Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1888-01-04


duties in the little cottage which had been in
habited by Larouette As she went about
she discovered, somewhat to her surprise,
that the windows were open, and when she
had finished dusting and sweeping she went
to arrange Larouettes room. But she stood
petrifed upon tho threshold, with her eyes
upon the floor in the mids5 of tho
broken and disordered furniture, the secre-
tary open and apparently rihed, her master
dead with ball in his breast. Everything
pointed to murder and not suicide.
The first emotion passed, Mother Dondaine
regained her GOODNESS. She bent over the in
animate form of Iarouette and felt for signs
Of life, but saw at once that there was but
rigid corpse before her, and she ran as fast
as her years would permit to the police sta-
ton, telling every one she met on the way Of
her terrible discovery. An hour later N.
Lacroix, the commissary of police at Yer
sailles, arrived with DR.. Martjnaud, of Vile
d'Avray. The two men and the woman en-
tered the house, while crowds gathered
around it.
M. Lacroix questioned Mother Dondaine,
but she could give him no information.
"Do you know" said he, whether M La-
ruuettc had any important sum Of money in
his secretary?"
II do not, sir. he was not man to con-
fde his business secrets to any one."
M Lacroix made search of the premises,
while tho doctor examined the body.
1.-THE victim defended himself" said he.
SLook, here are traces Of finger nails and
other marks which prove that they have
tried first to strangle him, and because he
did not die quick enough they finished him
with pistol shot, which proves that we are
not Is presence Of the deed of vulgar
assassin, but man in haste to finish, and
who must have lost his head, for detona-
tion in the middle Of the night is very i'm
prudent. The house is not isolated. The
Villa Montalais is but two steps from here.
II M. or Nine. Laroque Or their servants
were not in bed they must have heard the
pistol shot"
II will question them directly. Can you
give any idea Of how long he has been deads"
ale must have been dead since between II
and 12 o'clock. The murderer doubtless used
small pocket pistol Here is the ball, which
Ifound in tue heart Death must have been
instantaneous" And the doctor gave Lacroix
the bit of fottcned lead. Lacroix had made
package Of all the papers in the desk, and
they prepared to leave. ave have nothing
more to do here" he said, and they closed the
doors and went to the house of Roger
Laroque. When Victoria announced N. La
croix Henriette grew deatlly pale "Great
Godw thought she, "do they suspect alreadyp
At this thought she felt rs if death had seized
her, and she gathered her courage and crept
into the parlor as though weighed down by
an invisible burden, yet resolved to bear it.
"Excuse me, madame, for troubling you,
but last night, here at O few steps from your
house, was committed dreadful crime. A
man was nssassinated, doubtless for the pur
pose of robbery, and have come to ask few
questions Of you"
"Of me. sirl What can tell youl"
"Iast night there was q pistol fired in the
house next door, which is opposite you. The
windows were open, and thought possibly
thnt some Of you might have heard some-
thing, or even, perhaps, might have see1
something"
"At what hour WAS this crime committedf"
"Some minutes before midnight"
"That explains why we heard nothing.
went to bed about 10 o'clock, and my husband
came home soon after. I did not see him."
IT'S NJ. Laroque here?"
'He took the o'clock train to Paris, bus
be said nothing, which proves that he heard
nothing"
"You have q little girl, believe, of z or 9
years. Where does she sleep7 Might she nos
sbe have heard the detonationF' ~.
"She slept in my bed last night, and never
woke until morning"
She said this with quick, harsh accent.
which surprised Lacroix. His keen eye saw
here mystery, and he looked at the youn.
woman whose eyes fell before his.
"Can see the child!" asked he
"Certainly, if you think it necessary, but
she is not very well this morning, having had
q nervous attack, and unless it is really
necessary?"
"Aha!" thought M. Lacroix; "she doesn't
want me to see the little girl. Why's"
Mr.. Lacroix was OH the point Of letting
this question pass for the time, when the child
stepped to her mothers side from the other
room.
"No, mother" she said, without being ques.
toned; II could not have heard anything; l
slept all night without waking"
81 would like to question your servants"
said Lacroix, and Henriette rang. Victoria
entered.
"Bring the cook and coachman," said she,
"and return with them"
In another instant the three were there. The
coachman and cook had rooms opening upon
the garden. They declared they had seen
and heard nothing. They had gone to bed at
10 and slept until morning. 1t was by report
that they had known of the crime. Lacroix
made sign for them to retire, which they
gladly obeyed. And as Victoria was about
to follow them be called her back.
"One moment, my girl"
She stopped, little confused. II am
going to ask you the same questions as those
l addressed your comrades. At what hour
did you go to beds"
"Why, why" stammered she, looking to-
ward Henriette so earnestly that it was evident
that she was waiting for sign from her mis-
tress NJ Lacroix placed himself between
them without seeming to do so by design
Answer, my girl, and do not fear to speak
tho truth"
II went to bed very late; later than usual.
Madame must have told you"
"Why later yesterday than usualT'
1--WE were waiting for M. Laroque, who did
not return until after midnight Madame
and Miss Suzanne and waited for him until
nearly midnight"
"You mean 10 o'clockl"
"No, midnight. At II: 80 was in madame's
room She had rung for me to come and un-
dress Miss Suzanne"
"You are very sure Of the hour?'
Certainly, sir, since tell you co."
Here was double contradiction which sur.
prised the magistrate. Why had Mime. La
rogue pretended that her husband had re-
turned few minutes after she had retired,
and that she had retired ut 10 o'clock2 What
interest had she to prevaricatel
"So then at II 80 you were in madame's
ROOM That hour comedies with that Of the
crime. A pistol shot wus fired. Did you
hear itY'
Perfectly, and l even observed so to
madame But madame, who was on the
balcony, says she heard nothing"
"And you did not 60 outl"
'No, sir"
''Is that all you have to say to me?'
"Yes, sir" she replied. hesitatingly. u do
not know anything more"
Lacroix noticed that she grew pale, anu
thought she lied. "She knows something else
and will not tell it." Then, with laughing
air, lie turned again to Henriette, saying:
II understand your repugnance to tell me
the truth, and do not blame you for not
wishing to serve as witness at the court OF
assizes, but the affair is grave and merits re-
tlection"-
"Sir!"
l. Il