The Praslin Affair

The Praslin Affair ranks third in the list of Eerie Mysteries That Still Haunt France. At first look, the Praslin Affair scandal appeared to be a simple case: husband and wife married; husband has affair with nanny; husband murders wife. It sounds like a typical scenario, but in this case, the consequences were far bigger than anyone could have expected. It proved to be one bourgeois scandal too many for the French people, who rioted once more in the streets. They're not suggesting the Praslin Affair was exclusively to blame, but it was one of the events that directly led to the 1848 Revolution, which saw King Louis Philippe I abdicate and the monarchy abolished.

So, what exactly occurred? What people do know is that Françoise, Duchess de Choiseul-Praslin, was found stabbed to death in her chamber on August 17, 1847. Charles de Choiseul-Praslin, her husband, was equipped with a gun and appeared to be ready to fight. He said that an intruder broke into his family's home and attacked them, killing his wife before he could get his pistol.

The duke was quickly apprehended. Everyone assumed he committed it because he was having an affair with the governess, Henriette Desportes. The Duke committed suicide before his trial began, professing his innocence from his deathbed. However, once he died, the prosecution withdrew the case and the police ended the inquiry, therefore it was never determined with confidence whether Praslin was guilty or not of his wife's murder.

Informations about Duchess de Praslin:
Born: April 14, 1807
Died August 17, 1847 (age 40) Paris, France