New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-27


she merely tore them up and threw them into
her wastebasket. Scores of these letters were
discovered ana pieeed together by Lucy Clapp
me chamoermaid of Mime. Massot, who. during
her masters illness, suspected that something
was wrong On October 81 Hubac wrote:
Don't become impatient because the remedy
works slowly. The effect viii be sure in the
end Moreover. win bring you something 70
hasten the denouement." In other letters there
We're illusions 10 the fine times" they would
enjoy as coon as Mascot should be buried. There
were to he sumptuous bouiIla baisse dinners at
Roubions. and festive trips TO Monte Carlo and
Paris" The young medical student complained
OF the slowness With which Massot was diving
and added; 1T viii be all right in few DAYS.
dearest; you Will remain widow only Just long
enough 70 decently mourn your present hus-
band!"
Nine Massot nevertheless acted with prompt
ness NJ. Massot, after his return to the Villa
Toutes-Aures. became suddenly Ill. and com
planned OF terrible thirst and violent pains in
bis intestines.' Nine Massot was constantly
al her husbands bedside, and 10 all appearances
nursed him with affection during his Illness.
Massot became worse. A physician, summoned
in haste. did not suspect the terrible truth, and
pronounced a diagnosis OF heart trouble COM
plicated by enteritis." Nine. Massot admins
tered the physicians prescriptions with the
same hand with which she gave the poison.
Massot. who was devotedIy fond of his wife
did not seem in the least to suspect that he was
being poisoned. According to the testimony of
Lucy Clapp. the chsmbermaid. the dying
asked: What on earth are you giving me now?
1t is awful! II burns me. It is poison!"
Why, no. my dear" the wife's reply. lit
is SedIitz-Chantaud, according to the doctors
orders" During the terrible suffering Of Mas
sot, he was tended night and cay by his wife
According TO the chambermaid's evidence their
union never seemed closer nor more happy" On
the evening Of October D. the condition of Mas
sot became hopeless and he died the next morn
ing 1 o'clock. After her husband expired
Nine Massot completely broke down" She
could not bear 10 remain in the room where the
death occurred. and refused to look at the body
The young medical student. Edouard Hubac
attended the funeral, and walked with the
mourners behind the hearse- Three DAYS after
ward he called at the Villa Toutes- Aures where
he was received by Nine Mascot. attired in
deepest black, and wearing the longest and
heaviest widows weeds.
Such is the summary % the evidence ELECTED
at the preliminary investigation and set forth
by the confession made by Edouard Hubac The
case excites the keenest interest in Paris as we'll
as MarseiIles. owing 10 the sensational circunl-
/ stances and also because Of the social standing
,
cution depends upon the clean breasted confess
sion made by young Hubac in the presence of
his father the venerable magistrate Of the Mar
settles bench; upon the evidence of the cham
bermaid, Lucy Clapp who pieced together the
letters that she found in her mstresss waste
| basket: upon letters in the handwriting of HUI
/ bac and Of Nine. Massot; upon circumstantial
evidence in the shape of the residue Of corrosive
sublmate found in phiaIs thrown away by Nine.
Massot. and by the autopsy recently made upon
the body of Massot which indicated the pres
ence in the intestines Of corrosive sublimate
Nine Massot denies that she poisoned her hus-
band but tainted away when her former maid
reiterated her accusations. Not for many
year has there been a poison case that has
cited such widespread interest. Public opinion
not only in Marselles, but in France. is that
the guilt Of Nine Massot and of her accom-
plice. the young medical student is already
clearly established. Newspapers in Paris and
in the departments take il for granted that
there can be no defence: that it is "a clear
downright case Of diabolicaI poisoning" one
journal puts II. No one shows the slightest
compunction about expressing opinion be-
fore the trial has fairly begun. and TO one
customed TO American and English reticence in
refusing prematureIy proclaim the guilt OF
prisoners charged with murder the question
suggests itself, what a frightful miscarriage Of
justice might occur if, after all. the unfortunate
husband, secretly convinced Of his wifes infdel
ity, and heartbroken in consequence, had decid-
ed to commit suicide by taking corrosive subli
mate? Such hypothesis is not at all proba-
BILE; still it is within the range Of possibility.
c. I. B.