Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-12-29
HIS CRIMES ENDED.
THRC CLOSE 0PA CAREER STRANGER THAN
ANY ROMANCE.
Prado, The Ssducsr RObbsr and Murderer GuillOtnsd
Strange History Of His Lifs-A Won
derful Fascination for Women
The Execution.

PARIS, December 25.-Prado, the muir
deIer of Marie Aguetsnt, his mistress was
guillotined this morning in the place De
Ls Roquette. He preserved n firm de-
meanor to the last. He refused to make a
confession aud also declined the services o!
the chaplain.
Following is q resume Of the story OF
Prado's crime. Three years ago, one Of
the most successful of the demi mondsines
of Paris was a woman named Marie Ague-
tant. She was not Of the highest class OF
thu demi monde, but she had her suite of
rooms in a fashionable quarter and an in
dulgent lover. In her room she kept q
considerable sum 10 the form Of bonds,
lew e 's aud r sdy money. She was besuti-
fol, clever and ambitious In public re-
sorts her face was familiar. She was
known as "La Dame Aux Diamauts" from
the splendor of her diamond necklace. On
the evening of January 4, 1886, Marie was
one of the crowd which filled the promenir
of the Eden Theatre. A small, dark man
of incouspicuors appearance, man not
known to ffequenters Of the place, ap.
preached her and after few words they
| left the theatre together. They went at
once 10 Msrie's apartment. 1t seemed to
Marie's maid that the man tried TO keep
his face hidden and to disguise his voice
while she was present. At midnight the
maid left Marie alone with her unknown
visitor and went to sleep in the kitchen.
| At o'clock she knocked at her mistress
door, but got no response. The concierge
said he had let no one out. At 2 O'Clock
came NJ. Bles, Marie's recognized lover.
He was furious when he heard from the
maid that his mistress had brought home
a strange man. He beat at her door, aud
receiving no answer to his calls, burst the
door in. Marie Aguetant was lying before
the fireplace dead, with her throat cut.
The leather bag in which she had kept her
treasures had been slit as dexteiiously as
had been the murdered woman's throat.
| No trace could at frat be found of Msrie's
companion and the best efforts Of the de-
tectives of Paris were in vain.
Some time later n man was surprised
while attempting to make of with caskes
of Jewels from private house. He was
pursued by policeman, but did not eiSe
no his hold. rhe man was caught, and
when arraigned for trial he gave the name
of Prado.
About the came time Eugenia Forester,
| a demi mondainc of Paris, and Mamie ,tte
Courounean, a young married woman OF
Bordeaux, were arrested on the charge OF
re Scsiving stolen goods. The thief waa
Prsdo. Eugene was his mistress and
Mauricette was the woman whom he had
promised to make his wife. Eugene
| finally consented to tell what shs had
learned from Prsdo of his origin and life.
He was born in Mexico, he said, and
| when youth discovered some
fearful secret about his birth.
| He became wsndertr over the earth, and
| in time made his way to Mozambique, to
China, to Hayti and t, New York. Many
strange stories. impossible Of verifcation,
he told about himself An English woman
Of noble birth, sister Of religious order,
nursed him when he was wounded sold
ier in Spanish hospital. They fled TO
Jerusalem, where she gave up her vows
and married the adventurer. She died IN
Italy soon afterwards and he returned to
his life of adventure. When he met
| Eugene Forester, Prado called himself
Count Linska DsCastillon. The women
was sincerely attracted to him, and spent
upon him the money she received from
other and richer loveIs.
On the morning of January 10, 1886,
Prado came to her in state Of great ex.
element. She saw him burn his shirt and
boots. He told her he bad killed Marie
Aguetant. He was often cruel, and by no
means faithful, but Eagenie KEEP. his se-
cret. One day, not long after the murder
of Marie, Eugenie was summoned to join
Prsdo in Bordeaux. They had not been
there long together before she discovered
that he was living with Msuricetts Cour-
onneau as bis wife. Still size kept his se
cret. Prado made rich haul OF jewelry
in Spain and divided part OF his spoil1
between his niiBtresses. The jewels were
traced, and all three were arrested. Eu-
genie told Mauricette Of Prado's crime.
Mauricette, q girl of2O, who had become a
mother. told her confsssor. The priest in
sisted that Eugenie should make her state,
ment public. At last she consented.
Prado was arrested and the mystery OF
Marie Agustant's murder was solved.
The trial was the talk of all Paris. A
new victim of the adventuIer then az
peared. 1t was his legal wife, Dolores
Carcis, of Harcills, with whom he bad aI
one time lived in luxury in Madrid. she
still retained her affection for Prado.
As for the crin inal he Was less excited
, than the men and women who thronged
the court room. He questioned the wo'
men he had wroDged ss coolly as If he bad
been q paid advocate. He WAS insolen'
J toward the Judge, and at DO time appear
ed to be moved by fear or remorss. With
in an hour and half the jury returned 9
verdict of guilty without any extenuating
circumstances. Prado still denied hit
guilt.
The case has raised Eugene Forester tc
the pipacle of success in the world in
which she lives. Mauricette, though she
is the mother of Pr4do's illtgitimste child
has received score of offers Of marriage,
but has been kept in seclusion by heI
mother.
The my ystery Of Prado's birth and Of hi
adventures before that fatal night Wher
Marie Aguetant was murdered was nevei
unrsyelled during his life, and now tnt
euillotine has made it an insoluble enig
: ma.
~, -un nTrT nTINR