“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_ métal 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.

“After a thorough investigation of every portion of the house, without farther discovery, the party made its way into a small paved yard in the rear of the building, where lay the corpse of the old lady, with her throat so entirely cut that, upon an attempt to raise her, the head fell off.  The body, as well as the head, was fearfully mutilated — the former so much so as scarcely to retain any semblance of humanity.

“To this horrible mystery there is not as yet, we believe, the slightest clew.”

The next day’s paper had these additional particulars.

“The Tragedy in the Rue Morgue. Many individuals have been examined in relation to this most extraordinary and frightful affair. [The word ‘affaire’ has not yet, in France, that levity of import which it conveys with us,] “but nothing whatever has transpired to throw light upon it.  We give below all the material testimony elicited.

“Pauline Dubourg, laundress, deposes that she has known both the deceased for three years, having washed for them during that period.  The old lady and her daughter seemed on good terms — very affectionate towards each other.  They were excellent pay.  Could not speak in regard to their mode or means of living.  Believed that Madame L. told fortunes for a living.  Was reputed to have money put by.  Never met any persons in the house when she called for the clothes or took them home.  Was sure that they had no servant in employ.  There appeared to be no furniture in any part of the building except in the fourth story.