The Sun. — 1847-08-20 (London, England)

MURDER OF THE DUCHESS OF  PRASLIN.  Our Paris letter of Wednesday contains the following : " Between five and six o'clock this morning the Duchess of Praslin, daughter of Marshal Sebastiani, was discovered murdered in her bed in her hotel in the Faubourg St. Honore, eight doors from the British Embassy. " It appears that the Duchess returned to Paris yesterday evening only, in order to take with her to a watering place some of her children, whose examinations at their respective schools had just concluded. This morning, between five and six o'clock, the femme de chambre of the Duchess was awoke by her lady's bell, znd instantly proceeded to her apartment, which she found secured within. After calling loudly and making ineffectual attempts to open the door, she called up other servants, who forced an entrance, and found the Duchess expiring in her bed. She had received seven wounds from a poniard. The assassin, who is supposed to have known the house well, is believed to have escaped by leaping into the garden from the window of the Duchess's sleeping room, and which opens on the Champs Elysees. The victim was unable to utter a word before she expired. " An alarm was instantly given, and in a very short time the Procureur du Roi, the Prefect of Police, and a considerable number of the most intelligent policeofficers were on the spot, and took active measures for tracing the author of the crime. Every person found in the house, and everybody who entered it afterwards, were taken into custody. The efforts of the police have not, up to this moment (three o'clock p.m.), relaxed in the slightest degree. If human sagacity and energy can insure success, it is impos • ,ible that the assassin can escape.  " Several rumours are afloat, to which, of course, I shall not give publicity. As no robbery was effected, murder only is believed to have been the intention of the perpetrator of this appalling crime. It is, among other reports, stated that the murder is a ' Corsican vengeance' (vendetta), but it is difficult to admit this this rumour, for there did not exist a more excellent woman, nor one more universally belovpd 4. .ti,Duchess of Praslin. She was very handsome, the mother of nine children, who live to deplore her loss. i'he Duke is, it is said, at Plombieres (a watering place in the department of the Vosges). " Marshal Sebastiani left Paris only three days since for Corsica. A telegraphic dispatch has been sent to Marseilles to recall him to Paris. (From Galignani's fessenger.) itisw uett this No. 55, the residence Rue du Faubourg St. Honor ,_ Yesterday evening the of the Duke de Praslin. the daughter of Mariot with ad lamentable entli b regretle event Duchess de Praslin, who was sher of several children, shal Sebastiani, and the .m dence from the country, and arrived at the town resi 'our and five o'clock, this morning, between ._ was bed. There are various Re found murdered in her the circumstances of this ts in circulation as to . . . coun . but in the confusion which necessarily horrible affair,2:sreanlmournnie:g the in occurrence theassured,however; that no robbery ncdo commenced etnhcee da differentrigid examinationperspersons w, vwho of the private vengeance. The Procureur du Roi and other om were permitted to leave the house swpaisrecdo. prevailsmninlovi committed, eeadtra,ei lasndth at ht actatnhebernruerlideedruispoantthriabvuetet transpired. nt to were at the house early this morning, and household,inmonin until e daoifpateer;'3eha'et conviction had been obtained that they ieocne a sewitha Duchess, who who r.Swevaesraal couldrienrds eornssthalal:a'dev etnhaolartee °atil x already beened highly accomplished woman, was about 40 years of age.