Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-10-14
,WhOle No 9CS.

Iodueu plstoi SUangulotiOn presented
several obvious advantages, and was, AZ
is supposed, frat tried. The moose was
slipped over the neck of the victim, but
had not been drawn tight before she start
ed up, made resistance, and attempted
noise. Instantly the knife was resorted
10, and stroke was made at the neck.
aimed at the jugular artery. A wound
was inflicted and blood flowed but the
object aimed at was missed, and the
wound was not mortal. The Duchess
was yet on the bed, where she had been
asleep. A strong and powerful woman
opposed to man under the middle size,
she now struggled Tor life. She sprang
] from the bed and struggle body to body
ensued. The assassin was still armed
with the knife with which he inflicted in
rapid succession, halt dozen blows ~
bout her neck and breast, none of which,
however, inflicted a death wound. The
: Duchess made for the bell, which is be-
side the chlmney-piece. She succeeded
3 IN reaching it and ringing il. In accom-
pllshing this, she had seized the knife by
the blade, and her hand was irightiully
wounded, one Of the fingers being nearly
severed from it. She staggered then to-
wards the wall beside the Fireplace, on
which in two places the print Of the
bloody hand was leG. The bel-cord
where she grasped it was covered With
gore.
/ In the last blows the assassin had brok-
Ell the knife, and, desiring doubtless to
despatch his victim before witness
should arrive, he seized the pistol by its
barrel and struck her a number Of severe
blows on the head, by which she appears,
TO have been stunned and prostrated on
the floor, near small sofa or divan,
which stood beside the chimney piece -
The murderer then left the chamber, and
proceeded to open one of the windows in
the adjacent cabinet.
II While these circumstances was pro-
ceeding, femme dr. chdm6rc, who h. d
been reused by the bell, had thrown on
her clothes, aud came down stairs to the
door Of the Duchess chamber which she
attempted to open, but failed, il being
fastened OH the inside. She called up
one of the male domestics, informing him
that the duchess was indspo-ed, as she
heard her moaning, but could not open
her door, and required the mans assist
ance TO accomplish this. The two SER
wants turned from the door to try the
windows which looked on the garden.
on level with the porchway or colon
made, and were easily accessible.
The object Of The Duke in proceeding
TO open the window OF the cabinet, Is
presumed to have been TO create grounds
for the inference that an assassin had en-
tered from the garden, and escaped by
the same means be this as il may. the
Duke was m the act Of executing his
purpose, at the moment that the Tnan SER
want presented himself at the same VIII
dow to attempt all entrance there to the
chamber of the Duchess. lie saw the
finger of the Duke, who instantly retired
on perceiving him.
| The servant then returned to the door
Of the Duchess's chamber, and having be-
come seriously alarmed, forced the door
in The window shutters being closed,
the chamber was family Illuminated by
night lamp The Duchess was stretched
on the floor with her head leaning On
the divan On lighting the candles,
which as usual stood on the chimney
piece, the horrible spectacle presented by
Ilhe chamber was disclosed to the alright
ed servants. The floor was literally a
sea of blood various articles offurufture
displaced or overturned IN the struggle,
laid disarranged around the room. The
Duchess istil lived, but was speeches.,
and scarcely sensible. The first int
pulse Of The domestics was to rush ioriln
and call for aid. One went to rouse the
door porter To send for medical assistance
and the police the other went 10 the
Dukes room, when he presented himself
dressed On hearing the intelligence
the feelings he expressed were those al
'reproach to the servants for negligence
ia leaving the house exposed more than
those of horror at the catastrophe. He
rushed into the Duchess room, and
taking her in his arms, raised her 10 the
soia--a manGuvre which was afterwards
ascribed TO the design Of obtaining the
means Of explaining the blood upon his
vestmcnts and person. The police and
medical assistance soon arrived, but the
latter was too late TO be useful tie Ouch
ess speedily expired, not from any wound
absolutely mortal. but from hTmorrhage.
The magistrates came one by one, lnclu-
ding tho Procurcur de Roi and the Pro-
cnrcur General aud finally the Pref st
Of Police and the Minister OF the lntcrl-
or.
A considerable time elasped, many en-
quiries were raised searches made through
the premises aud in the garden, before
the slightest suspicion fell on the Duke.
According TO some reports, the enquiries
addressed to the Duke were not of such
a nature as to indicate the horrible sUs--
picion entertained by the magistrates un-
I'll the day of the 10Th Doubtless, these
iunctionares brooded an that suspicion.
long before they could make up their.
minds to let il be porccivedby the Duke.
Al length, however, the quesilan ot tips.
procufpur (.pneral ogsutned An neatiilo.