for several minutesâprobably ten. They were long and loudâvery 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 manâof a Frenchman. Could not distinguish the words uttered. They were loud and quickâunequalâspoken apparently in fear as well as in anger. The voice was harshânot so much shrill as harsh. Could not call it a shrill voice. The gruff voice said repeatedly, âsacré,â âdiable,â and once â mon Dieu .â
â Jules Mignaud , banker, of the firm of Mignaud et Fils, Rue Deloraine. Is the elder Mignaud. Madame LâEspanaye had some property. Had opened an accountwith his banking house in the spring of the yearââ(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 sent home with the money.
â Adolphe Le Bon , clerk to Mignaud et Fils, deposes that on the day in question, about noon, he accompanied Madame LâEspanaye 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 by-streetâvery lonely.
â 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 â sacré â and âmon Dieu.â There was a sound at the moment as if of several persons strugglingâa scraping and scuffling sound. The shrill voice was very loudâlouder 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 womanâs voice. Does not understand German.
âFour 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 silentâno 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 securelyâdid 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 minutesâsome as long as five. The door was opened with difficulty.
â 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. Heardthe voices in contention. The gruff voice was that of a Frenchman. Could not distinguish what was said. The shrill voice was that of an Englishmanâis sure of this. Does not understand the English language, but judges by the