Domestic tragedy in New Orleans.
--A terrible domestic tragedy was enacted in New Orleans a few days ago, the last act of which was the killing of a wife by her husband.-- The Crescent gives the subjoined account of it:Michael Richet, a Frenchman, some time since enlisted in Col. Avegno's battalion of Zouaves, and went into camp over at Mandeville. His wife, a good-looking woman, aged about 35 years, and a daughter of about 12 years, remained at home, supporting themselves by washing and ironing. They were industrious and quiet people, and among their neighbors bore a good character. They rented a room on Treme street, between St. Peter and Orleans streets, and worked in the yard of the premises.
Richet came over to the city with his battalion, and getting leave of absence went on a general burst. For reasons best known to himself, he became jealous of his wife, and accused her of being too intimate with a lodger in one of the rooms on the premises. She indignantly denied the charge — they had a serious misunderstanding, and he left her room and went into the street, where he soon saw the man of whom he was jealous. Immediately Richet began quarrelling with him, and they were about to come to blows when Madame Richet came out and attempted to persuade her husband to come into the house again. He turned furiously upon her, and drawing from his pocket a dirk knife, with a blade about three inches in length, stabbed her in the lower part of the abdomen, near the groin. As soon as she perceived that she was stabbed she retired into her room, exclaiming that she was killed, and in about five minutes expired.
Richet fled towards the place d'armes, where his company was camped, hoping to take refuge with them and evade arrest; but the police overtook him, and he is now safe under lock and key in the Treme station. His chances for a rope are very strong. We saw the body of the murdered woman a half hour after her death, in the room lately occupied by herself and daughter, where it was laid out awaiting the arrival of the Coroner. A large crowd of sympathizing neighbors were present, and judging from their suppressed exclamations and excited looks, the murderer would have had a short shrift and strong chord if he could be placed in their hands.
