The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-11-16
SHADOW OF A HAND.

Business called me to Dieppe in the
summer of 1916. The cashier of one of
the largest banks in New York had abb
seconded with the funds of the institution,
and 1 had followed his tracks. Late at
the close of the 14th Of August reached
my destination and Immediately repaired
to my hotel. The first note Of the cock
awoke me. The town clock struck 4.
resolved to take a look at the city at day
break
I was astonished, on reaching the street,
70 see It full of people rushing in cease
less tide in one direction. Wondering
what the attraction could be, I follow ed
the ever increasing crowd surging down
the Rue Grande. At the foot OF the street
was large open square, where the crowd
formed a perfect jam. From platform at
the opposite side 1 distinguished dark out.
lines that frCze the blood in my veins. It
was the guillOtine 1t was not long until
a bell tolled a dolefuI death cIangor, and
the tum brel with the condemned slowly
approached The execuuioner addressed
himself deity to his task, and IN lew
moments all was over.
Who was the man, and why was he
executed inquired of police agent at
my side He looked at me with astonish-
ment and said, Indeed, sir, it was Jacques
Reynauld.
My curiosity was excited, and before
left Dieppe 1 had gathered all the details
No longer than four months before
there lived in the Rue des Armes buck
ster named Morris, who was honestly but
frugally supporting himself, his wife and
child from the profits of his trade
II should relish some oysters today, +"
said Nine Morris as her husband entered
one Sunday
Il fear it is too late. my dear. It's
quarter past 9 o'clock"
Justine thought that the shop at the
corner might be open.
Send her, then. The truth is, I am
myself as hungry as a wolf
The servant took a basket to get the oys-
tiers and left the door partly open TO save
her master the trouble of unlocking it
when she returned. The shop at which
she was to get the oysters was locked, and
Justine went down the Rue Grande to
procure them elsewhere, if possible. She
had been absent three-q of an hour
To her surprise, Justine found the house
locked She thought the wind had blown
the door shut, and she tried the knob
. They must have retired, " thought Jus
tine, indignant that they had locked her
out
In her anxiety she related her troubles
to several passcrsby The police were
sent for, and the door was forced. The
hall was dark. One of the gendarmes
Stun bled over an object. He stopped
down, and his hand touched something
wet. A light was procured, and horri-
bic scene was revealed. Poor Norris lay
in the hall with his throat cut. The whole
floor was covered with blood In the little
room lay his wife, with a horrible wound
across her throat. The assassin had not
even spared the infant in the cradle. The
poor little creature had met the same fate
as his parents. The house was sacked
Eight days after the crime several men
were passing along the Rue Grellard.
Suddenly a man clad in nothing but his
shirt appeared on roof carrying a child
in his arms and crying, 50 Murder, muir
deri' A rush was made for the door, but
it was found to be locked from within. A
few crashing blows su1hced TO break II, /
and man ran up stairs In the fore hall, +
at the head of the stairs, a man was found
with his throat cut. He was dead. In the +
cham Der woman was found dangling out I
of bed with a similar wound, and in the +
kitchen lay the servant girl, disposed of ia
a like manner. It was undoubtedly the +
work Of the same person that had commit (
ted the crime in the Rue DIES Armes.
The young man who had been seen on (
the roof gave this testimony:
My namc is Pierre Dulac. am q F
For two years L have been +
employed in the house of the murdered
MantOn, whose family consisted Of his +
wife, child and servant girl I slept F
in an attic chamber. Next to me slept +
the servant girl, who usually had the child I
with her 1t was about o clock Ia the E
when L awoke, feeling very thirs- f
ty- My water pitcher empty, and +
started to get a fresh supply, but before f
had time 10 descend the first fight OF
stairs 1 saw a man sneaking up the lower
flight.
Being very nervous, the murder in the
Rue des Armcs had so stunned my facul
ties that, when 1 saw the man, was posi- E
lively unable to move hand or foot. The
stranger had nearly reached the door
which led to II. AlantOn's room when the Z
door of the same suddenly opened, and my
employer stepped out. The murderer
hurled himself upon him and pressed his
hand upon his mouth to prevent cutlery.
noticed that the villain had only three fin
gers on his left hand. 1 ran up stairs
again and entered the girls chamber
Marie was not there, but the child was
last asleep. 1 took it ia my arms and ran
up on the roof
In the faubourg Of Dieppe, in a rather
obscure house, all alone with a servant
girl, resided a widow named Beaumau-
rice. She was the widow of an army Off
ser and disting ulshed for great drmness Of
character The excitement throughout
he city had not been able to disturb her
despite the fact that she was
com paratively unprotected
On the Both of April, at about 10
clock, Nine Beaumaurice, who had all
lay suffered from painful headache, en-
cred her boudoir. She was very tired and
sat down in a large easy chair TO rest her
elf. Opposite her stood her dressing case
y Ia se curtains extended down to the floor.
Back of her, upon a small table, stood the
amp The LADY had begun to disrobe her
elf when she noticed something that
made her heart stop beating. On the floor
he deserted the shadow of a man s h5nd-
The hand had but three fingers.
The murderer was concealed within her