Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-03
GOO DEAD, 5 VILLAGES
SWEPT AWAY IN BREAKING
OF DYKE ON ITALIAN LAKE.
MYSTERY IN DEATH
SON OF member OF
FRENCH DEPUTIES

Paris, Dec. 2 (By A. P.)-"Afy son
has been murdered by an atrocious
plot. Leon Daudet, member of the
Chamber Of Deputies and leader of
the Monarchist movement, declared
in letter to the public prosecutor,
asking him to take action on an ar
ticle printed in a special number Of
the anarchist organ Libertaire.
The death of M. Daudets son,
Philippe, named after the royaiist
pretender to the throne Of France,
was announced last Tuesday. The
boy was two months under fifteen
years of age, and his death brought
widespread sympathy for the parents
from all parties.
A brief paragraph published in the
previous Sunday papers alluded to
the suicide of youth apparently 20
years of age in a taxicab, the youth
dying In a hospital. No marks of
identification were found on the body,
and only the most intimate friends Of
the Daudets knew that the suicide
was Philippe until last evening, when
Libertaire published one page sheet
bearin the headline: Tragic death Of
Philippe Daudet, anarchist, his faith
er suppresses truth
The editor of Libertaire, George
Vidal, in the article described the
arrival at the office on Thursday.
November %, of a youth describing
himself as an anarchist who was
prepared to remove anybody whom
VIDAL wished to disappear"
Vidal says he tried to calm the
youth and kept him to dine with
him. talking of the literature of the
old province of Brittany, his guest
having explained that he had Just
come from Havre. The youth re-
manned in the office of Libertaire
most OF Friday; he helped address
mail copies OF the paper and donated
zoo francs to the cause. He re-
fused to give any name except
Phiippe, and wrote a.letters which he
handed over to Vidal for use, "if any
thing happens to me-"
He also turned over some manu-
scripts.
The announcement of the anony.
nous taxicab suicide later aroused
Vldafs suspicious. He opened the
letter and found it was written to
Nine. Daudet.
A facsimile reproduction of the
letter is printed as follows:
My Dear Mother: Pardon the i'm
mense grief l am causing you. but l
nave been an Anarchist for a long
time without daring to say SO. Now
my Cause summons me. l believe
1t is my duty to do what / am do
ing. love you dearly. Kiss the
youngsters for me. Philippe"
This mornings L'Action Franchise
does not deny that the letter is in
Philippe's handwriting, but declares
that it needs verifica ton and an in
yestigation of the circumstances I'M
der which 1t was written. suggesting
that it may have been under force.
The manuscripts compriseN IT
poems, in free verse, entitled SAC
cursed Perfumes" which LAction
Francaise says were certainly not
written by Philippe, but evidently by
fun grown man with grea ter edu-
cation and culture than Philippe had
attained.
The remainder of VidaIs article
reproaches Leon Daudet for con-
cealing the truth that his son had
become an anarchist and hushing up
the circumstances of his death, and
expresses sympathy for the mother.
According to L'Action Franchise.
Philippe Daudet, who appeared con-
siderably older than he really was.
left home on Tuesday. November 20,
for high school, but failed to return.
The anxiety of his parents. however.
was mitigated because ever since
his 18th year the boy had period
ically disappeared, but had always
returned weeping, explaining that he
had acted under an obscure irresis-
table impulse.
1t was the announcement of the
anonymous suicide which put the fam
lily on the track of the missing SON.
who was found dead in a hospital. The
father. seeing no reason to suspect
Continued on Page 3-col. 81