Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-04-06
Bienvenu continued her hirtations
with her old-time admirers. was
the social editor of the New Orleans
Picuvune at the time this

with her old-time admirers. l was
the social editor of the New Orleans
Picdyune at the time this
LAST TRAGIC EPISODE
in the De Coucy family history oc-
Cured. 1t was in the month of Feb
ruary, 1874, and our Mardi Gras fes-
/ tivities were in full blast. l was
standing in the conservatory Of the
ball room of the Mystic krewe, one
of our prominent social organizations
in New Orleans, and talking with a
brother journalist, when Nine. Bein-
venu entered the conservatory with a
fine young lawyer named Phillips, as
her escort. They took seats upon
the tctG tete in corner. and were
enjoying pleasant and almost loving
Irritation together when Edouard
Bienvcnu entered the place. AS
her husband approached, his eyes
flashing with rage and jealousy, his
wife half rose to her feet, and heard
her say in q tone of alarm and dis
may c'est Dieu, and then she sank
back in her seat in confusion. HeI
husband, a tail, handsome Creole
with black mustache and imperial,
the very beau ideal of Frenchman,
waved his hand deprecatingly as he
smiled grimly upon his wife, bid hel
keep her seat, that he had no desire
10 disturb her; he had merely come
out to smoke cigarette. Then turn.
ing to Phillips, said, as he lighted 9
cigarette:
by the way, Phillips, l am going
tomorrow on little excursion tc
/ Bay st. Louis-the famous dueline
ground. l shall take friend with
me and l shall be happy to have youl
company on the trip. Bring a friend
with YOU
| Il take pleasure in joining youl
party" replied Phillips, gravely
What train do you intend going VI
on:'
'.On the u O'Clock train
Il will meet you on the train then,
said Phillips, as he accepted a cigar.
cite from the jealous husband, who
offering his arm to his thoroughly
/ frightened wife. walked out of the
conservatory and shortly afteward left
the ball. This was the only chal
lenge that was passed. 1t was giver
and accepted as carelessly as eacl
| lighted cigarette. We reporters
understood it as well as they. Botf
We're arrested next day and the due
was postponed.
.It was not until April 3. 1874, thai
| Bienycnu and Phillips were able tt
carry out their intentions. On tha
day l accompanied them, with quite
Il number of friends of both partie:
to the luclling ground at Bay St
| Louis. Both men fire simultaneous
". and the husband fell dead at tn,
first shot. He never spoke Il wore
after he fell. Phillips turned from
the field and walked away with hi
friend. after throwing his smokin!
pistol on the ground. He disap
peared. and is supposed to have COM
to san Francisco. Thus was tn
curse of the old negress, Marie Lavon
the Noudoo Queen, literally carrie,
out. All three husbands of the fata
sisters died violent deaths, leavin.
no children behind them to keep N
tiit l't NOuSN i<i'e. ha'alliS liSii
venu brought her fashionable caree
to Il sndden close. Remorse ant
shame drove her into retirement
from which she never emerged. Il
the summer of 1874 she took passag
on Panama steamer by the Isthmu
and came to San Francisco. Her
she changed her name, and has live
on her wealth in the strictest retire
ment up to the day of her death. l
is not known definitely whether Phil
lips joined her here, but gossipper
in New Orleans reported that she ha'
married the man who had shot he
husband. Whether she did or not
am unable to say, but l think it YER
likely.