The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-10 00:00:00

The Supposed Murder at Boulogne-Sur-Mer,

OUTREA.IJ, PRES BOULOONE•SUR'MER, Nov. 8.
As you may naturally conclude, public excitement grows
stronger every hour in Boulogne. As though two children
were not sufficient to glut the murderer's appetite, there is
now very little doubt that a third may be added to the num-
ber of victims. It appears that very shortly after the police
became aware yesterday (Monday) that Leduc was connected
with the dead children, and had arrived here by the Folke-
stone packet, they called on Mr Barnard, the agent of the
South-Eastern Company, to make inquiries as to the de-
scription of passengers who had arrived on Sunday and de-
parted yesterday, the packet for Folkestone having just
sailed when the police arrived. Mr Barnard rendered every
assistance in hie power, and a porter in his employ was called
in, who recollected Leduc and two children landing, as he
had carried the eldest in his arms into the waiting room of
the Chambre de Commerce, and he afterwards identified the
child in the deadhouse at the hospital. Mr Barnard tele-
graphed to Captain Boxer, R.N., at Folkestone, to make
further inquiries there, and to take notice of the passengers
as they landed. In a few minutes after the despatch was
sent a reply was returned to the following effect :
_ " Nov. 7, 1864.

" Boxer to Barnard.
"Our booking clerk recollects a Frenchman taking tickets
for himself and two children, boy and girl, about the age you
name; he had also with him another child, about two years,
for which a ticket was not require I." _ _ _

This child was not seen on the arrival of the boat at Bon-
logne. It is naturally asked, " Where is it ?" I told you
last night that Leduc left the Chambro de Commerce about
7 p.m. on Sunday. It was quite dark at that time; all
the persons who had been occupying the room had left to
attend on the boat just arrived from London, and Leduc was
consequently enabled to leave with the children and baggage
unquestioned, and might pass along the port among the
people just arrived, unobserved. Had he gone towards the
railway iname4iately on his arrival he could not fail to have
been recognised, and some acquaintance might have told his
wife that he had been seen with two children. Leduc is a
native of Mont Cavarel, near Montreuil, and has for many
years pursuA the occupation of a waiter. D uring the last
season he was employed in that capacity at the Etablisse-
ment des Baines hero. It is well known that he has a mis
tress in London, and the children are generally supposed to
be the offspring of that illicit connexion. Madame Leduc
has been examined by the Procureur Imperial, and has, I
believe, stated that her husband came to her on Sunday
night, and, after staying a few minutes, went out and
again returned very much out of temper. He was very
violent is his behaviour towards her, and threatened to
shoot her if she did not supply him with some money,
She at length gave him sf, ; he stayed all night at her
house, and let t, about noon on Monday, accompanied by
his daughter, to go to the railway. Ho must have crossed
the Pont du Barrage, where the younger of the two chil-
dren was found. The search for Leduc is considered as
circumscribed, as the sf. would only enable him to go by
railway as far as Montreuil Verton, close to his native
place. Many rumours have been afloat as to his having
been apprehended, and a large crowd assembled to receive
' him at 220 p.m. to-day, when he was expected to arrive.
The feeling among the snatelottes, who have been in hun-

dreds to see the children, is very violent. One woman

stated that although she had four children of her own, and
had to work hard to support them, she would willingly
have worked harder still to support the poor murdered boys
if their father (as he is supposed to be) would have given
them to her. I feel assured, if it. is known where Leduc will
leave the train, that he will be in great danger of his life.
6 p.m.—Leduc is not yet arrested. I hear from M. Brayer,
the Commissaire Central of Police, that a telegram hasbeen
received from Folkestone which throws some doubt as to
whether there was a third child with Leduc. The captain's
boy, Hall. says he saw Leduc come on board and enter the
fore cabin, and he states that he had only two children with
him. It is to be hoped this is true. I learn that Leduc went
to his house in the Rue do Bras d'Or about 8 30 p.m., and
that he brought his baggage with hire, so that the murders
must have been committed between 7 p.m. and that hour.
When he arrived at his house his trousers were wet up to
the knees, and he wanted to change them. A neighbour
who was present asked him how he got wet, and he said
that he fell into the port as ho was coming ashore, and for.
tunately caught hold of a rope and saved himself. This is
not true, no accident of the kind having happ ne4. He left
his house very shortly after, and returned about 10 30 p.m.
when ho threatened his wife, as before stated, and got money
from her. This morning M. 'Yemeni% the photographer in
rue nue Napoleon, took three or four likenesses of the chil-
dren from different positions; he has been very successful
in producing them, and they will materially aid in the iden-
tification of ‘he bodies. A very large body of police are en-
gaged in searching for Leduc around Montreuil, in the
neighbourhood of which place he is believed to be concealed.
7 p.m,—A telegram has just been received that Leduc
was arrested at Mount Cavarel at 3 30 p.m, to-day, and will
arrive here at midnight.