The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-01-02
PRADO'S CRIME.
The Mystery of His Life Now an Insoluble
Enigma.

Inc NIySteEy MS Lie NOW an
Enigma.
PARIS, Dec. 2S.-Three years ago one of the
most successful of the demi-mondeines of Paris
was a woman named Marie Aguetant. She
was not of the highest class Of the demi-monde
but she had her suite of rooms in a fashionable
quarter and an indulgent lover.
In her room she kept a considerable sum in
the form OF bonds, Jewels and ready money.
She was beautiful clever and ambitious. In
public resorts her face was familiar. She was
known as ia Dame Aux Diamants" from the
splender of her diamond necklace.
On the evening of Jan. II, 1886, Marie was
oneOf the crowd which filled the promenoir of
the Eden theater. A small, dark man of in
conspicuous appearance, man not known 10
the frequenters of the place, approached her
and after few words they left the theaJer to-
gether. They went 1T once to Marie's apart
ments. 1t seemed to Marie's maid that the
man tried TO keep his face hidden and to dis
guise his voice while she 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 con-
cierge said he had let no one out. At , o'clock
came NJ. Bles, Mares recognized lover He
was furious when he heard from the maid that
his mistress had brought home a strange man.
his calls burst the door in
Marie Aguetant was lying before the fire
place dead, with her throat cut The leather
bag in which she had kept her treasures had
been slit as dexterously had been the
dered womans throat. No trace could at first
be found of Marie's companion, and the best
efforts of the detectives of Paris were in vain.
Some time later a man was surprised while
attempting to make of with casket OF jewels
from a private house He was pursued by a
turned and sent a pistol ball through the
policeman's jaw. The policeman did not give
up his hold. The man was caught, and when
arraigned for trial he gave the name of Prado.
About the same time Eugene Forester, a
demi-mondaine of Paris and Maurice tie COu-
renneau, young married woman of Bordeaux,
were arrested on the charge OF receiving
stolen goods. The thief was PradO. Eugene
was his mistress and Maurcette was the woman
whom he had promised to make his wife.
Eugene finally consented to tell what she
had learned from Prado of his origin and life.
He was horn in Mexico, he said, and when
youth discovered some fearful secret about his
birth He became wanderer over the earth,
and in time made his way to Mozambique, TO
China TO Hayti and to 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 a wounded soldier IN a
Spanish hospital. They fled 10 Jerusalem,
where she gave up her VOWS and married the
adventurer She died in Italy soon afterward,
and he returned to his life of adventure.
When he met Eugene Forester Prado called
himself Count Linska De CastillOn. The
woman was sincerely attached 10 him and
spent upon him the money she received from
other and richer lovers On the morning of
Jan. 10, 1886. Prado came to her in state OF
great excitement. She saw him burn his shirt
and boots. He told her he had killed Marie
Aguetant. He was often cruel, and by no
means faithful, but Eugene kept his secret.
One day. not long after the murder of Marie,
Eugene was summoned TO join Prado In Bor-
deaux. They had not been there long together
before she discovered that he was living with
Mauricette Courenneau as his wife. Still she
kept his secret Prado made rich haul OF
jewelry in Spain and divided part OF his
spoils between his mistresses. The Jewels were
traced and all three were arrested. Eugene
told Mauricette of Prado's crime. Mauricette, a
girl of twenty, who had become n mother, told
her cOnfessor. The priest insisted that Eugene
should make her statement public. At last
she consented.
Prado was arrested and the mystery of
Marie Aguetant's murder was solved.
The trial was the talk of all Paris. A new
victim of the adventurer then appeared. 1t
was his legal wife, Dolores Carces of Marcilla,
with whom he had at one time lived in luxury
in Madrid. She still retained her affection Tor
Prado. As for the criminal he was less ex-
cited than the men aud women who thrOnged
the courtroom. lie questioned the women he
had wronged as coolly as if he had been a paid
advocate. He was insoleDt toward the judge,
and at no time seemed 10 be moved by fear or
remorse. Within an hour and half the jury
returned a verdict of guilty without any
tenuating circumstances. Prado still denied
his guilt.
The case has raised Eugene Forester to the
pinnacle of success in the world in which she
lives. Mauricette Couronneau, though she
is the mother of Prado's illegtimate child, has
received score of offers OF marriage but has
been kept in seclusion by her mother.
Prado's Spanish wife was to obtain divorce
and move TO Paris. The mystery of Prado' s birth