So accustomed are Parisian jury members to cases involving vitriol attacks that the odiousness and cowardliness of vengeful assaults with sulphuric acid escape them to such a degree that they often show indulgence towards those responsible for horrific crimes of this nature.

Yesterday, they were required to judge yet another vitriol thrower, thirty-year-old Mrs Laure Simon.

To take vengence against her former lover, businessman Mr. Dubois, who had abandoned her after seven years of cohabitation, Mrs Simon made her way, on the evening of 30 October last year, to Rue du Grenier-Saint-Lazaire, where she knew Mr. Dubois was dining with two friends.

When the three men left the restaurant to board an open carriage, Mrs Simon approached and threw an entire bowlful of vitriol at the vehicle. The businessman and one of his friends were only slightly injured, but Mr. Dubois’s second companion received a droplet of vitriol in his right eye, requiring surgical removal of the eye.

Mrs Laure Simon declared in court that she sincerely regretted her actions of 30 October.

As for Mr. Dubois, in his testimony he told the bar that upon breaking up with his mistress he had allowed her to keep home furnishings to the value of 4000 francs.

Furthermore, he added, I gave Mrs Simon a sum of money, and I made efforts to find her an honourable position to provide for her livelihood.

After the arraignment from prosecution counsel Mr. Octave Martin, Mr. Godreuil presented the defence of the vitriol thrower, who was sentenced to just one year in prison.

Le Figaro, 19 August 1910