Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-27
M,LEV|NE A BRAVE MAN
Project of Police in Paris Is Very
Popular.
SAD TALE FROM VERSAILLES
Son of Wealthy Farmer Accused of
Killing Sweetheart.
MAGISTRATES ODD EXPERIENCE
Strange Story of Flat-Family I'M
PEELED to Walk Upon Their Hands
Instead of Feet.
Special Cablegram to The Sta,


PARIS, May 27.-There has just been re-
ceved authoritative contradiction of
very improbable report that NJ. Lepine,
project of police, contemplates resigning
from public life. Paris has never had
more interchangeable official than M, Lepine.
On many occasions he has not only had
hair-breadth escapes, but has even felt the
force of a heavy hand of a sharp blow,
of a treacherous missile. But he makes
light of such adventures and even seems
to thrive on them. He is a brave man in
every sense of the word. and he is certainly
popular in Paris. 1t is not given to every
project of police to find a spot in
the hearts of his fellow citizens. but NJ
Lepine at any rate appears to have added
this to his long list of successes.
sad story has just been brought to
the attention of a jury at Versailles during
the course of the trial of NJ. Leon Bereau
the son of a wealthy farmer of Biefros. for
| the alleged murder of Mile. Marie Crison
Bereau was accused of having killed his
sweetheart because he had been unable
marriage. Two years ago Iarie Crison,
aged twenty-five, taken a servant
in the house of Bereau. She was very
handsome. According to the terms ar
ranged upon she was to remain six months.
Before the six months were up she was IN
, love with Leon Bereau, the farmers son.
and he in love with her. But they
! had not as yet had an opportunity to COM
municate their secret to each other. Leon
Bereau it is alleged was treated very
| severely by his father, who, 1t is said, is
an od-fashioned country gentleman, whom
| everybod is supposed to obey to the letter
Father Objects to Marriage.
| The idea that he. the owner of so many
tracts of land, would consent to let his only
son marry a poor servant girl was prepos-
| ferrous. Young Leon Bereau hesitated long
before he even dared to think of it. When
Marie Crison was going away she left
watch with the young man, who was to
have it mended at Versailles. This, how
ever, was only pretext to keep up secret
correspondence. The girl went with her
mother to Sainte German and remained
away for about six months, during which
time they had occasion to see each other
only few times. Marie Crison fell Ill.
and word was sent to young Bereau that
she was deliriouS, and constantly call
ing out for him. He did not dare to tell
his father, and it was some time before he
could find pretext for escaping one after
noon. After her recovery they succeeded
| in meeting more often, and Leon Bereau
| was urged by Marie Crison to keep his
promise of marriage.
| Finally, things became more, complicated
! and a child was born. Leon Bereau could
not face his father, and said there was
| nothing to do but wait until he was twenty
| five, when he would be free to marry
| against his fathers will. 1t was decided
| however that the girl should leave Saint
| German, and take up residence near
| Reeves. Marie Crison drew all of her lit
| tie savings, about $75, from the bank and
! started for Versailles. Instead OF meeting
| her at the usual rendezvous in barn the
| farmers son arranged to see her at sad
| dlery. some distance away. He had OBJ
! jected to the removal, and said that he
| could get no money from his father to sup
port he-. She offered him the little sum OF
| money which she had drawn from the bank
| all that she had Just what happened is
| not clear but whether it was in conse-
quence of the discussion, or as Leon Bereau
says she struck him with parasol, the
| fact is he drew a revolver and shot her IN
! the head, killing her instantly. he FOUND
| an old wheelbarrow and wheeled the body
| of the girl along the River Bievres, dis
| lance of four miles, until nearly midnight
| when he threw the body in the river.
| Startled the Magistrate.
An elderly lady dressed in black called
| the other morning to see the magistrate
of the Ste Marguerite district privately,
! and on being shown into his room, said:
AT the risk of being taken for a mad
| woman, l must inform you that no sooner
| do l enter the fiat in which l live with
| my grown-up son and brother than am
| compelled by some kind of magnetic in
| fuence to walk about on my hands with
! my legs in the air.
| Before the magistrate could even guess
| what she was going to do, the lady whose
| name is Nine. Blerotti attempted to give a
, practical demonstration of what happened
| in the fiat. Surprising that he had to deal
| with lunatic the magistrate detained the
woman and sent policeman to her ad-
dress in Rue de Montreui. The policeman
| returned with the lady's son, commercial
clerk twenty-seven years of age. What
my mother told you is perfectly true" he
said. Il do not pretend to explain it. l
| only know that soon my uncle,
| mother and myself enter that fiat We are
| impelled 10 walk upon our hands instead Of
| our feet
The magistrate sent for all of the wit
| nesses that could be found and they cor
roborated the story. The concierge of the
| house was then summoned, and he told
| a similar story. The mystery has not yet
! been explained.