Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-26
Refused to
Commit Suicide

its. She and her husband did not get along
well together, and he rejoiced when his
work took him away from home fer few
days. He was engaged on job at Rennes
the other day and congratulating himself
on his temporary release from domestic
worries when he received this exhiiarating
epistle from his better half;
'Inhuman monster! You have brought
disgrace and dishonor your family IL
you do not commit suicide within twenty
four hours l shall denounce you to the
police. ANNA.
Any ordinary man would have been great
" depressed by such a missive. but it did
not upset Nogues a bit. He does not seem
to have denied the charges, but wrote his
wife that he was prepared to commit sui
eide. To save her the necessity OF having
to attend to such disagree3ble details her
self. however, he begged that she would
send him sufficient money TO enable him
to make provisions for his decent burial
He besousht her also to send him a photo
graph of herself and his Two daughters
that they might he placed in the coffin
with him. He concluded by pleading for
her forgiveness and subscribed himself,
Your affeetionate husband
x
Nogucs fellow workuen noticed that he
was IN a particularly good humor for tie
rest of the day, for he chuckled frequently
to himself, but he declined to tell them
Nldl IL Was mat Idu IlCNItu MS IduCS 81
much. Madame Nogues wouldn't risk her
precious money on her husbands mere
word. Instead of sending 1t to him by mail,
she intrusted 1t to her brother-in-law, Lee
girls Benonie and instructed him to see
that NogueS carried out his part of the
bargain and to send her telegram when
the job was done. She gave him $780, hav-
ing figured it out that that amount would
enable her husband to blow his brains out
decently and pay for the funeral expenses.
And she considered that she wuld be get
ting rid of him cheaply at the price.
NOgues had not calculated on Legris TAX
ing any part in the affair, but he readily
adapted himself to the changed circum-
stances. When Legris had explained his
mission, Nogues professed to be well salts
fed with the arrangements. and they went
off together to buy a revolver.
After the weapon had been purchased
Nogues proposed that they should eat a
farewell dinner and crack a couple of bot
ties of wine together before he made his
exit from this world.
You can cut down the funeral expenses
bit to make up for what it COSTS he
suggested and Anna-she is n dear good
wife, but a bit close-fisted-need never
know that we had a good time with the
money
Legris acquiesced without demur and they
adjourned to the hotel where Nogues was
staying. There they did full justice 10 an
ample dinner
The landlord has treated me so well
mere said Nogues when it was finished
that | could not think of committing sui
eide and making a mess in his place. It
would not be treating him fairly. I'll have
to do the Job somewhere else"
You have to hurry" said I.egrjs "I
promised to send Anna telegram when It
was done Time is flying and she will be
getting anxious"
Don't you think it would take a load off
her mind if you wired at once that I've
done ltF observed Nogues. TT would
only be anticipating my decease a little and
would allow us time to get matters fixed
up SO that everything will go through
1T Is an excellent idea" said tho a.
commodating' Legris, land it will give her
more time to get her mourning ready
rms was the dispatch that he sent Nine.
Nogues o
Job finished. Everything passed off SAT-
lsfactorily. Obsequies at Rennes"
Ihen they settled down to arranging de-
tails Nogues insisted that funeral serv-
ice should be held over his body. Iegris
objected that man who took his own life
was not entitled to that ceremony. Nogues
contended that his case stood on different
footing from that of an ordinary suicide
SINCE he was not seeking death voluntarily
but was going to kill himself merely TO sat
lsfy his wife and carry out her orders Lee
girls recognized the force of Nogues' logic
and promised to do his best
Then Nogues begged for the privilege of
being allowed to select his own grave To-
sether they sailed forth to the cemetery
1t was evening before Nogues had selected
a site that satisfied his exacting notions
Since my wife thinks I'm dead any,
now, he said to his companion, I'VE might
as well put off the job until tomorrow and
get comfortable nights rest"
Legrfs consented and the morning found
Nogues apparently resigned to his fate
a ,raI r,l,1>
said. "but | think it would not be a bad
idea If we first had good breakfast to-
gether. You can shave down the funeral
expenses a bit further to make up for it,
They had a gorgeous breakfast and got
somewhat fuddled over It. Then they
started off to the cemetery, where Nogues
was TO blow out his brains There another
idea captivated him
II will expire" he said, con the tomb of
my parents they lie at Montfort. Obvi-
ously that is the best place TO do the Job
l shall rest easier if l lie with them
As there was no train to Montfort that
day the dire deed was postponed until the
morrow. When Montfort was reached
Nogues suddenly remembered that his cou-
sin was the priest of the parish and his
death In the cemetery would bring disgrace
upon him. Rather than do that he would
decided that the tragedy should be enacted
at Pantin.
*
The two men took tickets for Paris and
arrived at Montparnasse station at mid
night. Then Nogues discovered that he