The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1847-09-27
OFFICE
THE DEpRAsLuN MURDER.

aI. we HoW pIoceeu 10 COnutnse tne COhlenl5 OF
two important documents, as necessary 10 a
full understanding of the horrible affair in all
its details. ... ,.. '.u
THE MAGISTRATES PROCES VERBAL.
The first is the proceS rerbH Of the eXamin-
ing magistrate, Immediately after the murder
OF the Duchess. After describing The position
Of the body The state OF the room, the marks
of blood in different places, and ON the bells
pull, the finding Of a loaded horse pistol be.
longing to the Duke, and other circumstances
which have already been fully and correctly
related to the public, the process UcrJGi goes on
to safe that, having discovered traces Of hood
FROM the chamber Of The Duchess to that OF
The Duke, and on his dress, lie officers Of
justice felt il TO be their duty to question him
on the point. The Duke explained these marks
by stating that he had got blood upon his
hands. by touching the body when he rushed
into the room, on the alarm that was raised.
A lrock coat, on which were marks OF blood,
and to which water had been applied 10 elace
them having been noticed, the Duke said he
attempted 10 wash out the marks, and had
thrown The water in which he had also wash.
ed his hands, out OF the window, into the
garden; but no appearance of such water
having been thrown out was found The
trousers worn by the Duke being also found
spotted with blood, he was requested to change
them and give them up, which he did. There
were also marks of blood ON tue breast aud
sleeves Of his shirt, which he attempted to
wash, out, as it was sull wei but the Duke
said that the wet was the resuI, Of pcr;piralion
A pair of slippers, also spotted with blond,
were found On searching the Dukes room
there were found three napkins, more or less
wet and stained with blood, a cambria hand.
kerchef in the same state, and shirt which
the Duke said lie had changed the night before
at half past /, with two drops Of blood on ii.
Lastly, there were found a waistcoat, "a cap,
aud ceilure stained with blood. All these
ARTICLES were seized, and placed under seal.--
In the fireplace Of the room were found The
ashes of papers, and articles OF wooden or linen
which had recently been burnt, for the remains
were still warm. Amongst the ashes were the
remains of a silk pocket handkerchief which
the Duke acknowledged TO be his, and which
he said had taken fire by accident when he
threw lighted match which he had been
using into the fireplace. On the chimney piece
was a paper containing small quantity Of
gunpowder, and knife with several blades,
on the back Of which was drop Of blood );
in cartonnier, over chest Of drawers, box
containing gunpowder and three balls and in
secretary in the study poignard and It's
sheath, and pair Oh loaded pocket pistols
All these articles were seized, and placed under
seal. .,:. @rt ..Y.'.
THE. DUKES STATEMENT BEFORE Ia
KING THE POISON. ~.
The second document we alluded to is the
first circumsantial declaration OF the Duke
himself, as TO the murder Of the Duchess, on
the morning after the commission Of that hof.
rid crime. He said
That his wife and he reached Paris at a
quarter past 8 in the evening, by The Corbe
railway she entered cab with her son and
their tutor, and he entered another with his
daughter and youngest son, and arrived home
at quarter past 10, after having both made
visits in Paris Madame de Prasin must have
made several. He went with his daughters to
see their former governess, Mdlc. de Lucy
He says he did not see the Duchess on arr
wing, she had already entered her apartments.
He Immediately entered his bedroom, after
having conducted his daughters to their apart
ment, situated on the second story Of the hotel
He went to bed, and Immediately after fell
asleep, without having required the assistance
of a pdlet de cI.anibfe, which he was not ac-
cus'omed to employ. The next morning, at
an hour when the day was beginning 10 break
he was awakened by confused cries but as
cries are often heard in the Champs Elysccs,
he was not frightened, and he even did not gel
up immediately. moment after he heard
steps OF going and coming in the garden. He
then left his bed, put on his dressing gown,
and went towards the chamber Of Nine de
Praslin. On arriving at the third door of his
chamber, which is at the bottom OF The steps
of the little corridor which precedes it, he heard
confused cries he believes there was a cry of
murder; and without going further, he reas
cended his chamber. He entered his study,
and took from his table loaded pistol. He
then descended to the chamber Of Madame de-
Praslin, which he entered after tfaycrsng her
dressing room. Obscurity and profound silence
prevailed. He called her by her name of Fanny,
but she did not answer him. He then left the
dressing. room, and lighted a wax candle with
luciier matches, which, as usual, were under
the clock in that room. He then entered the
chamber OF the Duchess, alone, and found her
seated on the ground, her head supported on a
sofa placed between the fireplace and the win
dow. He says he went 10 her her face was
covered with blood, which flowed abundnu,ly
from wounds on the head and on the neck.
The idea OF calling his domeslics did not occur
TO him besides, he had not time TO do it, for
he had hardly time To raise the head OF the
Duchess, and TO render her some assistance.
before ne neard knocking al Tue uour OF her
chamber which communicates with the saloon.
He went 10 open the lock which fastened the
door OF il in the interior, and he there found
the persons whom he jus, designated. 1t was
whilst endeavoring 10. FENDER assistance 10 the
Duchess that he became stained with blood
After the entrance Of these persons. he talked
with them for about 20 minutes or half an
hour. He several times touched the body Of
Nine. de Prasln, and at last; as he was dis
uacted, he re entered his chamber, where he
first washed his hands and it was not uniil
later that he endeavorcd to remove with wafer
the blood which be had on the breast, on the
left side Of his dressing gown, in order not to
frighten his children, 10 whom he was abou,
10 go to communicate 10 them the misfortune
which had just deprived them Of their mother
The courage 10 tell them failed him. Very
shortly after, General Sebastian, uncle of the
Duchess, arrived, and he was there when thu
commissary Of police came. The Duke sal,
that his own first care had been to recomment
that the commssary Of police and doclo
should be sent for.