Eureka daily sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1871-1887, 1879-01-03

In which the Course Of rue Love
DID Not Fan Smooth.
II will be remembered that some six
months ago a man representing himself as
Andre Massena, q destitute Mason, and .
son Of Napoleon's famous Field Marshal,
appeared in Eureka, and CAV a couple Of
lectures at Masonic Hall. He was literally
assisted by the fraternity here, who will
doubtless be shocked to hear Of the follow
ing tragedy. in which Mons. Massena and
bis wife figure: a.
Rarer even than Christian charity Is q
case Of true love such % we to-day record.
Sometime since an old man came to Truckeo
and represented himself as Mons. Andre
Massena, son Of the first Marshal Of France
under Napoleon. He was . destitute
Mason, and received assistance from the
fraternity. In due time 1t transpired that
Mons. Messena was having his life written
up for publication, by . native Of East
India named 4. W. Duke Thompson. No
one ever saw the Duke, or il they did it
was only for q moment. He was gentle
manly, retired, and seemed devoted to his
work. He wrote for the papers, and one
very excellent article was published in the
Republican. He was young, tall, and quite
g~ood-looking, and was educated in five
different languages. He claimed to be de-
scended from q family Of wealth and dis
tinction.
NOW N. MAssENA TAI A WIFE.
She was far too young, far too beautiful
not to be attractive, and it appears that
she won the Dukes heart. Last week the
Massena family left Truckee and the Duke
accompanied them. Some q in the
crowd, in packing up the things for re-
moval. packed mp a considerable quantity
of the household goods OF their landlady,
Mrs. Short. A warrant was speedily sworn
out, and officer Cross followed them. Tit
stolen goods were found. together with all
the Massena baggage, in the care or pos
session Of Duke Thompson. He says Mas
sena told him to look out for the baggage,
aud he had no idea that any goods had
been stolen. When he learned from the
officer, however, that Mrs. Massena would
probably be arrested for the. theft, he at
once returned with Mr.. Cross to Truckee
and pleaded guilty to the larceny. John
A. Gray prosecuted the case, and Duke
Thompson was sentenced to forty days
imprisonment. Officer Cross was to re-
move his prisoner to Nevada the next
morning. During the night some one
made the Duke believe that Mrs. Massena
had been arrested. Shortly after midnight
he began
HIS BREATH
As long as ever he could, and repeating the
process as rapidly as possible. He soon
became weak, exhausted and almost un-
conscious. DR.. Curless was called and
after a careful examination was unable to
discover that anything allied tho man. ex-
cept hat he was continually trying to hold
his breath as long as possible. Early in
the morning the breath left Duke homp-
son forever. In some manner he had COM
mitteed suicide. Drs. Pedlar and Cur
less made a thorough examination Of the
stomach of the dcad man, and found not
the slightest trace Of poison. All the in
ternal organs Of the body we're in healthy
condition. The verdict Of the Coroner's
jury was that Duke Thompson had com
mitted suicide, but by what means they
we're unable to determine. The contents Of
the stomach have been preserved and will
be sent below to be analysed. II Duke
Thompson took some subtle East Indian
poison, the chemist can probably discover
its presence. If he really produced death
by determinedly holding his breath. it is
the first case Of the kind ever known. All
medical works deny that suicide can be
committed by a voluntary suspension Of
respiration