The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1863-07-08
Thrilling Adventure with a
Burglar.

This extract, from q reminiscence con-
cerning series of murders committed
some years since in France, dcvelopes a
rare instance of presence of mind in
women. We will premise that the MUIR
derer 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 Beaumaurice.
She had no family, but with one servant
girl lived in very retired manner. The
cottage in which she resided was situated
about half mile from the city-a little
off from the public road.
Madame Beaumaurice had been the
wife of an officer of the Guards. She was
an extraordinary woman in every particu-
lar, but especially SO in respect to GER
tain GOODNESS of character she possessed,
in the mids II of danger, which, together
with large amount of moral courage,
made her very notable person. The re-
cent murders made, perhaps, less impress
sion upon 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
Both of April, just ten days after the mur-
ders in the Rue Grenard, Madame Beau
maurice went up into her bedroom. She
was suffering from nervous headache.
She felt very sleepy and seated herself.
The lamp was placed on chest OF draw
ers, behind her. Opposite to her was a
toilet table with cloth on it reaching to
the floor. She cad already commenced
taking off her clothes, when happening to
look around her, she saw something that
for moment chilled her blood Itwas
the shadow of mans hand on the floor
The hand had only three fingers.
She OWNED the truth in a moment
the assassin was therein her house
under the table. She made not the least
motion or sign, but reflected two or three
minutes as to the best course to be pur-
sued
She OWNED what to do, and, advancing
to the door, called the servant maid
! .aOh, Maryl" she exclaimed, when the
girl entered the room, ''do you know where
Mons. Bernard lives ?"
"Yes, madame"
: "I have to pay 5000 franks away yer,
early in the morning. You will have t,
run to his house and get money for me.
Very we'll, madame
81 will write note, which you will de
liver to him, and he will give you bank
,, bills to the amount"
She wrote as follows:
.MY DEAR MONSIEUR BERNARD: Th,
assassin of the Rue des Arnes and tn
Rue Grenard is in my house. Come i'm
lnediately with some gensdarmes, ant
take him before he escapes.
"HELENNE BEAUMAURICE."
And without entering into an explana
ton with her servant, she dispatched he
on her errand. She then quietly reseate,
herself and waited.
Yes, she sat in the room with that maj
Q under the table for whole hour. Sh
sat there calm, cool and collected. Sh
saw the shadow of the hand shift severa
: times, but the murderer did not make an
attempt to escape from his place of con
cealment.
In due time the gensdarmes arrived, an
y Jacques Reynaulds was arrested, moi
T however, without violent struggle.
: I need scarcely add that the most con
9 vincing proof of his guilt was found, an
4 in due time he was guillotined.