Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1883-03-21
THE TWO PONIARDS.


Some time previous to the Franco
Prussian war the Avenue Villiers, Paris,
was growing up amid the waste lands of
the old field of MOnceau. This thor
oughfare which was the home of some
of the most noted of the demi-mende,
was on the night of January 5, 1870, the
theater of one of the most startling trag-
edies that the journals of the French
capital ever recorded. Situated at the
corner of the Avenue Villiers and Rue
0ardinet was magnificent hotel built
for wealthy Englishman, and given up
by him when he was summoned TO the
East Indies on matters appertaining to
government duties.
About the 18th of December previous
there came to Paris Russian of fabu-
ious wealth. He, accompanied by his
bewitching wife, occupied the hotel that
the Englishman had abandoned, having
had it fitted up IN truly royal magnifi-
cence.
To the neighbors In the Immediate
vicinity the couple seemed to be on the
best of terms and to live together like
two turtle-doves, although apparently
exactly opposite III nature and tempera-
ment. He from the eternal and desc
late winter of Russia, while she, fully
thirty years his junior, was from the
sunny and baImy chimes of Italy.
The Russian gentleman was very &C.
centric and mysterious In his manners
and movements. Some said he was
spy from the Russian government. His
wife was never seen In public with him,
except on one or two frst-nights at the
theater.
However, things went on smoothly
with Ill. Ivan Verefkin and madame IN
til the fatal night of January 5th.
At about II o'clock on the above-men-
toned night, as the gendarme was pa
trolling that section of the city, when
about 800 feet from the residence of M.
Verefkin, he noticed black object lying
on the sidewalk. As he drew nearer he
saw that the object was the form of a
man lying on his face. AS he was about
to turn the form over in order to obtain
a glimpse of the unfortunate victims
face, he started back with a suppressed
cry. Still inbedded in the mans back
was gllstening poniard. From the
wound few drops of blood trickled.
The richness of the unfortunate mans
attire inspired the rough officer with
considerable respect.
"This is the work of some cowardly
assassin, :" he muttered, as he turned the
body and looked at the face. The nose
was slightly bruised, as :the victim must
have fallen on his face on the hard
pavement.
Procuring assistance, the unfortunate
man was carried to the prefecture, and
there AN investigation was made Moth
ing Gould st first be learned either to es-
tablish the identity of the man or to OBJ
tain clew to the perpetrators of the
crime. As, the commissary was unable
to proceed further unaided, he sent for
Vilmont, one of his most trusted detec-
tives. It was not long ere that sleepIess
individual put In an appearance. As he
entered the apartment where the COM
missary and his clerk were discussing
with serious faces the details of the
murder, he had the appearance of man
who had casually dropped in to say
"Good morning" and then discuss the
probabilities of the weather.
Monsieur lie CommissaSy has sent
for me- he said.
Eyes, ViImont. a crime has been
committed, and we are ali at sea, both
rs to who the unfortunate man is, and,
naturally, who are the guilty parties"
"Ah! well see," answered Vilmont,
as he approached the body. Then, with
a slight start, he exclaimed:
As live, it is Monsieur Verefkin. !'
Vilmont, stroking his beardless chin,
nuttered:
"Can it be as I thought? Monsieur
was indeed then spy, and has thus
been disposedo of. Well, it is perhaps as
we'll" Then aloud to the commissary:
Monsieur, this Is the body of Monsieur
Ivan Verefkin, wealthy Russian gen.
tleman, who lived In the Avenue Villiers,
at the corner of the Rue Cardinet.
What blow this VIII be to madame, his
wife r.
Vilmont," said the commissary.
perhaps you had better go up and
fetch madame, that we may lose no time
hunting up the criminals.
Looking at his watch he continued:
cit is now o'clock. It is perhaps
an unseemly hour to arouse the lady,
but she no doubt will be up, nervous
about her husbands welfare"