Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-08-11
z Strange Romance of Crime.

| Tpe coNGic icn cf VICE B5'ge at G!.obce
| asszss :or the murder Of au unmarried
woman with whom ne wss iri4g dsclosee
one Of ,he most cuticus proofs .ha: facts ere
s.rauger then 6cicn that has b5sn brought
to public attention for lorg time. Victor
was The son ofa small landed proprietor, SO
siding Just outside of Capons, Dspsrtmsot OF
Lot Violor was receiving medical edu
cation, the Eesreps ms6icel schoo being
| Bordeaux. The lime came when Victor,
who wac Of sn sfecticnate disposition, be-
gan to loose little Of his pristine enthu.
siasm for his studles, ard to long for the
comforts OF home life. Not long before Vic.
| tor had solved the problem of how to prose-
cute his studies under more domestic sur
| rouudiDgs ii manner common to French
| students. BE met ct public balls fasci-
mating creature, Marie Boud3D, q grisette.
| 1t was not lopg before the two became inti-
mate. Marie, besides belng pretty. pert snd
| ong-hesded, was young lady with kesn
| eye to the main chance, who, although she
consented to temporary lisison with the
young student, firmly intended to become
hi, wife when be finished his studies and be.
gun business
Marie wac mere Rfmly impressed with the
wisdom Of her decision frcm The fact that
| Victor wac The beloved nephew OF several
maiden aInts, esch of whom had snug sums
Three years passed; Victor was looking for.
wsrd to receiving his degree and establish
| Ing himself az CahorR, when he was sudden
| y called home by the alarming Illness oi
Mile Potet one of bis aunts. He only ar
rived in time to close the eyes OF his favorite
relative and attend her funeral. This over
he returned TO Bordeaux, taking with him
the old ady's will, which made him the sole
owner OF 10000 francs.
| In France this was good start ia life for
q penniess youth. Although the young
people had been thus intimate, Victor had
rot been clever enough to fathom the depth
of the character OF his "ohsrs aime," who
hsd known how to conceal from him the
hard and avaricious side OF her nature. Had
he suspected this of her he would have left
the will safely in the possession OF notary
at Cahors. Like foolish youth be proceed
cd TO boast Of his good fortune to Marie, and
e2pRtiste on the added delicacies that the
10 ocme from the money could buy them
Maris did not object to the dainties, bui
made by few decisive words revelations O
herself thst fairly stunned her lover. She
informed him that she had saved for hin
many months, attended him In sickness
prepared his food. copied his papers, and
that she intended to be paid for Ger servicei
now that he was able to pay her. Bonbon
and trlnkets were all very we'll, but that che
would not consider herself recompensed
unless he gave her, out and out, 40 entire
half of he legacy On being exposlulatsd with
for her unreasonabl leness In this demand
Marie informed the student that her mind
was made up, and that If he was cruel
enough, urjust enough, wicked enough to
deprive her of what was clearly her right,
she was fully determined that he should
never enjoy sou's worth CT his good FOR
| tune.
Snising the action 10 the word, she made
a grab at the will iyiog on table, aud sue.
ceeded in getting hold of it, Victor, fearing
| treschery, tried to snatch it from her. There
was roughland tumble tussle. Bafore Vic
tor reslIzsd what had happened, poor Marie
was thrown violently sgainst the table, but
not, however, before she had swallowed the
| will. Stunned Into inconsistencies, she
never opened her eyes again, but died soon
af,er from concussion OF the brain. Horri-
fed at the result of their quarrel, and fear
| ful of discovery, Victor, packing some of his
| possessions In bag, went out, locking the
door and taking the key. Dszed, only half
conscious CT his action, and frenzled by this
double calamity, be finally decided to return
to the room. It was then about the middle
OF the night, Marie having been dead for
several hours. Victor wished to see wbeth.
or the will could not be recovered by cutting
open her stomach. This Is how the body of
the poor girl came to be found mutilated.
Berge confessed the crime While his story
was not entirely credited, although strength
ened by researches OF the police, 1t was luf-
| fciently believed to obtain for him q SEN
tence of hard labor for life instead of the
guillotine.