Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1880-04-17 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

ATTEMPTED MURDER BY IN ACTRESS OF HER LOVER.  For the last three days the Paris papers have been filled with long reports of a trial which promises to rank among • the most interesting of causes celebres A few months ago a lady fired a revolver in the Rue Scribe at a gentleman who was leaving a house in the company another lady, and woundrd him very seriously. The gentleman has recovered, and his assailant has now been on her trial for attempted murder. The delinquent, Marie Biere, is a well-educated woman of considerable personal attraction 32 years of age, who was trained as a singer at the Conservatoire and left as a highly promising young lady, with a brilliant recommendation from M. Amboise Thomas, and who made her debut at Bordeaux, where her reception was all that a singer could wish. She had, moreover, an excellent reputation personally, and was much esteemed by both her teachers and her employers. At Biarritz three years ago, while fulfilling an engagement, she met a M. Gentien, a man of wealth, who paid her marked attentions, which wound up by his following her to Paris, and her there deserting her family and becoming his mistress. A number of letters have been published, showing that M. Gentien is an accomplished man, and that ' he greatly admired Marie Biere, whom he constantly speaks of "le femme la plus honnete" he knew. The liaison continued for a few months, the most ardent affection being manifested on both sides; but on it appearing that M. Gentien was going to enjoy the blessings of paternity he became far from pleased, and an entire change in the relations of the parties set in. A child was born, for which Marie Biere showed the greatest affection, her sole aim now being that its father should recognise it and make good her name by marriage. This only added fuel to the fire of her lover's anger. The child, whom he had refused even • ;to see, died. A partial reconciliation ensued, but Mr Gentien avowed himself tired of his mistress, and, allowing her a pension, parted from her altogether. It was thereupon that Marie Biere conceived the idea of avenging her child, whose death she attributed to its being put out to nurse at M. aentien's desire. She had already once endeavoured to shoot herself in her lover's presence. On the occasion on which she attempted to kill him in the Rue Scribe she had waited for hours in a cab in front of his house, so that as to premeditation thens was no doubt. It appears, however, that there has been insanity in her family, and that she had been in a state of extreme excitement since the death of her child. M. Gentian's cynicism in the witness ' box created a most unfavourable impression, although he denied the imputation of having advised his mistress to procure ' abortion ; and, as might be expected in such a case, with the little opportunity given by the code for a mild sentence by the magistrates, the jury on Wednesday evening =putted the accused. She had been three months in prison awaiting her trial. The verdict was received with immense applause in court. Many persons rushed towards the prisoner and shook her warmly by the hand. She was much moved, aud embraced her counsel (Maitre Leachaud) most affectionately. Ont-ide the court a large crowd had assembled and cheered the verdict lustily. Mdlle. Biere left by a private exit to avoid an ovation, but Maitre Lachaud was caught by the people, who applauded him as he stepped into his carriage. THE PERILS OF AFRICAN