Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1890-10-11 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

ROMANTIC STORY OF A FRENCH MURDER.  Count de Vladimiroff's murder of his mistress at Ville d'Avray, a few days ago, has, writes an Eveniny News and Post correspondent in Paris, created a great sensation in that city. The details of the crime are thus set forth : The young Connt; accompanied by Mdme. Didat, left the Gare St. Lazare on Monday .morning for Ville d'Avray, arriving there at 11.45. De Vladimiroff carried with him a loaded revolver which he had purchased on the previous day at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville. After taking luncheon at the Hotel Cabassud, the couple went out for a walk, returning to the hotel at 4 o'clock. Within a quarter of an hour of their withdrawal to a private room a revolver shot was heard, and Vladimiroff rushed out, saying, "I have killed my mistress. Go and fetch the gendarmes, so that they may arrest me." Ile then threw down his revolver. After his arrest Vladimiroff, who gradually calmed down,expressed his sincere contrition for his crime. It is stated that he was born in France of Russian parents, and has not been trained to any profession, owing,doubtless, to the fact that he is in the enjoy, ment of a large fortune. This tragedy, proceeds the correspondent, the last of the series of. those described by the French as "Crimes passionnels," is curious from many points of view. Count Vladimiroff, the murderer, was but 20 years of age, of noble origin, and was what may be called an exalte. His excitable nature was such that frequent scenes of jealousy occurred between him and his mistress, to whom he was devotedly, nay madly, attached. Mdme. Didat was also of good family, being the daughter and heiress of a rich provincial notary. Two years ago she lost her husband, a civil engineer, by whom she had two charming children. She was tall, of elegant bearing, and possessed of that irresistible kind of fascination rarely found but in women of true gipsy descent. Count Vladimiroff fell madly in love with her, and begged her to marry him. She argued that, being 12 years older than her suitor, marriage would be folly. He pressed his suit against the will of the parents on both sides until she finally consented, and in the meantime became his mistress. Madame Didat, upon the death of her husband, became addicted to morphia. The noxious drug aiding the natural excitability of her disposition, she became a terrible example of Olefin de sieele moiodoine. Peery extraordinary desire was gratified by her lover, except when it became the cause of seine jealous discussion. Iler father spent a fortune to cure her of the morphia habit. She was finally cured, or believed so, by hypnotism. A fortnight ago, after dining in the Bois de Baulogne with Count Vladinriroff, she suggested a dive from her carriage. The Count dared her; she jumped head first • upon the pavement, and badly hurt her head. Meanwhile, everything was arranged for the marriage, which was to have taken place this month, and the news of the tragedy at this juncture came like a thunder-bolt upon the friends of both parties. It would appear that the Count, from his fierce mad love and jealousy, must really have become affected in his mind. Sinee his arrest the count has refused to give any reason for his rash act. He appears overwhelmed with grief. The trial will probably be very sensational, but it is mare than probable that, taking everything into consideration, the murderer will he dechired irresponsible, and get off with a slight inirrisonment or a short detention in a lunatie asylum.