Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-03-15
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 alb
SC ondCd with the funds of the institution,
and had followed his tracks. Lato at
the close of tho 18th of August I 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.
was astonished, on reaching the street,
to see it full of people rushing in a cease
less tide in one direction. Wondering
what the attraction could be, 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 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 a 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" l 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 1
left Dioppe l 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 Norris 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 O'Clock"
Justine thought that the 81. p at the
corner might be OPEN
Send her, then. The truth is, am
myself as hungry as a wolf"
The servant took a basket to get tho 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 threc-quarters 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.
"ThCy 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. Tho
hall was dark. One of the gcndarmes
stumbled over an object. He stopped
down, and his hand touched something
wet. light was procured, and "a horri'
BILE scene was revealed. Poor Morris 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 tho 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 Il man clad in nothing but his
shirt appeared on roof carrying Il child
i'll his arms and crying, Murder, muir.
der!" a rush was made for the door, but
1t was found to be locked from within. A
few crashing blows s@tlicgd to break it,
and man ran up stairs. In the fore hail.
at the head OF tho stairs, u man was found
with his throat cut. He was dead In the
chamber woman was found dangling out
of bed with similar wound, and in the
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 Dulac. l am
matchmaker, For two years have been
employed in the house of tho murdered
Manton, whose family consisted of his
wife, IA child and 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 O'Clock in the
morning when l awoke, feeling very thirs-
ty. My water pitcher was empty, and l