Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1912-01-19


imprisonment In an English jail, while
thousands OF her American compatrt-
OTIS continued ceaselessly to insist
upon her innocence. The other case
was that of a Frenchwoman. Nine. La
FARCE. II was almost identical in every
way. Each woman was young and Of
good family; each found sympathizers
throughout the period of her imprison-
ment: in each case extraordinary ami
mostly before the trial was charged
to partisanship afterward; and in
each instance the death sentence was
communted.
Marie Fortune Capelle was the
daughter of a French colonel, one of
Napoleon's Guard, of good descent,
and an intimate acquaintance the
wives Of the great Corsican's most
famous Marshals-Mme. Soult, Ouch
ess Of Dalmatia, and Nine. Ney, Prin-
cess of EchmuhL Her parents dying
while she was a child. she was left to
the care of relatives, who sent her
to be educated at one of the fashion
able schools OF Parts. Here she made
many friends, among them a young
girl whom we will call by the name
she took after her marriage. Nine. de
Leautaud, who subsequently played a
leading role in Marie Capelle's sinis-
ter story.
The girl seemed 10 have been endow
ed by fortune with every good gift
Tall and slim. with jet-black hair and
q dead white skin. she could have
made q match In her own station Of
life. 1t was necessary that she should
marry In order to assume her place in
society. In accordance with the
French custom. marriage was ar
Hanged for her with certain Charles
Pouch Lafarge, man Of lower social
Jtanding. but eminently respected
Eell-to-do ironmaster. Lafarge's WOO
ing lasted but five days, during which
brief period he pictured the beauties
Of his country mansion and estates so
alluringly that he captivated alike the
brides heart and her imagination.
When they arrived at their home
Marie was speedily undeceived. Her
husband lived at Chandler. squalid.
dismal town. and the house. which
was only an ordinary village edifice,
perhaps little finer than the others,
was surrounded with forest of smok-
ing chimneys. The shock and disap-
pointment proved too much. for the
young brides equanimity. She fed to
her room and there wrote the follow
ing letter to her husband:
Charles am about to ask your
pardon on my knees. | have wickedly
deceived you ! love not you. but an
other" The letter continued in this
strain for several pages. Release me
from this bondage" she continued
Get ready two horses. and | will ride
to Bordeaux, where | will take ship
for Smyrna | leave allmy possessions
to you; may God increase them to
your advantage. AS for me. will
live by my wits, and none need know
that have ever existed. II this does
not satisfy you. will take some ar
senic, for ! have some. Marie"
Lafarge dwelt in the house with his
mother and sister and his sisters hus-
band. Another inmate of the estab-
hshment was certain Denis Bar.
bier. confidential clerk OF the iron.
master, man Of bad character, and,
as was subsequently proved. at that
time passing under name which was
not his own. The letter was found
and read. and a stormy scene ensued
between the bride on the one hand.
and the relatives on the other Finally,
however, Lefarge and Marie were rec
onciled and Marie acknowledged
that there was no lover; that she had
not meant what she had written and
would do her best to make her hus-
band happy. The mother and sister
seem to have done their best to please
the young wife. for about this time she
wrote to her uncle, who was then sec.
Rotary of the Bank of France:
Il have come to accept my posi-
ton, although 1t is dificult With
a little strength of mind and
patience, and with my husbands
love, may become contented.
Charles adores me and cannot but be
touched by the caresses that are Law.
ished on me-"
This was a period of great advances
In the art OF metallurgy. Lafarge had
made an important discovery in smelt-
ing. and needed his wife's fortune in
order to turn this to good account She
lent him large part OF her can
ital. secured an additional loan for
him from her own relatives. and made
her will in his favor Then he depart.
ed for Paris to secure a patent for his
new invention, taking with MIN a gen.
eral power Of attorney to borrow
money on his wife's property.
Soon after he had departed Marie
conceived the idea OF having her nor.
trait painted and sending II to her hus-
hand With French practicalitv
she further planned to enclose with n
a number of small cakes, which were
made for her. at her request, by her
motherin-law. At Marie's further In.
sistence the mother wrote to her son
urging him to eat one OF these cakes
at particular hour upon a certain spe-
cited day Marie was to eat one AT the
same time. In order that bond of aim.
ity might be created between them.
The case containing the cakes and
the portrait was dispatched to La.
FARCE and duly reached him. but not in
the sarae condition as that in which it