, 1888-11-08

AQuetant was q femme calante. She CO.
b ibited in 1856 with man named Bes.
the oecretary of Parisian club. But as
NJ Bles never came home before o'clock
in tho morning Marie Aguetant took ad-
vantage of the fact to spend her evenings
at the Cafe American or at che Eden
Theatre, whence she often brought home
with her to supper chance acquai aintances,
especially Americans and English tourists.
Marie A0uetapt had saved about I00,-
OO0f, and had some splendid diamonds.
She was in the habit Of showing these dia.
monds to her casual acquaintance. When
reproached with her imprudence she would
exclaim, The only persons who are robbed
are those who conceal what they have"
was at the Eden theater. She was seen to
leave the theater at half-past ten in con-.
pany with man in an English overcoat
aud wearing felt hat. She had often
been seen In company with this man,
whom she called "Son petit Americain."
She returned with "Son petit American"
to her apartment.
Evangeline opened the door. lighted the
lamp and prepared the bedchamber.
When the servant girl retired Marie
ARuetant was nearly undressed. During
that night Prado took great pains to turn
his back always to the light, so that the
servant girl was unable when examined to
recall his features.
At 4 o'clock in the morning M. Bles
came home. He found the door open.
The servant girl, greatly embarrassed at
what she believed would be domestic
auarral exclaimed Madame etait ayec un
monsieur"
Furious, and revolver in hand, Bles
dashed into the bedroom determined TO
kill the intruder. He stumbled over sonle-
thing on the floor. which proved to be the
head of Marie ARuetant. severed COM
pletely from the body. The trunk Of the
corpse, merely covered by a chemise, lay
across the fireplace. The carpet was COM
pletely saturated with blood. A writing
desk had been burst open and Marie
Aguetant's ready money. some 5000f, and
all her jewels had disappeared.
That same night Prado entered the
apartment of Nine. Varlay, No. IL Bis
Rue Baudin, and went to bed as usual.
He did not sleep, and during the night
got up continually to wash his hands.
While smoking cigarette he said chat
woman had been murdered in Paris and
that everyone was talking about 1t. But
at that moment no living soul in Paris
knew that Marie Aguetant had been mur-
dered except Prado.
Nine. Varlay noticed that Prado's arms
and face bore traces OF deep scratches, ap.
parently made by woman's finger nails.
Next morning he got up early and put
bedroom he handed Nine, Varlay one
hundred franc bank note which had been
cut by some sharp instrument, saying that
he had received 1t from friend staying at
the Grande Hotel, and that the cut In the
bank note had been made by the custom
house officers at the frontier. He then
took another bank note out Of his overcoat
pocket, gaveit to Nine. Varlay and dressed
himself. Nine. Varlay noticed that his
shirt sleeves and his overcoat were stained
with blood
When Nine. Varlay went out as usual
to buy the breakfast, Prado told her to
bring with her Petit Journal. At nine
o'clock Nine. Varlay returned TO the
apartment, and surprised Prado in the act
of burning his shirt IN the kitchen stove.
He said, II have reasons for doing this,
but remember IL is none of your business"
A few moments after he burnt up his
boots in the kitchen stove. Mime. Varlay
demonstrated with him for this. because
he went out, but he did not shave himself
az usual, as he said, 81 have no razor. l
left my razor TO be sharp ened ut the
barber's."
PRADo CALM.
Prado meanwhile is calmly awaiting his
accusers.
He says:-
"Oh. will trip up these lawyers.
will prove, myself robber, but | am not
Prado has fine Napoleonic head. His
and language are those OF q man
Of the world.
The trial will occupy six or seyen days
and will be presided over by M. Horteloup.
The counsel for the accused are Maitres
Camille Comfy. Dsyrille des Essarts, Al.
bert Danet, Felix Decori, Cremieux and
Boullay.