Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-03-07
He Never Fought a Duel With a
Russian Count.
LII WAS HIS OWN INVENTION.
The whole story Was CoDcocted
that HE Might Break with
iiis Hetrothed.

Paris, March 1.-THE report that John
Wilson Durant Of Albany, who had
been living during the last two years
-fr Paris with his mother. had been
Killed at Ostend in duel with a Rus
sian count, was an invention Of his
own, Mr.. Durant is stlll alive. No duel
was fought, The whole story was a
pure fabrication.
This was definitely established last
evening when 1t became known that
two letters had been received In Paris
from Mr.. Durant, one dated Ostend
March Bird and the other London.
March 4th. In the former he asks the
recipient to make contain personal ar
rangements and TO forward his mail
70 Glasgow, care of p, S. Peat, Kelvide,
ana IN the latter he says, after request
ing that change be made in the ar.
langements suggested in the first let
ter ana that his mail be forwarded to
London; You will understand that /
ohclaly died yesterday. Keep up the H.
lusion.
These letters are in Durant's own
handwriting. The evidence originally
appeared to establish conclusiyely the
fact of duel The first clue was in the
Following death notice appearing in the
European edition Of the New York Her
aid:
"Durant-At Ostand, Belgium, March
Ord, John MacWilson Durant."
The attention OF the American con-
sulate was called to this and an in
yestigation was Immediately opened
which revealed the following telegram,
written In French, that has been re-
celVed by Durant's bethrothed Mile
Laure Mangin, yesterday morning.
"Ostend, (undated) friend Dur
ant is dead. Count Is very seriously
wounded.
The signature Is the name of one of
Durant's friends and the supposltion
Is that Mr.. Durant sent the kilograms
himself.
Mile Mangin, who was interviewed
last evening, said Mr.. Durant told her
OF his trouble with a Russian count
at his hotel and said that he was going
10 hght him at Ostend He had also
talked freely at the hotel to friends re-
gardins the alleged coming duel
Mr. stevens Of Boston. Mass. urged
him TO abandon the idea and on
deavored to persuade him to return 10
the United States with his mother. Mr.
Durant replied. mo, Il is a question
OF honor ana ] intend TO see It through
lhe count Is coming from Nice and the
encounter will occur at Ostend."
investigation in Paris then brought
TO light the receipt OF the two letters
which revealed the fact that Mr.. Dur.
ant was responsible for the whole dra-
matte story, He has been without oc-
cupatlon and has lived eXtrayagantly
tie mad an apartment AT 95 Boulevard
~, Michel. to which he sent the death
telegram addressed to his betrothed
mile. Mangin belongs TO a poor family,
he introduced her among his friends
as MS Detrothed and notice appeared
In lie Journal February 18th an.
nouncing the betrothal. I'm which il was
stated that the marritge had been
1Xed for the second fortnight in March
Possibly he reconsidered his Intention
ana conceived the duel story as loop.
hole for separation.
DURANT IN LONDON
London, March Mr.. Durant and
MS mother were found last evening M
the Euston hotel When Intercepted
IN the subject Of the report of bis death |
n duel at ostend he was greatly ta-
zen back. and exhibited extreme apita.
ION at the revelation OF his scheme |
Finally, resolving upon frank state |
nent he explained that he had had n |
serious quarrel with Mile Mangin his |
'etrothed, and had determined 10 break |
'lt relations with her He said he con
'ldered the best exit from the difficulty
YOU'D be to die. at least officially and |
nat his trouble with the Russian
which was real, offered the easiest so,
ution OF his entanglement. Therefore
lie took advantage OF this method of
his death.