The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-01-12
A Diamond Dealers Crime.
THE LAST FAMOUS MURDER SENSATION
IN THE RUE R'CHELIEU, PARIS.

Since 1871 Polish Jew, named
Rapoport, had been residing in a suite
of apartments at No. 80 Rue Richelieu
with his eighteen. year old daughter
Adele, where he carried on the bust
ness OF diamond merchant. He had
been judicially separated from his wife
tor the past five years,and the guardian
ship of his daughter had been decreed
to him. Rapoport had engaged the
services OF a governess, who was the
only one to throw any light upon the
motive of the chine which has Just
shocked Paris. From the evidence of
this woman there seems to have existed
inexplicable dissensons between faith
er and daughter. Rapoport often be-
came enraged at his child and toward
the last his temper had become more
harsh and dangerous. A few DAYS
ago while at breakfast, becoming angry
at his daughter he went to his room
and seized her so roughly that she
screamed for help. The governess fol
lowed to find out the cause of the
noise, and the rufiian released his
daughter, who Immediately went to
her room in tears, and refused to put
in an appearance during the remainder
OF the day. The governess attempted
to reconcile them in the course of the
day, but when she spoke to Rapoport
he answered: ''let her beg my pardon. 4"
The peacemaker reported this speech
to Adele, who finally refused to make
that concession as she was not to
blame.
Rapoport's face the next day bore
the marks of sleepless night and his
| haggard face and wild eyes frightened
the governess, who again attempted to
bring about reconciliation. Rapo-
port discharged her, and the governess
went to her room that night with hor.
rible presentiments which, unfortunate.
ly, were too soon realized. About s
O'Clock in the morning of the 18th
inst, cries of "Help!' Murder! !" were
heard coming from Adele's room. The
cries were uttered by the young girl
herself, who, scantily dressed, was seen
trying to escape from the window of
her room, which overlooked Rue Rich
elieu. An invisible hand rudely drew
her within and the report of a pistol
was heard. Those who had seen the
poor girl hastened to her room, but the
door was found to be locked. They at
once sent for a locksmith, who arrived
with the comhssary of police. AS soon
as the door was opened, poor little
Adele was found lying across the bed,
with her feet on the floor. The furni,
ture and the walls gave evidence of the
terrible struggle made by the poor vie.
tim to save her life. Her heart was
pierced by dagger, which was found
at the foot of the bed. A doctor was
called in, but his services were useless,
as she was then dead. After replacing
her body upon the bed, search was
made for the father, whose absence at
this time seemed strange. They enter
ed the adjoiEing room that the dia-
mond merchant used for a counting
room, where they found him also dead,
a revolver lying by his side having end
ed the awful tragedy,
On the mantlepitce they found the
dagger sheath corresponding with the
fatal weapon which had ended the
young girls life, beside several letters,
among which was one to the Jewish
people, asking for burial in consecrated
ground, and another to the commissary
OF police, which was addressed to"Jus-
tice, the press aud to my friends" and
containing these few laconic words |: