Word: jeane
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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...five years the French have had some of their best fighting forces (including paratroopers, airmen, Moroccan infantrymen) tied up in Indo-China, fighting Reds. But only 40,000 Indo-Chinese volunteers are fighting alongside the French. Last week, prodded by French Commander General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, Viet Nam's Chief of State Bao Dai moved at last to bring the entire country into the war against the Communists. Bao Dai ordered full mobilization of all men between 18 and 60. First draft call: 60,000, beginning Oct. 16. Ultimate goal: a national Viet Nam army...
Paris' Samedi Soir called it le drame politico-passlonnel. The principal characters: Subway Conductor Jean Laffargue, 41, his wife Yvonne, 37, and Rene ("Little Napoleon") Desvillettes, 47, mayor of the deep-Red Communist suburb of Champigny. All three were loyal Communists and diligent party workers. Trouble started when the politico got mixed up with the passionnel...
...year ago Yvonne's devotion and energy won her a job as deputy to Little Napoleon. Soon afterward, in the course of her duties, according to husband Jean's testimony in court last week, a "lightning love" for the mayor struck her. She explained it all to Jean, who dutifully consulted his party superiors in Paris. Then he decided to give up Yvonne, provided that 1) the mayor get him a visa for Poland, "where I could work for my ideal"; and 2) the lovers keep their relationship respectable until he left...
Yvonne and Desvillettes agreed, but a few days later they left together for an inspection tour of a municipal summer camp. When they got home, Jean angrily confronted the mayor, demanding satisfaction of his honor-or at least his visa. The mayor told him to relax. "Such things," said Little Napoleon, "so often happen in the party." Jean pulled out a pistol and shot him dead. Later he explained what had driven him to the deed: "I was crazy. I couldn't sleep. I conducted the Metro like a sleepwalker...
Last week a psychiatrist told a French court that Jean had merely "acted as a man . . . putting aside false logic." Yvonne, draped in mourning, screamed at her husband: "You are a murderer . . ." The court considered the separate viewpoints, found Jean guilty of manslaughter, gave him a sentence of five years, then suspended it and turned him free...