Los Angeles herald., 1910-06-26
RUSSIAN COUNT IS
HELD FOR MURDER
Leaves Wife to Live with Young
French Woman Who At
tracts Him
DAUGHTER IS ONLY CHILD
NobIeman Shoots Himself, and
His Body Is Found Lying
on the Floor

PARIS, June 25.--A Russian count,
who had been residing in Paris with
his wife and a daughter and who is
described as belonging to very dis
tinguished family in st. Petersburg,
has come to a tragic end. Their daugh-
ter died some months ago, and the
count afterward told his wife that he
was going to live apart. There was a
very pathetic scene when his wife tried
to detain him, but he carried out his
purpose and went to reside in fiat
near the Champs Elysees. News then
came from st. Petersburg which made
1t imperative for him to proceed thither
with his wife. He consented to leave
Paris, and made preparations to go.
But something happened meanwhile
which apparently made him come to a
desperate resolution. A shot was heard
in his room, and when the police en-
tered he was found lying at the foot
of his bed with a bullet in his head.
He died almost Immediately.
The count, it is stated, left his wife,
who is a charming lady, in order to live
with young Frenchwoman, in whose
apartment, in fact, he was found dead.
He had made the young woman's ac-
quaintance casually about q year ago,
and it is alleged that he was complete
~ 1dSCludlGu DY u6I. 116 lIGQuGIlly
visited her, with the result that there
were serious disputes. Consideration
for his little daughter, 1t is said, alone
prevented him from quitting his wife
earlier and going to live with the
strange woman, for whom he had con-
ceived an extraordinary attachment.
TOLD HIS WIFE
After the death of his little daughter,
who seems to have been his onlychild,
he felt it is said, no further restraint,
and told his wife that he would quit
her to live with the Frenchwoman.
She implored him not to take such a
step, and when he did leave there was
a very affecting scene. He took up his
abode in the fiat of the woman with
whom he had become infatuated. His
family at ST. Petersburg recently sent
word that he must return to that city
with his wife. There were urgent rea-
sons for his return, which he admitted
himself, and after an interview with his
wife he consented to prepare for the
journey and to go to Russia in her
company But after this decision had
been reached he seemed to be harassed
by contrary feelings. He still had a
strong affection for his legitimate
spouse, but nevertheless his passion for
the Frenchwoman was such that 1t
seemed to him impossible to tear him
self away.
It was then that the tragedy took
place. All that is known is that the
young woman suddenly rushed out into
the stairway Of the house and called
for help. When the concierge and
neighbors arrived she said that the
count had shot himself and took them
to the room where he was lying on
the floor with a bullet wound in his
head. A doctor ws called, but before
any help could be given the count
had expired. The police were Informed
and made the usual inquiry. After
this the young Frenchwoman left her
fiat and the counts wife came and
took charge Of her husbands body.
CROWD WATTS FOR HIM
In spite of pelting rain a large crowd |
passed the greater part of a night in
the square in front Of the prison at
Sisterton, which Is situated in the de-
partment Of the Basses-Alpes. 1t had
assembled to witness an execution. |
Fanzoni was the leader of a band
known as Les Etrangleurs des Alpes |
which had spread terror throughout |
the country. The jury had contriVed to
find extenuating circumstances for his |
accomplices and he had clung to the
hope that the sentence of death passed |
on him would be commuted, as eXecu- |
tions have been so rare in France, es- |
pecially Of late years. But few days |
ago he seemed to realize that his doom |
was sealed, and being awakened by |
loud cries he asked uneasily what they |
meant On being told that troops had |
been marching by, he exclaimed: "Oh, |
understand. My execution Is drawing |
near!" About $50 soldiers and fifty |
gendarmes were drawn up in the |
square when the public prosecutor, ac-
companied by other officials, entered |
Fanzoni's cell and after having in
formed him that his appeal had been
rejected, told him to be brave, as the
was approaching when he was
to pay his debt to society.
These words had scarcely been spo-
ken when loud cries resounded from
the assembled multitude, and as he
dressed himself FanzOni shed bitter
tears, his chief thought being for his
old and broken hearted mother. He
heard mass, went through the usual
grim toilette" and was then led to
the scaffold, which had been erected
a couple of yards in front Of the gate
of the prison. When he got there he
tried to speak, but he could not utter
q word A moment later his head was
laid on the block and the blade fell NJ
Deibler had arrived at Sisterton on
the previous evening, before his gull
lotine, and there was some specula-
tion as to whether the execution could
take place that day. 1t was thought
at first that the machine might have
been sent in error to another desti-
nation, but it was received in time to
enable the executioner to put every
thing in thorough order.