Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1897-08-07
A HANDS SHADOW.

seconded with the funds of the institution,
and ! had followed his tracks. Late at the
close of the 18th of August l 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 look at the city at day break.
was astonished, on reaching the street,
to see it full of people rushing in cease
less tide in one direction. Wondering what
the attraction could be, | 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 l distinguished dark
outlines that froze the blood in my veins.
1t was the guillotine 1t was not long I'M
til bell tollod a doloful death clangor,
and the tumbril, with the condemned,
slowly approached. The executioner ad-
dressed 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. Ho looked at me with astonsh-
ment and said, Indeed, sir, it was jacques
Reynauld.
My curiosity was excited, and before I
left Dieppe l had gathered all the details
Of the life and crimes of the dead man.
No longer than four months before there
had lived in the Rue DIES Armes q buck
ster named Morris, who was honestly but
frugally supporting himself, his wife and
child from the profits of his trade.
81 should relish some oysters today"
said Nine Morris as her husband entered
one Sunday.
81 fear it is too late my dear. It's "a
quarter past o'clock"
"Justine thought that the shop at the
corner might be OPEN"
"Send her, then. The truth is, am
myself as hungry as wolf.''
The servant took basket to get the
oysters 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, it 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 the knob.
'They must have retired, thought Jus,
tine, indignant that they locked her out.
In her anxiety she related her troubles
to several passersby The police were
sent for, and the door was forced The
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 a horrible
scene was revealed. Poor Morris lay in
the hall with his throat cut. The whole
floor was covered with blood. In the lit
tie room lay his wife, with 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 Orchard.
Suddenly man clad in nothing but his
shirt appeared on roof carrying a child
in his arms and crying, "Murder MUIR
der' rush was made for the door, but
it was found to be locked from within.
few crashing blows sutficed to break it,
and man ran up stairs. In the fore hall,
at the head of the 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
committed the crime in the Rue des
Armes.
The young man who had been seen on
the roof gave this testimony:
my name is Pierre Dulac. am O
matchmaker. For two years have been
employed in the house of the murdered
Manton, whose family consisted of his
wife, child and servant girl. l slept
in an attic chamber Next to me slept
the servant girl, who usually had the
child with her. 1t was about clock in
the morning when awoke, feeling very
thirsty. My water pitcher was empty,
and l started to get fresh supply, but
before had time to descend the first fight
of stairs l saw a man sneaking up tho
lower flight.
being very nervous the murder in
the Rue des Armes had SO stunned my
faculties that when saw the man was
positively unable to move hand or foot.
The stranger had nearly reached the door
which led to M. Manton' s room when the
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 outcry
noticed that the villain had only three
fingers on his left hand l ran up stairs
again and entered the girls chamber
Marie was not there, but the child was
fast asleep. took it in my arms and ran
on the roof.
In the faubourg of Dieppe, in rather
obscure house, all alone with servant
girl, resided widow named Beaumaurice
She was the widow of an army officer and
distinguished for great firmness of char
acter. The excitement throughout the
city had not been able to disturb her COM
posture, despite the fact that she was COM
paratively unprotected.
On the both of April at about 10
O'Clock, Mime. Beaumaurice, who had all
day suffered from painful headache, en-
tered her boudoir. She was very tired and
sat down in large easy chair to rest her.
self Opposite her stood her dressing
case, whose curtains extended down to
the floor. Back of her, upon small ia
BILE, stood the lamp. The lady had begun
to disrobe herself when she noticed some
thing that made her heart almost stop
beating. On the floor she deserted the
shadow of mans hand. The hand had
but three fingers.
The murderer was concealed within her
dresser. After short deliberation she
approached the door and called the servant.
Marie, said she, lido you know where
M. Bernard lives?'
Every well, my lady,"
II forgot that shall have to pay 500
francs tomorrow morning You must go
Immediately and get the money. 10 in
sure your getting the bank notes from M.
Bernard will write you note:'
DEAR BERNARD-The murderer of the Rue
des Armes and the Rue Orchard is in my
house. Bring the gendarmes and take him.