The New York herald., 1921-12-25
Paul Boppe Starts to Leave
Country After Attempts
on Her Life.
ARRESTED AT FRONTIER
Infatuated With Other WOm-
an, Sold Property Prepar-
ing for Flight.
Ssecfol Gable to THE NEw York HERALD.
Copyright, 1921, By THE New YORK HERALD.

Special Gable to THE NV York HERALD.
Copyright, 1921. BY THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, Dec. "a.
Astonishing revelations this week OF
two attempts by Paul Boppe, inspector
of forests and rivers in the Nancy
region and brother Of Countess de Pre-
val, TO kill his wife has provided new
scandal in high French society. Nine.
Boppe is a daughter of late French
Minister plenipotentiary and niece OF
Maurice Barres, famous writer, MEM
ber of the Academic Francaise and
Senator from the Seine.
Boppe's motive in trying to get rid OF
his wife, it was alleged, was to marry
his mistress. He was arrested by de-
tectives just as he was about to cross
the Belgian frontier, after having sold
nearly a million francs worth Of per-
sonal property, which he had promised
10 leave to his two minor children for
their support after his wife's relatives
had insisted on the couples separation
and Boppe's departure Immediately for
the African colonies.
Tried Poisoned Tea.
The story of the attempted killing OF
Nine. Boppc is one OF a misplaced love
on the part or her husband. which COM
rnenced during the war. when he met an
Epinal woman. who refused TO accom-
pany him until he was freed from his
legitimate wife. Nine. Boppc refused
to consider her husbands attitude As
other than a. temporary infatuation for
an interloper. and tried to again win
his affection by, pleading with him in
the name Of their children. Apparently
much affected. Boppe divided a packet
nal and asked her 10 drink cup OF it
at 4 o'clock each afternoon. meanwhile
promising to do the same himself.
Tho following day when Nine. Boppe
called her children to partake of the
strange ritual they refused. and finally
confessed their father had warned them
not to drink Of It. Her suspicion thus
aroused, Nine. Boppe ordered chemi-
cal analysis of the tea, and Vt was
found that it contained potassium cya-
hide In quantities sufficient TO kill. Her
mother love, however, prompted her TO
protect her children from scandal and
caused her TO write letter to her hus-
band in which she expressed her for
ciceness.
wounded Three Times.
All went well until June Of last year
when Boppe's affinity refused any
longer to play Second fiddle and in
sisted that he make up his mind which
conapanion he would choose. Casting
caution to the wind, Boppe entered his
Wife's bedroom at midnight and fired O.
bullet into her left eye. fortunately
missing vital spot, the bullet coming
out al the back Of her neck. As his wife
awoke. Boppe placed his revolver under
her pillow and again fired twice, both
bullets tearing the flesh from her face
and terribly disiguring her, but not
gounding her fatally.
When servants rushed into the room
Boppe was said to have stopped down
beside her bed and cried: Poor unfor-
tunste She has attempted suicideW
The doctors who were called in OBJ
served however. that all the bullets had
entered the left side of Nine. Boppe' s
head while she was right handed.
Ia order to lend credence to the suicide
theory Boppe. believing his wife voutG
succumb. had used the same revolver
with which her brother had committed
suicide twenty years before.
When Nine. Boppe's family wac H..
formed of all the details they decided 20
give Boppe n chance to escape arrest by
Immediately leaving France after pro-
viding for his children. Boppo AMI the
Epnal woman were on the point OF leav-
ing Franco. knowing Mime. Boppe's FAM
lily would never demand his extradition.
when the police prevented his fight.
The attempt on Nine. Boppe's life
occurred when she was living IN the
Chateau Mont Bois. near Nancy. The
police declare they have a signed con-
fession by Boppe which will result prob
ably In life imprisonment for him and a
long term for his mistress. who is being
nntfsyrf 70 hfo orrpt,arftrc