Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-07-26
RULING FAvORS LANDLORD
Merchant and His Wife Have an
Exciting Ride.
CITIZENS ABUSE THE POLICE
Curious Incident Reported From
Saint Prieure-Bees in State Of
Instruction.

| special CaOlegram 10 lue Stdr.
PARIS. July 25-Among the victims OF
the heat must be counted a young writer.
NJ. Adrien Wagnon, a doctor Of phiios-
ophy of the University Of Geneva, who.
| driven out Of his mind by an attack Of
! congestion of the brain due to the heat.
committed suicide with a razor. He had
the first attack in the National Library
| while reading during the hot spell a
month ago, and was saved by the timely
| Intervention Of his doctor. A few days
ago. with the return of the heat. he had
| a second attack Of the brain malsdy and
| threw himself into the Seine. whence he
was emmadiately rescued. A doctor was
| attending him and he was believed to be
| in fair way Of recovery when he was
left alone in his room. During that time
he had most likely a new access Of sui
cidal mania, as he was found soon after
ward bathed in a pool of blood. with a
razor lying beside him with which it is
| belived he had cut an artery. He had al
died in a few hours. M Wagnon was
the author of several books, and was a
very close student spending most OF his
| time at the National Library.
landlords of hotels when valuable prop
erty which has not been intrusted to their
care has, according to the assertion Of
visitors. disappeared from their rooms?
Judgment has just been given by Paris
ian court in a case which has been
dragging a long time, and. as 1t is sure
to be appealed to as precedent, 1t is
| well worth recording. Some time ago a
lady of foreign nationality. who was in
the habit Of paying frequent visits to
situated in fashionable district of this
city. On returning to her apartments one
evening after dinner she ascertained. ac-
cording to her account, upon which there
Is no reason to cast any doubt, that
jewelry to the value Of $1,000. as well as
the sum Of 5000, had disappeared. Hold
ing the landlord responsible for the loss.
she sued him for the full amount, namely
$1,000.
Quotes the Civil Code.
When the case came before the court
the lady's counsel quoted the clause of
the civil code which sets forth that Inn
keepers or hotel keepers are responsible
for the theft of or damage to the trav-
eler's effects. whether the theft has been
committed or the damage caused by the
servants and employees of the hotel or by
strangers going and coming in the hotel"
The landlords counsel admitted that the
law authorized traveller who complained
Of the disappearance Of articles deposited
by him in hotel to prove his case by
every means. and even by simple pre-
sumption. But this presumption must ex-
vestigation instituted by the police had
| not revealed the faintest trace Of theft
Of which the lady complained.
| The court has, in q lengthy judgment.
pronounced against the lady's application
| for full damages for the jewelry and the
| money she states that she has lost at the
hotel. 1t bases It's decision on the ground
that although the character Of the person
who makes such an application may be
excellent, simple affirmation is not suf-
ficient support of that application. So
the lady is not allowed anything in the
way of damages and she Is condemned
to pay costs. OF course. the general rule
is that articles Of any particular value
may be entrusted to the keeping Of the
landlord.
Ride Results in Riot.
Paris merchant, NJ. Fourier, and
his wife have had a drive in a carriage
to a small suburban town called Viii
| leneuve Saint Georges, on the road from
Vigneux. which they will not soon for
get They were held up on the road by
three cyclists and some other men, who
would not let them pass on the pretext
that the cyclists had possession Of the
| road and were teaching a young woman
to ride on wheel. The coachman in
| sisted on passing. and. when the men
| tried to hold the horse he used his whip
| to drive them away. They then in
| suited Nine Fourier, and her husband
struck one Of them with his cane which
| caused all the workmen to join in the
dispute. The coachman drove on to
Villeneuve Saint Georges at gallop but
was followed by the three cyclists, who
| finally overlook the carriage and
wanted to take the names of the driver
and owner.
| The affair threw the whole place in
cfo ne
| thinking 1t was hold-up Of the strikers,
took the part of NJ. Fourier while the
workmen from the road sided with the
| cyclists. A small riot ensued, in the
course of which the workmen shouted
| that they would drown the coachman or
hang him. In fact, the man no longer
found his life safe, and had to take
| refuge in house. escaping by back
| yard and over garden walls. Nine.
Fourier meanwhile tainted, and to quelI
| the riot two attachments of gendarmes
had to be sent for. Order was finally
| restored when the police had arrested