Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-10-01
BOULANGER COMMITS SUICIDE.
Tragic Death of Frances Bold SOL
dier and Fiery Political Leader.

Disoonsoiate Over the Death of His Mis-
tress He Went to Her Grave and
soothcd His Grief with Bullet In
His Brain--Death Preferred to Hope
less Future.
Associated Press DIspstch by Special Wires
BRUSSELS, Sept. S0.--General Boulanger
committed suicide to-day ON the tomb of
Madame De Bonnenain, who died recently
in this city.
Madame De Bonnemain had been the
mistress Of the dead general. She accom-
panied him to England after his flight
from France, and early in July last, she
was dangerously i'll in Brussels, suffering
from consumption. A paris physician
went expressly in order to treat Madame
De Bonnemain by new system of treat
ment, consisting of innoculating the per-
son afflicted with the germs Of phthisis
with gayacol, which is obtained from
creosote. However, in spite of the efforts
made to save her, Madame De Bonnemain
died during the evening Of July 18th.
Madame De Bonnemain, at the height of
General Boulanger's career, two or three
years ago. lived in the Rue de Beere, Paris,
where she was continually visited by the
general. Spies kept track OF their move
ments and soon discovered that the two
were very intimate. Nine. Boulanger was
informed of these facts but refused TO apply
for q divorce. 1t was greatly through
Nine. DeBonnemain's favor, that General
Boulapger was able to carry on his politi-
cal intngues, for madame had inherited u
fortune Of 100000 francs, all of which
sum she devoted to the cause Of the then
popular leader. To such an extent did
General Boulanger carry his infatuation
for Madame De Bonnemain that when the
French government determined TO arrest
him. he could not be persuaded 70 pose as
martyr before the French people by
going to jail, preferring TO fly with his
mistress from France to England, and
eventually 10 Brussels where they both
met their death.
General Boulanger committed suicide
about noon. He stood alone by the grave
| of his mistress for some time, appearing
to be deeply affected by sorrowful recol-
lections. An attendant of the general,
who had respectfully remained at some
distance from Nine De Bonnemain's
tomb, suddenly heard sharp report in
that direction. Running to the spot the
attendant found General Boulanger dead
upon the ground with a revolver clinched
in his right hand; A nasty examination
of the body showed that the dead man had
placed the weapon to his right ear and
fired the fatal shot.
The affair has occasioned great excite
ment in this city, and some commotion
among the generals followers in Paris.
The police and the dead mans friends here
have taken possession of his lodgings, and
| they have not yet announced if he left any
statement. The general position, financial
and political, has it is generally admitted.
been getting blacker and blacker OF recent
months. lie had no hopes for the future
and his remaining friends were few and
becoming colder, as the once famous gem
eral dropped more and more out Of public
notice. There is no doubt that the general
was conscious of these facts and they
preyed upon his mind. Coupled to this was
The morbid love or infatuation which he
had for his dead mistress to whom he was
undoubtedly greatly attached, as evinced
| by his renouncing what might have been
an important political career in order to fly
with her from France.
IL is an open question as to what would
have happened in France had the general
chosen to face imprisonment and a posi-
BILE political upheayal, instead Of prefer
ring the safer means of Nine. De Bonnie
mains favor. Revelations made by NJ.
Languerre, the well-known Boulangist
member of the chamber of deputies. sub
sequent to General Botlangor's flight,
show that he had held relations with the
/ Count De Paris, with Prince Jerome Ma
| poleon and that the Duchess ID. Uzes, one
of the most ambitious and active members
of the Koyolist party had spent 3,000,o0o
francs in advancing the cause of the man
who has just taken his own life over the
tomb Of his mistress,