Graham's Magazine, Vol. XVIII, No. 4, April 1841Various
General
Graham's Magazine, Vol. XVIII, No. 4, April 1841
Various
Literature -- Periodicals; Literature, Modern -- 19th century -- Periodicals
“Extraordinary Murders.—This morning, about three o’clock, the
inhabitants of the Quartier St. Roch were aroused from sleep by
a succession of terrific shrieks, issuing, apparently, from the
fourth story of a house in the Rue Morgue, known to be in the
sole occupancy of one Madame L’Espanaye, and her daughter,
Mademoiselle Camille L’Espanaye. After some delay, occasioned by
a fruitless attempt to procure admission in the usual manner,
the gateway was broken in with a crowbar, and eight or ten of
the neighbors entered, accompanied by two _gendarmes_. By this
time the cries had ceased; but as the party rushed up the first
flight of stairs, two or more rough voices in angry contention
were distinguished, and seemed to proceed from the upper part of
the house. As the second landing was reached, these sounds,
also, had ceased, and every thing remained perfectly quiet. The
party spread themselves, and hurried from room to room. Upon
arriving at a large back chamber in the fourth story, (the door
of which, being found locked, with the key inside, was forced
open) a spectacle presented itself which struck every one
present not less with horror than with astonishment.
The apartment was in the wildest disorder—the furniture broken
and thrown about in all directions. There was only one bedstead;
and from this the bed had been removed, and thrown into the
middle of the floor. On a chair lay a razor, besmeared with
blood. On the hearth were two or three long and thick tresses of
grey human hair, also dabbled in blood, and seeming to have been
pulled out by the roots. Upon the floor were found four
Napoleons, an ear-ring of topaz, three large silver spoons,
three smaller of _metal d’Alger_, and two bags, containing
nearly four thousand francs in gold. The drawers of a _bureau_,
which stood in one corner, were open, and had been, apparently,
rifled, although many articles still remained in them. A small
iron safe was discovered under the _bed_ (not under the
bedstead.) It was open, with the key still in the door. It had
no contents beyond a few old letters, and other papers of little
consequence.
Of Madame L’Espanaye no traces were here seen; but, an unusual
quantity of soot being observed in the fire-place, a search was
made in the chimney, and (horrible to relate!) the corpse of the
daughter, head downward, was dragged therefrom; it having been
thus forced up the narrow aperture for a considerable distance.
The body was quite warm. Upon examining it many excoriations
were perceived, no doubt occasioned by the violence with which
it had been thrust up and disengaged. Upon the face were many
severe scratches, and upon the throat dark bruises, and deep
indentations of finger nails, as if the deceased had been
throttled to death.
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