The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-07-17
THE MISSING PAPER.

THE MISSING PAPER.
One Ot tile most singular cases which
are TO be found in the police records OF
bloody deeds committed in Paris is that
Of Nine. Roquelaire, who was murdered
in her residence, II Rue Danton, on the
night Of the 18th Of June, 1873.
The last that was seen of her alive
was at o'clock in the evening by one
OF her servants, to whom she gave an
order concerning his service on the fol-
lowing morning, which indicated that
she anu NJ. Jean Beauchamp, her lover,
were about retiring.
The servant, as he testified at the
preliminary examination, saw, as he
stood OH the threshold of the door lead.
ing from the hall into the salon, Nine.
Roquelaire in her dressing-gown and
her toilet arranged for the night; he also
saw Nj. Jean making a cigarette and re-
clining, his face toward the door, in an
easy chair. Monsieur was frowning and
seemed angry, although he said nothing.
Evidently lie and madame had been
Quarreling.
The last that was heard of her alive
was at IL o'clock, by her maid, who,
having the privilege Of absence for the
evening, was passing through the hall
lo"ulu ClC SlSlICtSS lCclulnG uD I0 thp
servants quarters.
Then she was entreating Beauchamp
to forgive her. lie had evidently acous-
ed her Of some s'perhaps. nsald
sheis sa maid of intidlsslit ~ The girl
/" Then she heard M. Beauchamp
''his anger was terrible; his words fierce
and threatening," and then she heard
madame eXclaim:
''Strilke me, coward. I have sacrificed
everything-honor, position, friends
for you. Strike me; kill me. You have
had everything else from me that l
could give; now take the last, and now
mon deu!-the most worthless of my
possessions-my life. You seek the
excuse to be rid Of me. You have found
Il new love. l read it all. Every days
life for the past three months has been
to me turning over new leaf in the
revelation of your nature. I have moth
ing to live for. Kill me, coward!'
The maid, trembling and frightened,
passed OH She also added in her state
ment: They had often, but not 80
violently, quarreled while she had been
in their service. Early next morning
the servants, three in number, met as
usual in the kitchen. The man servant
who was also M. Beauchamp's valet,
named Francois, and the maid-servant
narrated to each other what they had
seen and heard OH the previous evening.
Francois then, at 8 O'Clock, went up
stairs and knocked as usual at the salon
door to receive monsicur's orders. There
was no sound within. Only the echoes
OF his tapping on the door.
According to his testimony, madame
usually slept late; monsieur was always
in drcssing-gown and slippers and in the
salon reading the Moniteur, which was
laid at his door, never later than s.
Sometimes he rang for his valet before
8; sometimes awaited his coming.
An hour longer, and then finding no
signs OF life within, the valet ran out
and summoned sergeant-de-ville, who
burst in the door.
An appalling spectacle fixed the gaze
OF the little group gathered on The tilres-
hold OF that chamber, and held them
transformed into stone images.
There nearly in the center Of the floor,
in hernight robes, lay Mme. Roquelaire' s
body, looking like a mass of CONCEALED
blood. The white linen robe, with its
lace work and embroidery, resembled q
crimson shroud. The face was mutt
lated, crushed and almost out of human
shape.
The terrified maid servant uttered a
Shrek Of horror and fell to the floor ul,-
cons ciOus. Even for the moment the
sergeant-dc-ville, Injured as he was to
scenes OF murder, was for an instant
awe-stricken by the CHASTITY sight. Then,
recovering himself, he started away, and
in half an hour returned with other
officers, the cOmmiSSaire and surgeon.
Examination showed that the woma II
had been literally pounded to death will,
some blunt, heavy weapon, stamped on,
and her body and limbs mashed almost
into the semblance Of pulp. Near this
tremendous horror was blood stained
scrap Of paper--a portion of sheet OF
note paper, One scrutiny revealed
scrawled upon it, as with blunt point
ed pencil, these words: "Your life was
mine. have taken what mine. You
are now in the arms of death, a more
steadfast lover than you had living; one
you can not betray. JEAN"
Over this pencil scrawl were two fin.
ger marks i'll blood in the form of a
cross.
This was all. Nothing was disturbed.
Madame's apparel was in its usual place
her jewelry, watch and bijouterie where
she had placed them when undressi ug.
No weapon was found. There were
CORY finger-marks on the door and its
casing.
But Monsieur Beauchamp what OF
him?
Search showed that small travelling
yallse was missing from his chamber;