Wichita eagle., 1888-06-03
CHAPTER V,

To make my narrative clear shall give
you, before going further, the result of the
first days inquiry held on Wednesday, the
day of my visit to the Morgue. The judge
of instruction in this case was NJ. Robert
Roguet, man of high reputation in the mag
istracy. From NJ Sapiraud, advocate, and
a friend Of mine, obtained copy of the
judges notes later on in the case; give them
here.
The inquiry was held son the spotn-that is,
in tie very room of the house No. 10 Passage
de Mazarin, where Joseph Meissner had been
murdered.
Jean Mouton, janitor, interrogated, gave
evidence: That he had held his present stu
alton for more than ii years, and that the
murdered man, Meissner, had occupied that
room and cabinet for at least ten years In
terrogated as to the habits of Joseph Meiss-
ner, declared that these were regular in the
extreme; that he always breakfasted in his
room; on three days of the week went out at
noon, returning at 4, and going out again at
to dine; on the other days remained in his
room till 6, his invariable hour for dinner:
returning every night, without exception,
on the stroke of 8. Had returned at 9
O'Clock on the night of Monday Tuesday
OLiC VI tltC NleiNo Ol1 HDiCD LIS Ich I'll
stirred out of doors till 6, he, Mouton, had
not been surprised or alarmed by his non-ap-
pearancs up to that hour. Stated that Meiss-
ner had repeatedly enjoined him to force an
entrance into his room any day that he did
not appear at q o'clock. Interrogated as to
whether he knew what motive Meissner could
have for giving so singular an order, replied
that he was unable to guess, unless it were
IS l,xl 10 H.,
of being murdered in his room.
Francois Bastoul, publican, gave evidence
as to the finding of the body in exact agree
ment with Mouton' statement to the police.
Leon Ledru, superintendent of the bureau
Of police, Rue des Saints Peres, stated that
at twenty minutes past seven on Tuesday
evening Jean Mouton, janitor, presented
himself at the bureau and gave information
of the murder. He, LedIu, taking with him
the officers Lambert and Regnaud, thereon
accompanied the janitor, Mouton, to the
house No. - Passage de Mazarin, where they
found the sieur Francois BastouI awaiting
them outside the door Of this room. Bastoul
assured them that the door had been I'M
opened previous to their arrival. On OPEN
ing the door, they found the dead body of
Melssner lying close by his writing chair. as
ii he had fallen from it ON being struck The
body was cold and rigid. Beside it was found
a dagger of foreign manufacture. stained
with blood, and a wrist-Stud Of ivory,
with the initial G. on it, These articles
were now ct the Morgue. Had ex-
amined the various lock-fast places in
the room. Nearly all of these were open; one
or two had their locks forced: the most had
apparently been opened by their proper KEYS,
a bunch OF which was found hanging in one
of the locks. Most of the drawers. strong
boxes, etc, bore evidence of having been ram
sacl-ed 10 the bottom; but If any valuables
had been removed, treasure to a very large
amount had been left behind. He, the superin-
tendent, had drawn up an inventory of articles
OF vaiue found in the several lock-fast places
before sealing up these recegAlcles. This iu-
ventory comprised drafts to IA large amount
on the Bank OF France and the Credit LYON
mas; renteS, three and five per cents; the
titles of real estate in Paris, Arliens and Pro-
WINS; railway and mining script; a number Of
gold watches, articles of iewelry. and precious
sSones cut ana uncut; and sums OF money in
french and foreign gold. estimated at not
less than 5000 francs. This inventory Su-
perintende2t Leiru handed in 70 the Judge of
instruction, together with a sealed parcel
containing the books and papers Of the muir
deTed man.
The Officers ] 7mbert and Regnaud corrob-
GRATED the ties -nony Of their chief as TO the
finding Of the body. Both agreed in the opin-
ion that MeiSSner had been stabbed while
sitting Ct his writing table, and had then
fallen from Lis chair to the ground Lam
bert stated further that, having been ordered
10 examine the cabinet or small bed-cloeet of
the s:tting-roonl, he had found the window
VIDE open; also that the marks Of muddy
boss could be traced on the floors of both
rooms.
D-CoSse stated that, at the request of Supe--
intendent CT Police Ledra, he had visited this
p.2ce laSs night, and. made al examination %
tee corpse OF Joseph Meissner. Death had
resulted from = stab under the r.iLl.t sho-l3sr-