Marie Delphine Macarty or MacCarthy (March 19, 1787 – December 7, 1849), more commonly known as Madame Blanque or, after her third marriage, as Madame LaLaurie, was a New Orleans socialite and serial killer who tortured and murdered slaves in her household.
Back Story: Born during the Spanish colonial period, LaLaurie had married three times in Louisiana and was widowed twice. LaLaurie kept her position in New Orleans society until April 10th, 1834, when rescuers responded to a fire a her Mansion. The rescuers discoverd tied up slaves in the Attic of the house, their was evidence of violent abuse over the long period. The mansion was sacked by outraged citizens of New Orleans. LaLaurie Escaped to France with her family.
Torture and murder of slaves and 1834 LaLaurie mansion fire: The Treatment of slaves between 1831 and 1834 vary, but Harrier Martineau wrote in 1838 describing the tales told to her by the people of New Orleans during her 1836 visit. The people their clamied that slaves of LaLaurie looked exausted, worried, and in poor condition.Funeral registers between 1830 and 1834 document the Deaths of twelve slaves at the Royal Street mansion, although the causes of death are not mentioned and infectious diseases could easily have been the cause. These 12 deaths include Bonne, a cook and laundress, and her four children, Juliette (c. 1820–February 21, 1833, died age 13), Florence (c. 1821–February 16, 1831, died age 10), Jules (c. 1827–May 29, 1833, died age six), and Leontine (c. 1829–August 26, 1831, died age four). Bonne (c. 1803–February 7, 1833)
Methods of Torture: LaLaurie whipped her slaves, gauged their eyes out, and poked holes in their skulls, leaving maggots to infest the openings. This is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the sickening acts of torture this eighteenth-century slave owner committed against her slaves.
Who is Harriet Martineau? what is she known for? Harriet Martineau, (born June 12, 1802, Norwich, Norfolk, England—died June 27, 1876, near Ambleside, Westmorland), essayist, novelist, journalist, and economic and historical writer who was prominent among English intellectuals of her time.
Harriet Martineau 🔽
LaLaurie Mansion 🔽
The stories that carried into the next decades describing the property as being haunted by the victims of LaLaurie the serial killer. The tales say that wails of agony plague its rooms at night, doors slam, faucets suddenly turn on, and furniture moves on its own. Body imprints are found on beds that no one has slept on. Apparitions of slaves, some wearing chains, have been seen walking around the property.
Nicolas Cage, Purchased the haunted house for $3,450,000 back in 2006. The property was initially listed with an asking price of $3,900,000 so, Mr. Cage must have snagged himself a bargain.
According to our tour guide, Nicolas only spent one night in the house because he could hear all sorts of ghostly sounds. These sounds and disruptions scared him too much to stay a second night. The following night, he rented a place across the street and let his friends have a party in his new mansion. I don’t know how true this story is since I don’t know Nicolas Cage personally. So, unfortunately, I can’t get him to confirm it. But it’s fun to speculate and think that the house was too scary for even a fan of haunted places.
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