergne. man who claims
to have been a king of one of the most power.
ful tribes in Mozambique, diamond hunter In
Brazil, spy in the French army during the
Franco.P Prussian war, miner in the Black Hills
and dealer in precious stones in Paris. lie
is known to be one Of the best pistol shots IN
this country, and marvellousy expert as dag.
ger throWer.
He is French Jew, 80 years of age who
attempted suicide one year ago. and 10 now
charged With having tried to kill his wife's sis.
ter on three different occasions. The Wlte's
sister, Miss Maggie Bennett, says Lavergno
married her sister to trade and speculate on
her beauty, and he did it at the dagger's point.
He drove her out nightly into the streets and
followed her twenty or thirty PAGES behind to
see that she did not idle through remorse, aud
he beat her whenever conscience made her
Haver.
IL demonstrated with him." she said, and
was told to mind my own business. l persisted,
however, 10 my cndeavors to save sister Daisy,
and finally succeeded in getting them both to
let me live with them. | was working 10
store on Broadway at that time, and thought
perhaps my wages would support Lavergne.
who was determined not to work. No use, no
use He beat and drove Daisy into the streets
at night again, and her health began to break
down. He ravcd and threatened to kill me
while | was only trying to save my sister. tic
had dagger and revolver"
Lavergne says he came to New Y otk 10 1916
with $4,000, and met Daisy Bennett, Or, as
he knew her then, Hazel Barton, 10 house Of
i'll fame. He was struck with her beauty and
induced her to accompany him to the Black
Hills, where he went into mining speculation.
Here he met with heavy reverses, which he
attributed to Daisy's misconduct, and had to
challenge couple OF men to deter others from
making too free with her.
After leaving Deadwood he went to Chicago,
where, he alleges, ho started in the diamond
brokerage business. He says he purchased the
Empress Eugeuie's diadem, given at one time
to Josie Mansfield by James Fisk. He brought
it to New York and sold it to diamond broker
uaned Thomas. On his return to New York
be married Daisy, in May, 1878. 10 this city
be had nothing but i'll luck. He lost all his
money, quarreled with his wife's relatives and
was continually 10 trouble.
He admitted making bis wife walk the streets
Ter an improper purpose. lie is held in S 900
10 keep the peace for year, and to staEd com
mitted Until The bail is given.
The New York Herald, in its report Of tho
Layergns's case, contains the following partic
ulars of scene during tho accuseds hearing:
From the passage way on the loft Of the court
came the slight glrish form of Maggie. As she
walked toward the platform on which she must
stand side by side with the prisoner, he turned
aud watched her. She fixed her eyes upon
him with look of fear aud horror, and never
took them off his face once as she oopped me.
chauically and slowly upon the stand.
"Put your hand on the Bible. Maggie said
the Judge.
She did 90 without removing her eyes from
Lavergue's face.
Then you solemnly swear that the evidence
you shall give ---" began the Judge.
Il swear that my life is IN danger from this
man !" shrieked the girl, and az the words fell
from her lips she leaped off the platform and
ran wildly across the court shrleking. Hell
kill me! He'll kill mel
Women wero seized with horror; the officers
c,osed about the prisoner. who never moved
but whose eyes followed the girl wherever she
went.
Bring her up behind the desk ?" said Judge
Morgan. and the clerk escorted her to seat
alongside of his Honor.
by the hand, tell me all all you know about
Lavergnc turned slowly about, and fastened
bis eyes once more on the poor girl, who sat
directly 10 front Of him, separated from bin
only by the desk, on which he bent slowly for
ward and leaned bis elbows
well. Maggie. 90 on, said the court.
81 know-I know-that he-Will-murder--
me |" hys.erioalIy sobbed Maggie once more,
! ompletely Fascinated by the prisoners baleful
glance She paused, swayed to and fro for a
moment, then fell forward in Clerk Bruuer' 3
arms. She had tainted.
TenderIy they laid the delicate creature on
the floor and gently ministered to her. For
ten or fifteen minutes she appeared like ono
who had just died. Then strong salts of am
monia and cold water revived her. Half rislog,
she stared wildly about her, and, catching sight
Ct the cadaverous face Of LaversDe, again
shrieked in tones that rang through the build
| Jog with startling effect: He 8 going to mur,
der mel On, he's going to kill nep She
dropped back on the carpet 10 conVnlslons.
For 6ue Underwear see Dealham, 81 King
street.