The Murders in the Rue Morgue by Edgar Allan Poe (novels in english txt) 📖

has always

resided there. The deceased and her daughter had occupied the house

in which the corpses were found, for more than six years. It was

formerly occupied by a jeweller, who under-let the upper rooms to

various persons. The house was the property of Madame L. She became

dissatisfied with the abuse of the premises by her tenant, and moved

into them herself, refusing to let any portion. The old lady was

childish. Witness had seen the daughter some five or six times during

the six years. The two lived an exceedingly retired life - were

reputed to have money. Had heard it said among the neighbors that

Madame L. told fortunes - did not believe it. Had never seen any

person enter the door except the old lady and her daughter, a porter

once or twice, and a physician some eight or ten times.

 

“Many other persons, neighbors, gave evidence to the same effect. No

one was spoken of as frequenting the house. It was not known whether

there were any living connexions of Madame L. and her daughter. The

shutters of the front windows were seldom opened. Those in the rear

were always closed, with the exception of the large back room, fourth

story. The house was a good house - not very old.

 

“Isidore Muset, gendarme, deposes that he was called to the house

about three o’clock in the morning, and found some twenty or thirty

persons at the gateway, endeavoring to gain admittance. Forced it

open, at length, with a bayonet - not with a crowbar. Had but little

difficulty in getting it open, on account of its being a double or

folding gate, and bolted neither at bottom not top. The shrieks were

continued until the gate was forced - and then suddenly ceased. They

seemed to be screams of some person (or persons) in great agony -

were loud and drawn out, not short and quick. Witness led the way up

stairs. Upon reaching the first landing, heard two voices in loud and

angry contention - the one a gruff voice, the other much shriller - a

very strange voice. Could distinguish some words of the former, which

was that of a Frenchman. Was positive that it was not a woman’s

voice. Could distinguish the words ‘sacré‘ and ‘diable.‘ The

shrill voice was that of a foreigner. Could not be sure whether it

was the voice of a man or of a woman. Could not make out what was

said, but believed the language to be Spanish. The state of the room

and of the bodies was described by this witness as we described them

yesterday.

 

“Henri Duval, a neighbor, and by trade a silver-smith, deposes that

he was one of the party who first entered the house. Corroborates the

testimony of Musèt in general. As soon as they forced an entrance,

they reclosed the door, to keep out the crowd, which collected very

fast, notwithstanding the lateness of the hour. The shrill voice,

this witness thinks, was that of an Italian. Was certain it was not

French. Could not be sure that it was a man’s voice. It might have

been a woman’s. Was not acquainted with the Italian language. Could

not distinguish the words, but was convinced by the intonation that

the speaker was an Italian. Knew Madame L. and her daughter. Had

conversed with both frequently. Was sure that the shrill voice was

not that of either of the deceased.

 

“— Odenheimer, restaurateur. This witness volunteered his

testimony. Not speaking French, was examined through an interpreter.

Is a native of Amsterdam. Was passing the house at the time of the

shrieks. They lasted for several minutes - probably ten. They were

long and loud - very awful and distressing. Was one of those who

entered the building. Corroborated the previous evidence in every

respect but one. Was sure that the shrill voice was that of a man -

of a Frenchman. Could not distinguish the words uttered. They were

loud and quick - unequal - spoken apparently in fear as well as in

anger. The voice was harsh - not so much shrill as harsh. Could not

call it a shrill voice. The gruff voice said repeatedly ‘sacré,’

‘diable,’ and once ‘mon Dieu.’

 

“Jules Mignaud, banker, of the firm of Mignaud et Fils, Rue

Deloraine. Is the elder Mignaud. Madame L’Espanaye had some property.

Had opened an account with his banking house in the spring of the

year - (eight years previously). Made frequent deposits in small

sums. Had checked for nothing until the third day before her death,

when she took out in person the sum of 4000 francs. This sum was paid

in gold, and a clerk went home with the money.

 

“Adolphe Le Bon, clerk to Mignaud et Fils, deposes that on the day

in question, about noon, he accompanied Madame L’Espanaye to her

residence with the 4000 francs, put up in two bags. Upon the door

being opened, Mademoiselle L. appeared and took from his hands one of

the bags, while the old lady relieved him of the other. He then bowed

and departed. Did not see any person in the street at the time. It is

a bye-street - very lonely.

 

“William Bird, tailor deposes that he was one of the party who

entered the house. Is an Englishman. Has lived in Paris two years.

Was one of the first to ascend the stairs. Heard the voices in

contention. The gruff voice was that of a Frenchman. Could make out

several words, but cannot now remember all. Heard distinctly

‘sacré‘ and ‘mon Dieu.‘ There was a sound at the moment as if of

several persons struggling - a scraping and scuffling sound. The

shrill voice was very loud - louder than the gruff one. Is sure that

it was not the voice of an Englishman. Appeared to be that of a

German. Might have been a woman’s voice. Does not understand German.

 

“Four of the above-named witnesses, being recalled, deposed that the

door of the chamber in which was found the body of Mademoiselle L.

was locked on the inside when the party reached it. Every thing was

perfectly silent - no groans or noises of any kind. Upon forcing the

door no person was seen. The windows, both of the back and front

room, were down and firmly fastened from within. A door between the

two rooms was closed, but not locked. The door leading from the front

room into the passage was locked, with the key on the inside. A small

room in the front of the house, on the fourth story, at the head of

the passage was open, the door being ajar. This room was crowded with

old beds, boxes, and so forth. These were carefully removed and

searched. There was not an inch of any portion of the house which was

not carefully searched. Sweeps were sent up and down the chimneys.

The house was a four story one, with garrets (_mansardes._) A

trap-door on the roof was nailed down very securely - did not appear

to have been opened for years. The time elapsing between the hearing

of the voices in contention and the breaking open of the room door,

was variously stated by the witnesses. Some made it as short as three

minutes - some as long as five. The door was opened with difficulty.

 

“Alfonzo Garcio, undertaker, deposes that he resides in the Rue

Morgue. Is a native of Spain. Was one of the party who entered the

house. Did not proceed up stairs. Is nervous, and was apprehensive of

the consequences of agitation. Heard the voices in contention. The

gruff voice was that of a Frenchman. Could not distinguish what was

said. The shrill voice was that of an Englishman - is sure of this.

Does not understand the English language, but judges by the

intonation.

 

“Alberto Montani, confectioner, deposes that he was among the first

to ascend the stairs. Heard the voices in question. The gruff voice

was that of a Frenchman. Distinguished several words. The speaker

appeared to be expostulating. Could not make out the words of the

shrill voice. Spoke quick and unevenly. Thinks it the voice of a

Russian. Corroborates the general testimony. Is an Italian. Never

conversed with a native of Russia.

 

“Several witnesses, recalled, here testified that the chimneys of all

the rooms on the fourth story were too narrow to admit the passage of

a human being. By ‘sweeps’ were meant cylindrical sweeping brushes,

such as are employed by those who clean chimneys. These brushes were

passed up and down every flue in the house. There is no back passage

by which any one could have descended while the party proceeded up

stairs. The body of Mademoiselle L’Espanaye was so firmly wedged in

the chimney that it could not be got down until four or five of the

party united their strength.

 

“Paul Dumas, physician, deposes that he was called to view the

bodies about day-break. They were both then lying on the sacking of

the bedstead in the chamber where Mademoiselle L. was found. The

corpse of the young lady was much bruised and excoriated. The fact

that it had been thrust up the chimney would sufficiently account for

these appearances. The throat was greatly chafed. There were several

deep scratches just below the chin, together with a series of livid

spots which were evidently the impression of fingers. The face was

fearfully discolored, and the eye-balls protruded. The tongue had

been partially bitten through. A large bruise was discovered upon the

pit of the stomach, produced, apparently, by the pressure of a knee.

In the opinion of M. Dumas, Mademoiselle L’Espanaye had been

throttled to death by some person or persons unknown. The corpse of

the mother was horribly mutilated. All the bones of the right leg and

arm were more or less shattered. The left tibia much splintered, as

well as all the ribs of the left side. Whole body dreadfully bruised

and discolored. It was not possible to say how the injuries had been

inflicted. A heavy club of wood, or a broad bar of iron - a chair -

any large, heavy, and obtuse weapon would have produced such results,

if wielded by the hands of a very powerful man. No woman could have

inflicted the blows with any weapon. The head of the deceased, when

seen by witness, was entirely separated from the body, and was also

greatly shattered. The throat had evidently been cut with some very

sharp instrument - probably with a razor.

 

“Alexandre Etienne, surgeon, was called with M. Dumas to view the

bodies. Corroborated the testimony, and the opinions of M. Dumas.

 

“Nothing farther of importance was elicited, although several other

persons were examined. A murder so mysterious, and so perplexing in

all its particulars, was never before committed in Paris - if indeed

a murder has been committed at all. The police are entirely at fault

- an unusual occurrence in affairs of this nature. There is not,

however, the shadow of a clew apparent.”

 

The evening edition of the paper stated that the greatest excitement

still continued in the Quartier St. Roch - that the premises in

question had been carefully researched, and fresh examinations of

witnesses instituted, but all to no purpose. A postscript, however,

mentioned that Adolphe Le Bon had been arrested and imprisoned -

although nothing appeared to criminate him, beyond the facts already

detailed.

 

Dupin seemed singularly interested in the progress of this affair —

at least so I judged from his manner, for he made no comments. It was

only after the announcement that Le Bon had been imprisoned, that he

asked me my opinion respecting the