The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-25
EXCEEDINGLY
DRAMATIC.
A Very Sensational Story From
Real Life in an Algerian City.

case of attempted murder is shortly to
be brought before the courts of Algiers
which, Tor romantic and sensational details,
surpasses every similar affair in real life that
has come before the public for years past
end equals most of the novels of the day.
RomanceS in real life are seldom either nice
or moral, and this one is quite as immoral
as Zola's most characteristic history. And
1t IS romance equaling in its plot the most
melodramatic of the dramas of the Ambigu.
In fact there was play given good many
years ago at one of the French theaters
and afterward reproduced in a translation
at Wallack's Theater in New York, which
resembled very much in its incidents this
latest Judicial sensation. Only in the drama
the accused heroine was innocent, and in
tbs Algerian affair she is undoubtedly guilty
There dwelt in one of the smaller cities Of
ayers a Government employe called
Weiss, who was supposed to rejoice In the
blissful possession of most dew oted young
VILE as well as of two lovely children. Nine.
Weiss was considered to be model of con-
pgal and OF maternal affection, and her ad-
mirable qualities were fully called into play
when her husbands health suddenly gave
way and he fell intoa most dismal and Ian.
gushing condition. His loving wife proed
herself TO be an untiring nurse, never leaving
his side, and administering all his food and
medicines with her own hand. But, strange
to say, whenever he left home, and was be-
yond the reach of her tender cares, he
always became very much better, though
relapse was sure to follow his return to his
home. Finally he became so i'll that lie was
confined to his bed during the greater part
of the time. Nine. Weiss installed herself
permanently in his sick-room. writing her
letters there, as we'll as doing her sewing
and issuing from thence her household
orders.
The ailing husband had an intimate friend,
the Vscount de Query. who possessed some
knowledge of medicine aud was especially
interested in the action of poisons The
peculiar symptoms of the invalid's malady
had led NJ. de Query to suspect that he was
either poisoning himself or was being
poisoned with arsenic. So he resolved to
keep close watch over everything that
went on in the house. One day he called as
usual to see Mr.. Weiss and found him suffer-
Ing greatly and confined to his bed. Nine.
Weiss. seated at secretary placed at the
foot of the bed and concealed from the in
valld's view by the bed-curtain, was writing
letter. The Viscount did not take seat,
but walked up and down the room talking
70 the sick man and keeping all the while
sharp watch over the lady, whom, without
any apparent reason, he suspected.
One Of the servants came to the door to
summon her mistress forth just as she was
finishing her letter. Nine. Weiss hastily
foided her epistle, placed it In an envelope,
which sile hurriedly closed and then throw
Ing u on the secretary without adding the
direction, she left the room. Thereupon
u. de Query quietly took possession OF the
blotting- book, and holding il before the
mirror, he deciphered several words that
IA nned his smouldering suspicious into an
active flame. He seized the letter, opened
the still wet envelope, took out the written
sheet and replaced it with blank one, and
then, reclosng the envelope, he left the let
ter exactly in the spot where he had found
it. The written page he folded and slipped
into his pocket. Then he babe the sick
man good morning. went home, and read
the document he had just secured.
The revelations that it cou tained confirmed
his worst suspicious. The adoring wife, the
tender aud watchful nurse, stood forth az