The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1863-09-03

This extract, from Z "Reminiscences concerning
a series of murders committed some years since
in France, develops Il rar; instance of presence
Of mind in women. We will premise that the
murderer was known by the fact that in some
previous brawl or scene of murder he had lost
three fingers from one of his hands
There lived ON the outskirts of Dieppe a widow
lady by the name of BeIumaurice. She had no
family, but with one servant girl lived in a yery
retired manner. The cottage in which she re-
sided was situated about half a mile from the
city. 4 little of from the public road.
Madame Beaumaurice had been the wife OF an
officer OF the Guards. She Was an extraordinary
woman in every particular but especially SO in
respect to a certain GOODNESS, OF character she
possessed in the midst of dang T, which, together
with a large amount of moral courage. made her
u very notable person. The recent murders
made, perhaps, less impression on her mind than
upon any one else in Dieppe, although it was
naturally supposed the retired situation in which
she lived would have caused her to be more
fearful.
About 10 o'clock on the night of the 3Oth of
April. just ten days after the murders in the Rue
Grenard, Madame Beaumaurice went up into
her bedroom. She was suffering from a nervous
headache. She felt very sleepy and seated her
SELF. The lamp was placed on u chest of draw
ers behind her. Opposite 10 her was Il toilet
table, with Il cloth on it, reaching to the floor.
She had already commenced taking off her clothes,
when, happening to look around her she saw
sbiuEliIiIiE lill lE IL ilillcu lilAS lcT DlDOu.
Ii was the shadow of n mans hand on the floor.
The hand had only three fingers.
She OWNED the truth in Il mOment-the assas-
sin was therein her house-under the table.
She made not the least motion or sign, but re-
hected TWO or three minutes as 10 the best course
to be pursued.
She OWNED what to do, and advancing to the
door. called the servant maid.
"Oh. Mary =" exclaimed she, when the girl
entered the ronm, "do you know where Mons.
Bernard lives ?"
Yea. Madame"
8" have to ray 5000 francs away very early
in the morning. You will have to run to his
house and get money for me-"
Very well. Madame"
al will write a note. which you will deliver
to him, and he will give You bank bills to the
amount"
She wrote as follows
NV dear Monsieur Bernard-The assassin of
the Rue des 4Armes and the Rue Grenard is in
my house. Come Immediately with some gems
d'armes, and take him before he escapes.
HELENE BEAUMARICE.
And. without entering into any exclamation
with her servant, she despatched her on her
crrand. She then quietly rese,ted herself and
waited.
Yes. she sat in the room with that man under
the table for a whole hour. She sat calm. cool
and collected. She saw the shadow of the hand
shift several times, but the murderer did not
make any attempt 10 escape from his place of
concealmcnt.
In due time the gen d'armeS arrived, and
Jackes Reynaulis was arreStcd-nOt, however,
without IL violent struggle.
need scarcely add that the most convincing
proof as tn is guilt was found, and in due time
he was guillotined.