Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-06-08

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 scrawl-
ed upon it, as with blunt pointed pen
Gil, these words: "Your life was mine |
l have taken what is mine. You are now
in the arms of death, more steadfast
lover than you had living; one you can
not betray. JEAN.
Over this pencil scrawl we're two fin
ger marks in blood in the form OF
cross.
This was all. Nothing was disturbed.
Madame's apparel was in its usual place
her jewelry, watch and biiouterie where
she had placed them when undressing.
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
valisc was missing from his chamber I;
that he had changed his clothes, taking
the discarded suit with him. On going
out he had evidently locked the door OF
the salon and taken the key with him.
| Specimens of his writing were found,
M | an expert declared that the pencil
scrawi upon the blood-stained paper very
closely resembled his method of writing,
changed, of course, by the action OF a
terrible mental excitement upon his
NERVES.
There was no doubt in the minds of the
officials that he, i'll fit of ungovcrnabic
rage. and possibly crazed by jealousy,
had committed the fearful crime, and
then, recovering his reason, had sought
safety in flight. Two of the most expert
detectives from the Projects Office were
soon on his trail. They traced him to
Marseilles, thence to Bordeaux, where he
took a sudden change of route and went
to London.
Here he was arrested md brought back
to Paris.
When informed of the crime of which
he was accused he fell inio n species OF
stupor, and for three days was apparent
ly unconscious.
Recovering, he alternated tfrom protes-
tations of innocence to bewailing the
death, as he asserted, of the only woman
he ever loved, and calling upon heaven
to pursue with its direst torments her
murderer.
Gradually he became cooler. and at last
was able to make an Ineligible statement.
1t was to this effect He had quarreled
with Madame :Roque)aire on the evening
of her assassination. They had often had
similar lovers disagreements. She had a
terrible temper, but her anger seldom
lasted beyond the hour.
"On this night had playfully accused
her of liking some one else better than
myself.
"She retorted words made words, and
| still in lest / said would correct her
shaking large closed fan at her with n
pretense of rage.
FINALLY she grew so violent that l
dressed myself, put on my hat, and TAX
ing out my valise, 1 babe her good. night,
left the house and started upon trip to
Bordeaux, which 1 had long been con-
templating, and intended to come to her
Immediately upon my return. We had
separated in like manner before that.
After day or two we always came to-
gether again, and we were devoted to each
other.
| 81 am not brute was her best
friend-she loved me and would have died
for me. Why, then, should have killed
her beaten her to death SO cruelty, whom
l SO often caressed?"
NJ. Beauchamp's story was not believ-
ed. 1t is not in the creed of the police
to believe anything an accused party may
assert.
Nine. Roquelaire was buried, the house
| locked up, put under seal, and guarded
| day and night by sergeant-de-ville.
The servants were subjected to close
surveillance in order to retain them as
witnesses in the trial of their master.
The conviction of Beauchamp was re-
garded as foregone conclusion.
Mons. Jean Beauchamp's antecedents
were those of man with a moderate in
come man little known in society
rarely seen at the theatres or other places
of public resort reticent as to himself
or his affairs, and, in fact, by the few with
whom he sought occasional companion
ship, looked upon as a sort of genteel,
well dressed sphinx.
In two days the trial of NJ. Beauchamp
approached its conclusion. He had for
his advocate one of the shrewdest men,
bers of the French bar, and for whose
ability the court ant. the Procureur dEtat
had the greatest respect.
The last witness had been heard, the
State Counsel had made his first plea,
when messenger entered the court
room, pushed his way to the counsel for
NJ. Beauchamp and gave him package,
whispered moment to him and departed.
A French advocate is nothingif not dram
attic. The advocate arose, opened the
packet, took from it copy of the Moni-
teur, unfolded it, and addressing the
judge, said:
81 think that this trial can now have
but one resultant of the release OF NJ.
Beauchamp. have but three new wit
nesses to offer. One is few lines in
this paper, the Moniteur, bearing date
June II, 1873, one day before the MUIR
der of Nine. Roquelaire. l will read
them:
Escaped from private MaisoR de
Sante of DIR. Roguet d'Allaire, patient
accepted and registered asJean Boudinot,
insane from jealousy placed in the asy-
lum by his wife, Nine Matilde Boudinot,
May II, 1871, as incurably insane and
violent height five feet ten inches pow
erfully built, brown hair, scar on cheek
was clad at time of escape in dark, close
suit
"This notice." continued the advocate,
II offer in evidence"
"But what has this to do with the ac-
cused or the crime?" asked the Procurer
1--WE shall see. / now call DIR. AL
laire."
DR.. Allaire came to the witness chair
He stated that Boudinot, the escaped lu-
matte, imagined he had mission to kill
his wife for her infdelity. He had sworn
to do it, and he would.
"Where is Nine, Boudinot o.
"Until to-day did not know what hGl
become of her. She sent her payments
| ,lor 81 co. &ho r. u.