Marguerite Dixblanc

Background

Marguerite Dixblanc was a Belgian cook. She entered the Park Lane household of Marie Caroline Besant Riel in January 1872, taking the position as cook for Mme Riel, a 46-year-old widow at 13, Park Lane. The household included Mme Riel, her daughter, and two servants: Eliza Watts and the prisoner. Mme Riel had a quick temper and there were occasional quarrels, always in French, between the two women.

Dixblanc was given notice around 20th March. Even during this period, the two women argued, always in French.

The offence

On Sunday 7th April 1872, Mme Riel left the house and did not return for an appointment that she had at 4pm. Around 8pm, Dixblanc said she was going to church, but she took a taxi to Victoria Station and then the boat train to Paris.

When Mme Riel’s body was found, it lay on the floor in a locked pantry. Her neck and face were covered with bruises. It was soon discovered that money and property were missing from the house, and that Dixblanc was missing.

Investigation

Detectives followed Dixblanc’s trail to France. She was arrested in a coal-merchant’s in St Denis in Paris just as Dixblanc was confessing to the shopkeeper. The missing property was found in her possession, and she was returned to England on 20th April.

Investigators also found that the murder had been discovered under circumstances that suggested additional horror. Certain doors were locked, including the pantry. The cook and the keys were missing, and the body was found when the pantry was opened with duplicate keys in the young lady’s possession.

In the pantry and adjoining areas, marks and items were discussed in evidence, including false hair and cinders, chips of wood, and a hair-pin found in the coal cellar and another on the stairs leading to the kitchen. Marks on the body and the location of items were presented as indicating the body may have been moved within the premises.

The safe was examined and it was described as showing inducement for the murder. All valuables except jewellery were said to have been taken, with bank-notes, French bonds, and railway shares believed stolen, and jewellery left behind. The murder was described as evidently committed in some place other than the pantry, with the body possibly placed in the coal cellar and dragged or carried to the pantry.

Police described Dixblanc as 28 years of age, 5ft 5in in height, and stout with a fresh complexion, red face, dark hair, and brown eyes. She was believed to have been wearing a green dress, a waterproof cloak, and a brown bonnet at the time she left Park Lane.

Arrest

On Sunday 7th April 1872, Dixblanc left the house, and on the day she was arrested in Paris she was described as confessing to the shopkeeper. She was then returned to England on 20th April.

During the London case proceedings, it was described that Dixblanc did not understand English, so the evidence was interpreted to her by Charles Albert.

Trial

Court and indictment

The trial took place at the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey). On Monday 10th June and Tuesday 11th June 1872, before Mr. Recorder 471, Marguerite Dixblanc (29) was indicted for the wilful murder of Marie Caroline Besant Riel. She was also charged, on the Coroner’s Inquisition, with the like murder.

Mr. Attorney-General with Messrs. Poland, Archibald, and Besley conducted the prosecution. Mr. Powell, Q.C., with Messrs. Gough, W. WRIGHT, and Mirehouse conducted the defence.

Evidence about the household and events

Eliza Watts testified that she had been in the service of Madame Riel as housemaid for about four months before the matter occurred. She described the household as including Mme Riel, her daughter, the prisoner, and herself, with the prisoner as cook.

Watts described Dixblanc as coming into Mme Riel’s service in January 1872 and she testified about the departure of Mademoiselle Riel for Paris on Easter Sunday, 31st March. Watts testified that on Saturday 6th April, Mme Riel dined at home, and a friend dined with her in the evening. Watts stated that the food was placed in the pantry and that Mme Riel kept the key.

Watts testified that on the following morning, Sunday 7th April, she got up at 7.30 and went down to the kitchen. She described the timing of actions involving Dixblanc and Mme Riel. Watts said that around 11.20 Mme Riel rang her bell, was up and dressed, and told Watts she was going out into the Green Park for a quarter of an hour. Watts described that Mme Riel had a little dog which followed her after she went down stairs.

Watts testified about seeking Dixblanc and calling out “Marguerite, where are you?” when she did not answer. Watts then described Dixblanc telling her that Mme Riel had gone out into the area, locked the door, taken the key, and gone out. Watts described later events on the Sunday, including beer at around 1.5 or 1.10. Watts stated that Dixblanc told her the public-house was open.

Watts described being absent for about five minutes to fetch beer, returning to find the door shut, knocking without answer, and then Dixblanc letting her in. Watts testified about dinner preparations and about Dixblanc changing dress before 8 o’clock.

Watts described that in the afternoon a French lady, a friend of Madame Riel’s, called before 4 o’clock, remained until about 7 o’clock in Madame’s bedroom, and left. Watts testified that Dixblanc had not prepared dinner other than soup, and that Dixblanc said she would go out to church.

Watts described that she had gloves lying on the table, and she said she picked them up and remarked “Madame has not taken her gloves,” with no answer. Watts testified that Dixblanc changed her dress between 5 and 6 o’clock, putting on a green dress in the pantry, and hung up the old one in the kitchen. Watts said she later heard the door go, and she did not know whether Dixblanc took any luggage. She described that her box was left behind.

Watts stated she did not see Dixblanc return and she went to bed with the assumption that Mme Riel had not returned. On the next morning Monday, Watts stated that she went into Mme Riel’s bedroom on her way down and found everything undisturbed, then went to the drawing-room, where Mademoiselle arrived from Paris that morning with a lady friend. Watts testified that a duplicate key situation existed, with Mademoiselle having one key to the pantry and Mme Riel having the other, and that the pantry was opened while Watts was away fetching assistance.

Mademoiselle Jule Riel testified that she was the daughter of the late Madame Riel. She stated she returned from Paris on 8th April, arriving at Park Lane about 7 o’clock in the morning. She described opening the pantry with her key and seeing her mother’s cloak, then seeing her mother in the pantry; the safe was open. She stated that she ran out into the street, recollected Dr. Wadham next door, and went to him. She stated she had not disturbed anything in the pantry.

Jule Riel testified to the safe and jewellery arrangement, including that her mother kept money in the safe, and that after the body was removed she saw that the safe was open with no money, but with a little box containing jewels, gloves, and shares. She testified about bank notes she had given her mother before leaving for Paris. She also testified about keys, describing that the pantry had two keys, one with her and one with her mother, and that she had taken her key with her to Paris.

William Peek, a policeman, testified that on Monday morning 8th April about 7.45 he was on duty in Park Lane, was called to No. 13, and found the dead body in a room at the end of the passage. Peek described the body being dressed and positioned with the face on the floor, knees on the ground, and legs sticking upwards. He testified that he removed the body about 18 inches from the safe and described rope placement: “a rope was once round the neck, with a slip noose under the left cheek,” and that the rope end was hanging loose over the body and other parts were twisted around the handle of the safe door.

Charles Butcher, Detective Officer, testified that he examined the pocket of the dress and found nothing in it, but described a gold ring with a diamond on the left hand. He also testified that false hair in a bonnet was lying between the bonnet and the sofa. Butcher described examining the safe, describing it as a cash-box, and stated that it contained papers including French bonds or something like that, and a little box holding jewellery. He testified about keys being produced later and described the Coroner’s officer’s involvement regarding a key, jewellery, and that there was no sign of a struggle in the pantry.

Henry Hambling, Police Inspector, testified that on Monday morning 8th April about 9 o’clock he went to 13 Park Lane. He described finding false hair and a bonnet in the pantry and examining it, finding cinders and small chips of wood and a small fish bone. Hambling described the fire-place in the pantry not having been lighted. He testified about hair-pins found in the coal cellar and stairs and described opening the coal cellar door by unscrewing the lock and that there was no key there. Hambling testified that he examined the safe and saw a railway bond found there, and that he later found eight keys on one ring and two on another behind a beer barrel. He testified that keys were tried to identify which fit the safe, pantry, kitchen leading from the coal cellar, a room up stairs, and the padlock on the prisoner’s box. Hambling described forcing open the prisoner’s box in her room and found pieces of dresses and boots and paper and a book with her name, and that there was no rope in her box or room. Hambling testified he saw no appearance of any struggle in the kitchen or pantry.

John Turner testified as a cab driver and proprietor that on Sunday evening 7th April at about 8 o’clock, a woman stopped his cab, asked him to drive to Victoria Station, and then to the Brighton Terminus of Victoria Station. Turner testified about the payment: a sixpenny and a threepenny piece, subsequent difficulty understanding the fare, and that she ran off. Turner stated his impression that the prisoner was the woman and that he gave information on the Tuesday morning based on what he read in newspapers.

Richard Werner testified as a clerk and interpreter at Victoria Station that on Sunday evening 7th April about 8.20 the prisoner tapped at his office window, spoke in French, and asked when the next train would start for Paris. Werner testified about arranging tickets and that the prisoner paid with a 5l. note and received two sovereigns in change, stating the fare as 3l., and that she said she had no luggage. Werner testified he saw the train start and later gave information to the police after seeing something in the newspapers on 9th April.

Paris witnesses and confession-related evidence

Jacques Bouillion testified that he was a silver-plater and burnisher living in Paris and had formerly been house-porter at 192 Rue St Denis. He testified about seeing the prisoner in Belgium and later about 8th April when she arrived at his home around 10 o’clock at night. He described that she slept at his house that night and that he had received a letter from her on 4th April. He described that the letter said she would come to Paris in the first days of May and included a farewell statement, which was read as a translation of the letter:

"London, 6th April. My dear Victoire. If you have not written, do not write, I leave this evening for Paris. Your devoted friend, Dixblanc Marguerite. No, do not expect me, perhaps I shall never see Paris again, nor even my parents; I shall try to leave for America, and if I arrive there I will give you my address; so good bye, my dear Victoire, and think frequently of me. I conclude by kissing you with all my heart. Dixblanc Marguerite"

Bouillion described that the prisoner paid 125 francs in English gold and discussed taking it in gold or bank note. He also described a conversation with the prisoner about her finances and board and lodging, and that she later wore a green dress that he later saw hanging up at his door and that she wore a grey dress before leaving. Bouillion testified that he was arrested at the time the house was searched and that he did not know what became of the letter.

Louis Jule Ferdinand Raviart testified as an Inspector of Municipal Police at Paris, describing initial information coming from Mr. Druscovitch and describing searches at 192 Rue St Denis. Raviart testified about arresting Mr. Bouillion and then taking possession of a green dress and examining its pockets. Raviart testified that the porte-monnaie contained eight English bank notes and an English pawn ticket, and that he marked the notes. He described that the notes included a 20 l. and a 10 l. note after he later learned they were not all 5 l. notes. He also testified that he arrested Madame Bouillion based on the findings. Raviart described that when he took Madame Bouillion into custody she handed over a little box containing 125 francs in English gold, three sovereigns, and four half-sovereigns. Raviart also stated that a translation of an entry in a livret was read:

"I the undersigned recognise that the named Marguerite Dixblanc has served me with honesty, entered on 8th June, left on 16th August, 1870—Paris." Signed "Wilhelm 54, Faubourg, St. Honore—I say she entered on 8th June 1870. Wilhelm."

Raviart testified about statements during conversations after bringing the prisoner to England and included testimony about the prisoner’s remark: “Yes, but unfortunately in England, one who has given death, dies”.

Jacques Bouillion was recalled and cross-examined on his wife’s confinement and his belief about the prisoner’s character when thwarted. He described her as having a passionate disposition with strong and sudden impulses but with a good heart.

Thomas Gerard, a coal dealer, testified that he saw the prisoner on 13th April at his shop and recognized her by talk and voice. He testified to her conversation about her father and Victoire Bouillion and described statements about a quarrel with her mistress and that she had “given her a good hiding; perhaps she is dead.” Gerard also testified about the prisoner’s description of the events in London involving her mistress, including an account that included her being abusive and the prisoner seizing her by the throat, a blow underneath the chin, dragging the body into the coal cellar, locking the cellar door, and later using a cord around the neck and dragging the body into the pantry. Gerard described additional statements about the prisoner being in Paris, trains, and that she paid 3 l. for travel and described “25 francs” when asked about the value of a pound. Gerard testified that she indicated it was not in Paris but in London and showed newspapers to him and his wife, and that police came at the moment after she admitted the crime.

Emile Hinscheerger, an inspector, testified that he assisted Mons. Raviart in enquiries, went to 18 Rue de Porte St Denis, spoke to the prisoner, asked her name, and that she replied “Yes, sir”. Hinscheerger described the prisoner asking “Where does my father live?” and being given the direction. He described that she had a parcel and that it contained a mass-book, a silk handkerchief, and a waterproof. Hinscheerger testified that during the carriage the prisoner narrated how it happened, and included a remark by the prisoner: “They say more about the matter than really is the fact; if you knew how it had happened you could not condemn me”.

Hinscheerger testified about the narration of events including that on Sunday at 11 o’clock her mistress came down into the kitchen and asked why the soup was not on the fire, and that the mistress called her abusive words, then that the prisoner seized her by the throat, cried out “Let me go”, and later gave a sudden, quick blow on the throat. Hinscheerger testified the prisoner said she found her mistress dead, dragged her to an adjoining room, took a rope and placed it round her waist and later around the neck, and shut the room.

Nathaniel Druscovitch, Chief Inspector of the Metropolitan Police, testified that on 10th April he went with Inspector Pay to Paris and later that he examined the prisoner at the Prefecture. He testified that she said, “Those occurred in the affair”. Druscovitch testified about her commenting on the proceedings at Bow Street and her statement regarding keys, including that she said “Madame Riel has made a mistake about the keys, the key which she says belongs to the gate, actually belongs to the door leading to the kitchen; as to the other keys I threw them behind a beer barrel in the pantry”. He also testified that he instructed Inspector Hambling to search, and that keys were found there.

Medical evidence

Dr. William Wadham testified that on 8th April about 8 a.m. he was called to No. 13 Park Lane and found Mme Riel’s body in the pantry. Wadham described the rope around the neck with the knot under the left jaw, rope twisted twice round the knob of the door of an iron safe, and remainder thrown over the deceased’s body. Wadham described there being no carpet and no sign of struggle as far as he could see. He waited leaving things as he found them until Butcher arrived, and then the body was removed into the next room.

Wadham testified about reddish brown mark nearly all round the throat, abrasion under each eye, bruise over the right eye, and that a reddish brown depression was where the knot had been under the left jaw. He described the body as quite stiff and cold and said it was difficult to say how long the body had been dead but that there was nothing incompatible with the notion that she had been dead twenty hours.

Wadham described the post-mortem findings on the Wednesday, including bruise on the left cheek bone, slight scratches on the nose, and additional reddish scratches near the mark of the cord. He testified about the throat injuries, including two fractures of the hyoid bone, a fracture of the hyoid cartilage, and one of the cracoid cartilage just at the left of the medium line, and blood poured out under the mucous membrane of the right vocal cord. Wadham testified that, in his opinion, she either died from being strangled or from being throttled, whether strangling with a rope or throttling with the hand. He described that “a single blow on the jaw” would not produce the injuries and that it required very great force and strength.

In cross-examination and re-examination, Wadham testified about the consistency of injury patterns with strangling or throttling and about experiments he had made after death.

Verdict and sentence

After the defence and prosecution arguments, the jury found Dixblanc guilty and strongly recommended to mercy by the jury, considering that premeditation had not been made out. Dixblanc said: “I never had the intention of causing the death.”

On 11th June and into June proceedings, the verdict led to a death sentence: “DEATH”. However, the status indicates she was reprieved and sentenced to penal servitude for life.

Appeals

No appeal information appeared in the provided record.

Outcome

Marguerite Dixblanc was found guilty of the wilful murder of Marie Caroline Besant Riel. She was sentenced to death, but she was reprieved and sentenced to penal servitude for life.

Other details

Timeline

• January 1872 — Marguerite Dixblanc took the cook position in Mme Marie Caroline Besant Riel’s Park Lane household.
• 20th March — Dixblanc was given her notice to leave.
• 31st March — Mademoiselle Riel left London for Paris.
• 6th April 1872 — Mme Riel dined at home with a friend; food was placed in the pantry with Mme Riel keeping the key.
• 7th April 1872 — Mme Riel went out into the Green Park and did not return; Dixblanc left stating she was going to church, took a taxi to Victoria Station, and went on the boat train for Paris.
• 8th April — The body of Mme Riel was found in the locked pantry; witnesses gave evidence of discovery and condition; the police officers removed the body and rope details were described.
• 9th April — Richard Werner stated he saw something in the newspapers and gave information to the police.
• 11th April — Raviart testified he first went to 192 Rue St Denis and had a conversation with the Bouillions.
• 12th April — Raviart described examining the green dress and finding the porte-monnaie with marked bank notes and a pawn ticket; he later arrested Madame Bouillion.
• 13th April — Thomas Gerard described seeing the prisoner and her statements of the killing; Gerard also testified about her disappearance and subsequent narrative.
• 14th April — Druscovitch described going to Paris and later finding the prisoner at the Prefecture.
• 20th April — Dixblanc was returned to England.
• 30th May — Bouillion’s testimony described his wife and he were discharged on 30th May.
• 21st May — It was stated that Bouillion’s wife was confined in St. Lazare Prison on 21st May.
• 11th June / 12th June 1872 — Trial court proceedings concluded; Dixblanc was found guilty and sentenced to death, with further disposition described in the case status as reprieved and penal servitude for life.