The Somerset reporter., 1898-03-03
THE POISONER.

have said little about poisoning, re-
marks Nj. de Goron, ex-chief of detect
ives Of Paris, i'll his recently published
Memoirs, not because the crime is
less common than formerly but because
science has made it so difficult of detec-
tion and chance so seldom puts proof
into the hands of the police.
1t was chance, however, that permit
ted me on one occasion to detect poi
soner.
A commercial traveller, M. x had his
letters addressed post restante at the
Theatre Francois bureau. One morning
unexpectedly called back to town, he
was astonished to see at the postoffice
on little blue envelope handwrit
ing unfamiliar to him. Opening it, he
read:
My WELL BELovED-I have seen your hus-
band and have observed with satisfaction that
the disease has made serious progress. His
lips are quite white, his eyes hollow, his coun-
tenance ashen. think we can hope to be rid
of him in a month.
p Sill bring another little packet tomor.
row.
a hoax, but rejecting that chance might
have put into his hands the proof of an
adulterous crime which would have had
a sinister end, he hurried to the office of
the surete bearing the title blue aocuser,
which he handed to me.
turned it over in my hands, surpris-
ed that criminals who could plan such
cl,, Il 4l,n
elementary precautions.
wondered if it were not practical
joke, merely to make work for the po-
lice. Then | reflected that most big
crimes are discovered by the criminals
imprudence, and | resolved to investi
gate.
Ny duty was to solve the mystery. l
had the postoffice watched
Early next morning pretty young
woman called to get the letter
She was frightened when an officer
very politely took her by the arm and
led her to carriage,
No one saw the arrest The carriage
was already on its way when the wom-
an demanded:
where are you taking me, sir?"
ITO the chief Of detectives, madam. "
She fell back and said no more but
her hands shook nervously and her lips
were bloodless.
Large, graceful, beautiful, still
Young, the woman was dressed with the
severe elegance of the prosperous bour-
geoise She was blond, whose blue
eyes, marked round with blister, and
whose mobile features seemed to mirror
all her reflections.
By the manner in which she entered
the office | knew she was woman of
the world. She sat down, nervously
beating on the table. Her gesture was
abrupt her voice hoarse, and there was
an odd look in her eye.
"What do you wish?" she said
why am l, an honest woman, brought
here?''
tried to calm her, but her voice be
came harsher as she cried at s inta
nous need not tell you my name. >
Then, with due regard to dramatic
effect, | handed her the blue envelope.
She fell on her knees, crying in
voice broken by sobs; mercy Mercy
am an unhappy womanl am poi
soner Yes | wished to kill my nus
band But alone am to blame He had
to obey me, Punish no one but me
IF you knew, " she went on, chow |
hate my husband To see him there, al
ways near me, is torture worse than
death. | love the young man who wrote
that note with all my soul With him
| am i'll heaven. But to 90 home and
endure my husband S embrace, his lips
upon my cheek-it is like fire At any
cost he must die prefer crime to that
agony of every minute, every second.
But | swear | alone am guilty Punish
me | have merlted death, but spare
him, pray your
Almost at the moment she seized II
pair of scissors from my desk and would
have stabbed herself had not her hand
been staid.
forced her TO sit down and told her
how much better it was that the crime
had been discovered, and by gentle
means | got from the weeping woman
the name and address of her lover. Then
babe her wait in neighboring room
under guard.
sent out agents to arrest the lover
and meanwhile questioned her again.
She said she didn't know what the pow
der was. The lover had sent it at her
request for something "slow and sure.
Two hours later the men brought i'll
M. Leon H., the gayest assassin they
ever saw, they said.
well well, " he had laughed as he
raw the men file ill., this is funny
never thought it would turn out SO com.
Eal,
And all the way to my Office he