Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-07-06
DISGRACE TO DEATH.
HARD ROAD OF AN ERRINC
PARIS DOCTOR.
After Ills Guilt Was Discovered His
wife Compelled Him to Die by His
Own Hand-watched by His Side
Until Result Was Certain.

The suicide in Paris the other day
Of DR.. Laforest Is regarded as pc
culiarly end-of-the-century episode
the result of a disordered brain, dis
eased nerves and total moral degen-
Grafton. No suicide of this generation
equals it in narrowing and grotesque
features. DR.. Laforest. who had been
accused of a disgraceful crime, at first
denied it and then confessed to his
wife. She agreed with him that he
ought to commit suicide. and aided him
in his plans to that end. In France a
man is supposed to save his family
from the disgrace which his acts may
bring upon them by taking his own
life. Thus gambler who cannot pay
his debts, a bankrupt, a proved cow
ard. or man whose conviction of
crime is inevitable. frequently commits
suicide. and by so doing is considered
to exhibit a fine nature which almost
atones for his previous misdeeds. The
theory is probably handed down from
ancient Rome. DR.. Laforest was the
house physician of the State-aided
Hospital for Children at Thials, near
Paris. He was a man OF excellent pro-
fessional standing. and in receipt OF
good income. His wife was young.
handsome, and had brought him 4 con-
siderable dowry. They had two chill
dren. both OF them boys, now ut col
lege. At the beginning of May. NJ.
Gaudelot. resident OF Suresnes,
brought charge Of dIsgraceful' con-
duct against DR.. Laforest. A judicial
Investigation according to the French
manner. in which the magistrate does
his utmost to make prisoner confess
his guilt, was begun. The doctor vio-
lsntly denied the charge and exhibited
great emotion. There was such a lack
OF evidence against him that the mag
istrate at first refused to hold him.
Further charges. however. were
brought against him. and he was
warned that he must be ready to stand
trial. Nine. Laforcst. who had been
away from her husband for some days.
heard Of the case through the news
papers. She Immediately demanded
an explanation. At first he affirmed
his innocence to her as earnestly Us
he had previously done to the magis-
trate. She then impressed upon him
thht it .pSe Ao llltt III
n judicial certificate OF his innocence
after the charges had been SO widely
published. The wretched doctor then
wandered from one magistrates house
to another demanding that the charges
should be Immediately Investigated
and passed upon. The evidence was
not then In n condition in which any
C: the authorities felt called upon to
consider IL. and the doctor was simply
told tina: he would have to wait. There
Is peculiar procedure In French law
under which a magistrate warns a
prisoner against whom there Is not
sufficient evidence OF crime that he
may be called upon to stand trial n:
any moment. and that any attempt to
escape will be regarded as suspicious.
This procedure naturally has very
disastrous effect upon the conscience
and nerves Of sensitive man. 1t had
this effect upon DR.. Laforest. who was
more than sensitive. and whose mind
was undoubtedly unbalanced. After
spending all Sunday searching for n
magistrate who would examine him or
n police officer who would arres. him.
DIR. Laforest returned with his wife
late at night to their home at Choisy-
le-Roi On Monday morning the hus-
band and wife had long and terrible
discussion. The doctor, worn out by
his various ordeals, then made a full
confession OF the truth OF the charges
which had been brought against him.
He was utterly overwhelmed with
shame. His wife decided that there
could be no possible excuse or future