Brighouse & Rastrick Gazette. — 1890-04-19 (Brighouse, West Yorkshire, England)

SHOCKING TRAGEDY IN THE WEST  END.  A terrible tragedy happened on Friday afternoon at the Hotel de l'Eurone, Leicester-square. A young Frenchman :early murdered a young woman whom he had represented as his wife, and then committed suicide. Two weeks ago the couple, who were well - dressed and evidently people of superior breeding, arrived at the Hotel de l'Europe, and stated that they had just come from Brussels. They engaged a room, which they occupied as husband and wife. During the whole time they appeared to be on friendly terms, and no one at the hotel had seen or heard of any quarrel between them. The manager of the hotel says the man gave his name as Albert de GuWon, and described himself as an agent, and went out a good deal, presumably on business. On Friday the couple took lunch together, and afterwards called for their bill, which was taken to them in their room. The man told the waiter that he and his wife were leaving that night for Brussels. He ordered the waiter to come up to the room for the amount of the bill when he rang the bell. The waiter left the room, and shortly afterwards loud screams were heard proceeding from the apartment, followed by the sound of a pistol shot. A Mr. Hoffman rushed to the door, and as he opened it the girl rushed out bleeding from a terrible wound on the right side of her head. Stephen Stallele, a waiter, appeared on the scene by this time, and the girl was stopped when she had descended the first flight of stairs. Mr. Hoffman went into the room where Guedon was, but Guedon, who had a revolver in his hand, pointed the weapon at him and threatened to shoot him. Hoffman retired, and had hardly left the room when two successive shots were heard. Hoffman and the waiter then entered the room together, and saw Guedon lying dead, with two pistol shots in his head. The woman was taken to the French Hospital in Leicester-place, where her wounds were dressed. She was afterwards removed to Charingcross Hospital. She was shot in the eyes, one being so badly injured as to necessitate its being taken out. She gives the name of Henrietta Grisse.  De Guidon came to London from Brussels about four months ago, and by himbelf. He appeared to co not more than 18 years of age, and gave people to understand that he had run away from home. He said that his father was a wealthy man, and the lad was certainly well supplied with money at first. Shortly after his arrival he sent to Brussels for his sweetheart; and on her arrival the young couple lived as man and wife. De Guidon was undersized in every way, and had a very sallow comDiction. He was of gentlemanly auvearanoe. and  'ma loggso Incirmeta a pair or rasnionanse riding boots. In his pocket was found a bill of 115 e. for the hire of &hack from a stable in Jermyn-street. He also had nearly £3 in gold and silver,but this he is known to have borruwed. The proprietor had evinced some anxiety about his bill, amounting to nearly LS, and it has been suggested that a disposition was shown by Guedon to find some pretext for gutting his luggage onto! the house preparatory to his journey to Brussels. All this lead. to the belief that the unfortunate young man, driven almost to despair for want of. money, had not sufficient strength of mind to con. front his financial liabilities, and that in a moment of mental aberration he resolved to kill both his companion and himself. The six-chambered revolver with which the attempted murder said suicide were committed was one which the deceased had evidently carried about his person for some time. Several cartridges were found loose in his pockets, and a packet of them was discovered in hisbox.  The unfortunate girl still lingers (mat the Charingarose Hospital.  An inquest was opened on Taesday by Mr. Troutbeck on the body of Alfred de Guklon. The police put in a statement made by the injured girl to the effect that he wished her to swear that she would  never leave nun, ana tnat netore sne bad time to answer he shot her. Hie identity had not been established, and in the absence of a material witneu the inquiry was adjourned.