The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-06-22
The MISSING PAPER.

One of the 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, 1878.
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
following morning, which indicated
that she and M. Jean Beauchamp, her
lover, were about retiring.
The servant, as he testified at the
preliminary examination, saw, as ne
stood on the threshold of the door lead
ing from the hall into the salon, Nine.
Roquelaire in herFdressing gown and
her toilet arranged for the night; he
also saw Nj. Jean making cigarette
and reclining, his face toward the door,
in an easy chair. Monsieur was frown-
ing and seemed angry, although he said
nothing. Evidently he 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
toward the staircase leading up to the
servants quarters.
Then she was entreating Beauchamp
TO forgive her. He had evidently ac-
cused her of some oflense-"perhaps,
said the maid, "of infidelity" The girl
paused and listened for moment.
Then she heard NJ. Beauchamp-and
"his anger was terrible; his words fierce
and threatening" and then she heard
Madame exclaim:
Strike me, coward. ] have sacrificed
everything-honor, position, friends
for you. Strike me; kill me. You have
had everything else from me that /
could give; now take the last, and
now-mon Dieul-the most worthless
Of my possessions-my life. You seek
the excuse to be rid of me. You have
found new love. / read it al. Every
days life for the past three months
has been to me turning over a
new leaf in the revelations of your nat
ure. l have nothing to live for. Kill
me, coward y
The maid, trembling and frightened,
passed on. She also added in her
statement: They have often, but not
so violently, quarreled while she had
been IL their service, Early next morn
ing the servants, three in number, met
Us 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 on the previous
evening.
Francois then, at o'clock, went up
stairs and knocked as usual at the salon
door to receive Monsieur'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 dressing-gown and slippers and in
the salon reading the MoniteaJy, which
was laid at his door, never later than 8.
Sometimes he rang for his valet
before 8; sometimes awaited his
coming.
An hour longer, and then finding nc
eigns 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
threshold of that chamber, and held
them motionless as if they had beer
suddenly transformed into stone images
There, nearly in the center of the
door, in her night robes, Nine. Ro
quelaire's body, looking like mass Of
CONCEALED blood. The white linen robe
with its lace-work and embroidery, re
eembled crimson shroud. The face
was mutilated, crushed and almost on
of human shape.
The terrified maid servant uttered s
shrek of horror and fell to the floor Tin
conscious. Even for the moment the
sergeant-de-ville, Injured as he was &
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 anC
IN surgeon.
Examination showed that the woman
bad been literally pounded to dealt
with some blunt, heavy weapon
stamped on, and her body and limbs
mashed almost into the semblance o
pulp. Near this tremendous horrol
was Dlood-stalned scrap or paper
One scrutiny revealed scrawled upon it
ms with a blunt-pointed pencil, these
words: "Your life was mine. / hav,
taken what is mine. You are now il
che arms of death, more steadfas
lover than YOU had living; one you can
not betray. JEAN.
Over this pencil-scrawl were TIVE
singer marks in blood in the form of
cross.
This was all. Nothing was disturbed
Nine. S apparel was in its usual place
her iewelry, watch and bijouterie wher,
she had placed them when undressing
No weapon was found. There wer
CORY fnger-marks on the door and it
casing.
But Nj. Beauchamp, what of him
Search showed that small travelling