The Osceola times., 1884-10-25
TWO MYSTERIOUS CRIMES
A Nights work That Startled Even
Paris.
The Robbery Of Madame Lsbosis-The mur.
der Of the Baroness De Beauce-How the
Strange Truth Came 10 ltghtat Last.

Mons. Paul Lebonis notified the Chief
Of Police OF Paris at seven o'clock on the
morning Of February 3, 1863 that the
previous night burglar or burglars had
entered the apartments of his wife and
stolen diamond cross. a reckless Of
brilliants, and solitaire ring, valued at
over 10000 francs. There was no evi.
dence Of any forcible entrance from The
outside. but the door of the lady's bed
room had been forced from the hinges.
The operation must have been compar-
atively noiseless, as Madame Lebonis
was not disturbed in her sleep.
Fabert, sLrewd detective, who had
been on the force for about three years,
was Immediately sent TO Mons. Lebonis'
residence to inspect the place and start
theory. 1t was large dwelling on the
Avenue de Friedland. standing alone,
with garden around L. Detective
Fabert went over the premises, and took
notes of everything. He found that there
was no Iark on any window or door
that would indicate even an attempt TO
enter the house from the outside. As
TO the door of the bedroom, the screws
must have been almost Withdraw before
hand, and rendered easy ofremoval from
the outside with slight pressure.
ANOTHER CRIME.
While Fabert was still occupied witi,
his investigation, three other detectives
came 10 the house and informed him that
few minutes after he left the Office of
the Chief Of Police with Mons. Lebonis
the housekeeper of the Baroness de
Beauce, whose residence was next 10
Mons. Lebonis, had given the startling
information that during the night the
baroness had been murdered, and her
rooms robbed o :. large amount of mon
ey and jewels. Taking a hasty glance
at the room Of Madame Lebonis, and the
door as left by the thief, the our officers
went TO the residence of the Baroness de
Beauce and examined the condition of
things there.
The baroness was an aged lady of
eccentric habits, and commonly reputed
TO be a miser and enormously rich. Her
residence was old fashioned without
and within, and her only companion
was the housekceper, Madame LANCE
win, woman of about fifty.
The detectives found the door of the
baroness's bedroom had been forced in
apparently the same way as that Of Mad
ame Lebonis. Examination showed,
however, that in this Instance a jack
screw, well known to the police as a val
uable tool in the hands Of professional
burglars, had been used. There were
marks on the door jamb, showing where
the teeth of the implement had been
thrust in, and mark on the door where
the end of the screw had pressed.
MURDER AND ROBBERY.
The baroness was lying on the floor
dead, with knife wound in her breast.
She was in her night clothes and had
evidently sprung out of bed and at
tempted to reach the bellcord, when she
was aroused by the bursting in of the
door. Her bureaus and desk had been
ransacked, and II was clear from the alb
sence Of any valuables that everything
that was worth taking had been remov-
ed by the thief or thieves.
As in the case of Mons. Lebonis, there
was no indication Of an entrance having
been effected from the outside. Doors
and windows were intact and a search
Of the dwelling failed TO disclose any way
by which the perpetrators of the crime
could have made their way into it. On
making further examination of the
cellar, faint steak of light was observa-
BILE, aud strict inspection showed that
close to the ceiling was grating,
covered on the inside with wooden
shutter. The shutter was easily remov-
cd, being attached to the paling with
two hooks The grating appeared to be
firm. but, by lifting it slightly, it was
readily pressed outward. Here, then,
was means of entrance 10 the cellar.
But the door from the cellar to the floor
above was bolted on the inside when tine
detectives arrived. This door was SUBJ
jected to scrutiny, and then It was found
that the hinges had been recently re-
moved and replaced. A subsequent
search in the cellar Of Lebonis failed to
show any marks ofentrance having been
procured in that way.
~. ALIKE AND UNLIKE.
ilere, then, was condition of things
In these two adjoining houses similar
and y<S dissiuilar. From the garden
- P(lne . - asllar q The baroness
r. - - - ~ enlsance obtain |
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