The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-28
A STRANGE TRAGEDY.
Why Prominent Magistrate
Committed suicide.
Sought After BY Two sisters-0ne of the
Rivals Suddenly Dies and Poisoning Is
suspected-Page From Hymn Book
Written for THE MoRNISe CALI.

we Stall not even say in what country
the scene is laid-France. Belgium or Hun
gary, perhaps; the facts are too grave to
give ground for even the faintest suspicion.
The person from whom we have this re-
cital showed US cutting from newspaper
relating the folloWing
"Onr city just learned with amaZement
that NJ. Y was found dead this morning
in his chamber. He still held in his hand
the re volver with which he killed himself.
A sheet OF paper placed upon his desk con-
tanned only these words:
Let no one be accused of my death
There is vague rumor of letter ad-
dressed to an aged female relative.
Nothing can explain this fatal decision
on the part of magistrate esteemed by
everybody, whose career, commenced under
brilliant auspices, was embeliished with the
most perfect family happiness.
People are lost in coDjectures, and men,
tlon'lS made OF sudden losses III cons equence
of the late crash.
IF YOU ONLY KNEW.
The crash," said the person who was
talking to US and whose face was painfully
contracted in sort of ironical laugh. 1.-THE
crash! That explanation was accepted and
it was for the best. If you only knew the
truth! What the unfortunate man lost was
not money; it was a hundred times worse.
But you shall judge of the matter Tor your
self.
- In 1885 this man was an examining mag
istrate iii the city to which have referred.
a notable case had given him a kind of
| celebrity. He had conducted the examina-
ton with so much vigor and address that the
culprit had been quickly discovered, con-
yicted and sentenced to DEATH
lie was a magistrate with future Be-
sides, he was what people agree in calling a
handsome man. But he was better than
that. so much energy and intelligence was
there in his countenanee.
Much sought after in society, he had
made the acquaintance Of a family consist
ing of an aged and widowed lady, Madame
n and two young girls, her nleces. both
very pretty and orphans.
Their forum was the aim of all matri-
monial covetousness.
However. the young magistrate. whom
we Will call NJ. ", showed no eagerIess
| in regard to them, evidently fearing to ap-
| pear Interested.
What frequently happens occurred in
this lnstance-the GOODNESS OF the candidate
served him better than eagerness. Henriette
and Jeanne both became smitteu with the
young magistrate. Their heads were mutu-
ally iull of him, and one fine day they per-
celved That they were rivals. From that
moment they no longer spoke to each other
| OF NJ. ". lie. however, seemed to notice
the favor of which lie was the object. and,
attracted by that sympathy, did not yet
krUw to which OF the twain to pay his
| homage.
THE SUSPICIOUS DEATH.
81 came, gentler and more timid, with q
sad poetry IN her glance, flushed by fixing
his choice; but, in order 10 let nothing of
this he seen at first, he continued the game
| OF amiable pleasantly he had commenced
with the elder; then this game ceased and
| he openly displayed his preference.
"Ihe winter passed thus. Henriette
| grew gloomy and taeituru. She was no
| longer the gay and somewhat coQuettish
| young girl of the past.
"Once she absented herself for two days
| to go to L on visit to one of her aunts,
and. on the morrow of her return, Jeanne
| found herself lndIspoSed. 1t was thought
| that her illness would amount TO nothing.
| Her condition, however, grew worse, and
| such violent vomiting set In that the phys-
| clans looked at each other in surprise, with
| out daring to avow their suspicious.
IAN Improvement declared itself, speedily
| followed by relapse, and on the eighth day
| Jeanne died.
There was something so sad and despair
| ing in her sisters grief that NJ. X, al
| ready admitted into the family, was deeply
| touched by it.
However, the house was upset by this
! unforeseen event; the servants WHISPERED
| among themselves, and, taking NJ. Y
aside one Of them finally said to him.
Monsieur, don't YOU think that Mile.
| Jeanne was pUsoned?'
THE magistrate gave a start rs if struck
by sudden revelation, and, dOubly moved,
could only utter these words:
by whOmY
"'Who can tell? responded the old SER
want, shaking his head.
ARSENIC DISCOVERED.
shortly afterward an anonymous denun-
citation reached the authorities and NJ. X
was charged with the examination in his
capacity OF examining magistrate.
This examination was discreet in order
not TO awaken public attention and the
ass;duitY OF the young magistrate in the
house Of death astonished no one. 1t
seemed wholly natural that man who was
almost engaged should lament his lost hap
piness.
"Al the servants were questioned sue
cesSvelv and commanded TO keep silence
outside the house. Meme of them had seen
anything suspicious.
LAS TO Henrietta she kept herself shut up
in her chamber and did not cease TO weep
| Nevertheless, ii was necessary to interrogate
her also.
AT the first word relative to poisoning
she fell like mass and they had great
trouble 10 restore her to consciousness.
The magistrate persisted but timdly.
As her sole answer she repeated, mechan-
ically:
1T is frightful. 1 know nothing about
it,
Meanwhile the old servant, who had
been the first to give warning, brought one
evening bit OF paper which he had found
IN the Sweepmgs OF the house.
Monsieur, what's this? There seems
to be something white on this paper
Very well; give it to me-
On analysis the paper yielded 4 small
! dose of arsenic. 1t WAS more than was
needed to furnish the proof of the crime.
hymn-book-a hymn of the 'Mois de Marie.
| Inc whole house was searched, but the
| book was not found.
- In the city people were beginning TO
talk OF what was taking place at the resi-
dence of Nine. N. and the authorities
| urged on the examination in order to put a
| stop to the rumors or bring the case to q
| trial.
Finally they were compelled to close the
Investigation. Nothing had been discov-
cred No druggist or grocer in the city had
sold arsenic or Death to Rats to anyone
belonging to the house. The case was sus-
ended and the denunciatory page left
| among its records.
THE MISSING VOLUME FOUND.
The following year NJ. KS marriage
to Mile. Henriette N was announced.
| The magistrate had allowed himself to be
CuuooiSu AUI Ills lOSS, anu CHILLI
ness had returned to the soul of the young
! girl as well as smiles to her lips.
She was an admirable wife, devoted and
! loving. NJ. KS happiness was the
! theme of general conversation.
| Two Years passed thus. An infant was
born, an adorable baby with rosy cheeks,
which the mother was unable to nourish,
and which country girl put to sleep by
| some songs of her district.
One evening NJ. X, who had dned
with his wife at the house of some friends,
returned alone to see if the nurse in the
absence of the mother, was attending to
| her duties. This was in the month OF May
last. lie found everything in order The
infant, well wrapped up, was sleeping upon
| the knees a its nurse. who was singing
| through her nose in a languishing voice a
| hymn to the Virgin, which she was reading
| from book.
m. x was seized upon by feeling
| of indefpable uneasness. He instantly