Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-23
Chicago Markets.
Poetry and Passion.
AN ALGERIAN STORY OF MORBID LOVE, INTRIGUE
AND MURDER.

AND MURDER
The Paris Debats publishes sensational murder
story. A young poet will shortly be tried at Con-
stantine, IN Algeria, for the assassination OF a
married lady at Sidi Mabrouk. The murderer
the stepson Of a respectable notary-is barely
twenty-three. For years he has been under the
influence Of the latest literary "cranks" In France
(the so-called "Decadents" and "Symbolistes'o
who profess TO be the ne plus ultra OF literary art
and TO tncarnate revulsiOn against ZOlaism. Not
a revulsion tending TO purlty-on the contrary
but protest against Zola's brutal plainness
which they think ofrends the delicate. Beudeaire-
and-water would give only weak idea OF "Deca-
disme." Add mud and cloud, wrap Baudelaire's
pruriency In verbal yagueness, and you get an
nkng IF the KIND Of Thing w
was the author OF several "Decadent" poems.
More fortunate than verlaine the "brlght par
into an asylum for incurables. But his sickly out
bursts and eccentriclty had often shocked his
worthy stepfather. Madness he seems to have
inherited from his own father, who had put an end
TO himself with pistol But till lately iu only
found literary expression, and by most OF his
l S .ne verse maker was regarded as rather
ing in the cdbdrets OF Montmartre FOR some time
In 1887 he returned 10 Constantine TO see his
mother; There be made the acquaintance OF a
married lady and her husband, living In the sub
uros. The lady's reputation was spotless, and
nothing known 1ustines the suspicion that she at
any time responded TO the advances OF the s1ckly
songster. One day that youth was seen going
about the city In great agitation, threatening
Failing 10 get the money, he bought q revolver
and was apparently about to execute his threat A
friend dissuaded him and took him to his sisters
on returning to fetch him, shortly after with the
young mans brother-in-law, TO his dismay he
learned that he had left for villa at Sid Mabrouk
belonging TO his goddess whose husband happened
TO be absent on business. When the villa was
reached the poet and the lady had been shut up
together for an hour. With great discretion halt
was called, and for two hours more no sound broke
the stiffness. suddenly TWO pistol shots were
heard from q room in the house, and on
the doors being forced a dreadful sight
was seen. The half nude body OF the lady lay
on the bed streaming with blood. ON the
pillow which supported her head was a bunch OF
roses Beside the bed knelt the young poet in
great agitation, with the marks OF blood on his
face, shrieking, 81 have killed her! have killed
her!' The assassin was OF course arrested and
closely questioned as to the motives OF his crime
He vowed that after long refusing to listen to his
prayers his victim had at last cOnsented-on one
condition. "iSoft, Mats tuerez apresr'-
"You must kill me afterward" was, he says, her
ultinatum. IL is strongly suspected, however,
that the explanation was invented, and that the
morbid youth led the lady into q snare. The case
has made a great stir both In Algeria and Paris
where 1t Is quoted another instance Of the harm
done TO weak brains by the vicious school OF
writer's.