The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-01-10
LEONE LEON DID IT.
The Inside Facts as to the Death Wound of
Gambetta.

GamDetta.
Paris Letter to New York Sun.
Gambetta was not above the supersttions
OF his family. Twice. said fortune tel
Ter to Gambettas mother will your son
control the destinies OF France, and then he
will die by the hand of woman" To the
effect which this had upon her mind was
ascribed her eagerness to give her son an
education far beyond his standing as the sou
of humble grocer. Gambetta affected to
laugh at such superstitions, but not always.
He seems to have made the acquaintance Of
Nine. Leonie Leon, as she has of late been
known, about eleven years ago. For many
years he maintained menage in the Rue
Bonaparte with Nine. Leon, visiting her at
first with circnmspecton, but later, when at
the height OF his success, disavowing all con-
cealment and appearing with her publicly.
Finally she became the partner of his coun-
try life at Vile d Avray
Nine. Leon was the wife of solicitor
named Andre and when Gambetta first met
her was woman of great beauty and distinc-
ton of appearance. AT thfrty-four she is so
yet. As their intimacy advanced she grew
desirious of sharing his ambitions. She was
mistress at Vile d'Ayray, she presided at
Gambetta's dinners and was present at his in
formal councils and while his prosperity and
activity continued she gratified her wishes in
the political world of her lover in no small
degree. Later Gambetta changed. He be-
came morbid, prey to fits of depression, and
sought to seclude himself among his books.
he saw few of his friends and both physic-
ally and mentally showed determination to
lethargy He was disappointed; his patience
did not accord with his years. he did not feel
able TO wait.
About eighteen months ago the solicitor
died, and to Nine. Leon the world looked
brighter than ever. She thought Ganbeita
would certainly marry her. She had visions
of salon, of a brilliant republic of letters
and art, of which she should be the absolute
mistress, ana to all this distinction she saw
the way clear before her 1t was impossible
Gambetta said. To the republic he owed his
first duty, and he could not afford to imperil
his position. He was infexibe and there
was no longer peace at Vile d Avary. Nine.
Lers, his sister, had long advised him to
marry as became his opportunities, and it
finally came to Nine. Icons ears that he was
engaged TO Mile. Daltonshea, a niece of that
General Daltonshea who was one Of the peers
OF France. lady of beauty and fortune
This meant tbat-he would shortly be totally
lost to her, and she at once sought to estab-
lish its truth, He admitted, it is said, that
circumstances compelled him to change his
mode of life, that the sooner she accepted the
inevitable the better, that his position and
responsibilities made the proceeding impera-
tive, and so on. FrenZied with rage and dis
appointment she drew a pistol, which she
says she intended for herself, aimed it at
Gambetta and fired. At the first movement
he had rushed toward her to wrest the
weapon from her. lie was too late The
I'LL nj 4l. ,.ol,,, g
ranging upward, came out of the under part
of the forearm. 1t was a painful but not
necessarily a dangerous wound. To Gam
beta, however, it was fatal. He was
already q victim to diabetes, and the
shock to his nervous system and the mental
disturbance which ensued were more than he
could sustain. His surgeons and his friends
were apprehensive of the result from the
first, but they studiously concealed his condi-
tion until the end. So effectively had thew
misrepresented the case that the announce
ment of his death came upon Paris on Mon
day like thunder clap. One paper, his own
appeared in black and with a single line
only made the announcement, 'Gambetta is
dead" In London nothing was known of it
until the afternoon. His death agony was
protracted and was of a most fearful descrip-
non, but to the last he retained his faculties
His last words were II yield It is useless
10 dissimulate, but have suffered so much
that it will be deliverance,p At five min
rtes before the New Year sounded ali was
over. Bert, Spuller. Aren't, Arnaud and
iiienne were with him; also Leonie Leon.