Year: 1862

bic people, and very much respected by all


their neighbors-


NJ. Maurice did good business, and fre-


queutly had 4 considerable sum of money in


bis house. He had an extraordinary run Of
custom on Saturday, and when the labors of
the day were over he felt very much fatigued


He shut up bis shop and proceeded to a small
room, where his wife and servant were LAYING
the cloth for supper.


Ny dear said his wife, as soon ss be en-
tered the room, I" l should very much Ike some
oysters for supper tonight"


am afraid it is too late" replied the hus
band, looking at his watch. Its quarter
past eleven"


"Oh no, Justine says there is shop open
around the corner"


" If that be the case, let Justine get some
at once, for | am as hungry as hunter


Thereupon Justine put on her bonnet and
shawl, aud went for the oysters, leaving the
door ajar, that she might not disturb her mas
ter or mistress when she returned.


Now it so happened that the place where
she expected to be able 10 obtain the oysters
was closed but not wishing 10 disappoint her
employers, she determined she would 60 and
seek them elsewhere. In pursuonce of this
object she entered Grand Rue, but had to walk
a considerable distance before she could obtain
what she sought. She hurried home again,
and noticed that when she arrived at the door
of her masters house, that the chimes of
neghboring church struck quarter to twelve
She had, therefore, been absent Just half an
hour.


She was surprised to find the door shut, but
supposing that the wind had blown it to, she
raised the latch. The door was fastened on the
inside. She thought this rather strange. but
then again reflected that it was doubtless only
necessary precaution on the part OF her mas
ter. She rung the bell, and was very much
concerned when, after waiting few minutes
no reply was made.


They have gone TO bed she said 10 herself,
and felt rather angry with them for having
locked her out She again rang the bell much
more violently than before-still no answer.
She now became alarmed, and rang long and
violenty-no answer! Her fears were thor
oughly aroused, and she related the circum-
stances to some persons passing along the
street. The presence of two or three gen
darmes was soon procured and they proceeded
to break in the door.


The passage into which the door opened was
perfectly dark ; but one of the gendarmes
stumbled over something, and putting out his
hand to save himself it came in contact with
something wet on the ground. A light was
Immediately obtained, and horrible sight
presented itself.


Laying across the passage was the dead body
OF Monsieur Maurice, with his throat cut from
ear to ear. The floor was swimming with bis
blood. In the little room was the dead bodv
of his wife, presenting the same ghasty wound
Even the little child in tie cradle had not es-
capped, for the mercess assassin had taken its
life by the same horrible means The house
was ransacked from top to bottom, and every
thing of value stolen.


l shall not attempt to depict the horror of
the persons who witnessed this shocking sight;
it can be more easily imagined than described.
and to tell the truth don't like dealing in the
horrible; it is pandering to a morbid taste,
and if l have transgressed my usual mode of
narration in this sketch, my only excuse is-H
is true.


The most strenuous efforts were made to de-
tect the murderer, but without any success.
All that could be learned was that man had
been seen to look intently in the shop windows
about the time NJ. Maurice was counting out
bis days receipts. The whole town of Dieppe
was Mortified, and when night came many a
heart trembed. After few days the feeling
of fear began TO decrease, when they were
again awakened in ten fold manner by auoth-
er shocking murder.


About ten days after the catastrophe in the
Rue des Armes some belated pedestrians were
making the best of their way home about two
o oclock in the morning. They were walking
very rapidly down the Rue Grenard, when
they were astOuished by seeing man on the
roof of house, with nothing on but his shirt.
crying out with all his strength murder -
10 murder - .' murder :" He held a young
child in his arms.


They Immediately called TO him. but all they
could gather from him was that murder was
being committed in the house. They directly
made for the door and found it fastened on the
inside. They burst the door open with few
vigorous kicks and penetrated into the house
They rushed up stairs and on the first landing
they found the body of a man with bis throat
cut He was dead. They entered 4 bed room
hanging half ou. Of bed was the body of a
woman, matilaied in the same horrible manner
and stone dead But they had not vet dis
covered all the horrors IL that house of blood.