The Murders in the Rue Morgue | Page 7

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