Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-12-07
SHADOW OF A HAND.

Business called me to Dieppe in the
summer of 1846. The cashier of ono Of
the largest banks in New York had alb
seconded with the funds of the institution,
and 1 had followed his tracks Late at
the close of the l4th of August reached
my destination and Immediately repaired
to my hotel. The first note of the cock
awoke me- The town clock struck A.. l
resolved to take look at tho city at day
break.
was astonished ON reaching tho street,
to see it full Of people rushing in cease
less tide in ono direction. Wondering
what the attraction could be, I followed
the ever increasing crowd surging down
the Rue Grande. AT the foot of the street
was large open square, where the crowd
formed perfect jam. From platform at
the opposite side distinguished dark out
lines that froze the blood in my veins 1t
was the guillotine. 1t was not long until
a bell tolled doleful death clangor, and
the tumbrel with the condemned slowly
approached. The executioner addressed
himself deftly to his task, and In few
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 had gathered all the details
of the life and crimes of the dead man.
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.
I should relish some oysters today"
said Mime. Morris as her husband entered
one Sunday.
II fear it is too late, my dear. It's a
quarter past 8 O'clock
justine thought that the shop at tho
corner might be OPEN
"Sond her, then. The truth is, am
myself as hungry as wolf"
The servant took basket to get the oys-
ters 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 won't down the Rue Grande to
procure them elsewhere, If possible. She
had been absent three-quarters Of an hour.
To her surprise, Justine found the house
locked. She thought the wind had blown
the door shut, and she tried tho knob.
"They must have retired" thought JUS
tine, indignant that they had locked her
out
In her anxiety she related her troubles
to several passersby. The police were
sent for, and the door was forced. Tho
hall was dark. One of the gendarmes
stumbled over an object. He stopped
down, and his hand touched something
wet. A light was procured, and horri-
BILE scene was revealed. Poor Morris lay
in the hall with his throat cut. The whole
floor was covered with blood. In tho little
room lay his wife, with a horrible wound
across her throat. The assassin had not
even spared the infant in the cradle. Tho
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 man clad in nothing but his
shirt appeared Oh roof carrying child
III his arms and crying, Murder, muir
dcrr' A rush was made for the door, hut
1t was found to be locked from within. A
few crashing blows sutficed to break it,
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 tho
chamber woman was found dangling out
of bed with similar wound, and in tho
kitchen lay the servant girl, disposed of in
like manner 1t 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 name is Pierre Dulao. l am O
matchmaker. For two years l have been
employed in the house Of the murdered
Manton, whose family consisted of his
wife, child and q servant girl. l slept
in an attic chamber. Next to mo slept
the servant girl, who usually had the child
with her. 1t was about 9 o'clock in tho
morning when awoke feeling very thirs,
ty. My water pitcher was empty, and
started to get Il fresh supply, but before
had time to descend the first flight OF
stairs saw man sneaking up the lower
flight.
Being very nervous, the murder IN the
Rue DIES Armcs had SO stunned my facul-
ties that, when saw tho man, l was posi-
lively unable to move hand or foot. Tho
stranger had nearly reached tho door
which led to NJ. Manton's room when tho
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 tho villain had only three fin.
gers on his left hand. I ran up stairs
again and entered the girls chamber.