The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-04-29

AN EXCEEDINGLY COMPLICATED CASE WHICH
THE FRENCH COURTS ARE TO DECIDE.
rParfs dispatch 10 The London standari.J
The sensation caused by the trial OF Mile.
Bicrc for attempting TO shoot her lover has
barely begun to subside before another
case. equally extraordinary, but far more
painful, Is on the point OF coming before
the Paris AssIzes. The origin OF the story
dates as far back as the summer of 1869.
In that year q young man named Alfred
Gilbert fell in love with young girl OF
the name Of Gabrielle Coran. They both
beloneed TO poor families. and both lived
iD the neighborhood OF the Pala's Royal.
After courting in secret for some months
the young man demanded the hand OF his
sweetheart, but her father, who was an ar
dent Bonapartist and occupied stall in one
Of the public offices, refused his consent on
the ground of the Republican opinions held
by Gilbert. The young couple then resolved
TO run away together, and one night The
girl disappeared from home. After weeks
search the father found them living together
in suburban retreat. On the promise OF
forgiveness and consent 10 their marriage
the girl returned home to her parents, but
the father declined to keep his word, and
began 10 look out for another son-in-law.
Driven TO desp pair, Gabrielle Coran again
eloped with her lover, and the two deter
miDed to commit suicide. For this purpose
they hired a room in small inn at Plessis
Piquet. The young man bought revolver,
and the young woman packet OF lucfer
matches. Gabrielle Coran first Of all tried
to poison herself with a decocton OF the
matches. This falling, she told her lover
10 fire bullet into her heart. Alfred
Gilbert fired, and without waiting TO see
the effect OF the shot DISCHARGED second
bullet into his own head. Neither wound
was, however, fatal. Both were tsken TO
the hospital, where they remained two
months. The bullet in the girPs body was
extracted, but the other bullet still re.
NAMED 10 the skull OF the young man,
where it has ever since been.
Gilbert was about to be tried for attempt
ing TO shoot his mistress, when the war
broke out and put stop to the sittings OF
the AssiZes. AS the Germans marched into
Paris, and the siege became imminent, the
authorities, wanting all the able-bodied
men possible 10 defend the city, consented
to let him out Of prison for the moment, on
the condition Of his enrolling himself in
some active corps, and promising not to
seek after Gabrielle Coran. He joined the
VI tuC itluto Jidi'itis abb
distinguished himself so much in the Buzen-
val Sortie that he was mentioned on the
military order OF the day. The war over
and peace proclaimed, be returned to the
hands OF Justice to undergo his trial, but
once more fate steppedin and postponed it
The Commune arose, and all the public
powers having Withdrawn TO Versailles
the city was left in the hands of the Insur-
rectonists, who opened the prison-door'
and enrolled the inmates, among them Al
fred Gilbert.
The young man does not appear to have
taken conspicuous part in the insurrec
tion. However, he was tried BY court-ma.
tial in 1871, and sentenced TO transportation
to New Caledonia, where he remained unit
a few months ago, when he was amnestied
He has Just arrived in Paris and given him
celf up to the legal authorities to 90 through
his trial for the deed committed at Plessi'
PiQuet ten years ago. But the painful par
OF the story remains to be told. Gabrielle
Coran is now the wife Of well-to-do mer
chant, With several children, highly respect
ed and Of irreproachable character.
Forgetting the folly OF her tender years
and believing Gilbert dead and buried, sh
married, but kept the tragic love-drama
1870 a secret from her husband. The sat
consequences Of this unexpected resurrec
ton of the young man can be more easii.
conceived than described.