Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1886-10-09 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

SUICIDE OF A GAMBLING PRINCE.  Prince Melissom°, a member of one of the best Neapolitan families, committed suicide on Tuesday afternoon in Paris on returning from his club, where he had seen hi name posted up as a defaulter. He had lost at the club more than £20,000 within two or three years. His creditor 011 this as on previous occasions had placed the debt en carte as it is called, that is to say, had deposited in the hands of the proper andel a card, stating that the Prince was to pay on Tuesday £6O. The time baring expired without the amount being paid, the official published the fact.  A Paris correspondent writes :—The suicide of Prince Melissatio, Duke of Carracioli, in the Cercle Imperial, of which he was a member, and where he had a bedroom, is to he ascribed to his name being posted as that of a defaulter on the chimney glass of the card-room. The Prince was nicknamed Melissa des Carmes, was a personal friend of the ex-Bing and Queen of Naples, and very fond of Italian confectionery, which he used to eat daily at the corner of the Place de la Bourse and the Rue Quatre-Septembre. He was a small and effeminate-looking man of forty or thereabouts, and had the haggard face of a persevering gambler whose losses have greatly overbalanced his gains. On leaving college he visited Paris as a tourist, and became a permanent resident. His fortune was never so great as report said. He made gambling, ' for which he had a strong taste, a profession. At first he was bold and fortunate, and then became nervous and unlucky. His Italian' lightness of heart forsook him, and he constantly , provoked quarrels. This led to the Committee ' of the Cercle de la Rue Royale, s few years Sf..+o refusing to admit him. Still, however, his flat in the Rue d'Antin continued to be called Le Passage aux Princes, because most of the illustrious personages who come here to amuse themselves used to go to Prince Carraciolks card parties. Sons of millionaires aspiring to social distinctionwere glad to be admitted to play with them. The Prince had to sell his beautiful art furniture, but was able to keep his unique collection of walking sticks. Latterly he resided altogether at the Cercle Imperial, where he was several times posted as a defaulter. The first time he saw hie name on the chimney glass he gave the mirror a blow with his cane, which smashed it. The second time his name was put up while he was riming about trying to obtain 10,000 f. to pay i,, gambling debt. When he came in with the money he found he had been " executed " ten minutes before. He protested, and the committee decided in his favour. The third time he was a defaulter for a hundred lonia. He told the other club men who had witnessed his disgrace that he was going to blow his brains out, but they smiled incredulously. A few moments later the report of a pistol was heard, and then ha was found lying dead beside a little table, on which there were 'letters to his creditors and to hi friends. One of i' them was to a Royal personage, who, when he visited Paris, used to go So Prins. Slarrseioles cord parties. - . - . _  ;ith.'