In a city known for its mysterious nature, the LaLaurie house perhaps stands head and shoulders above other haunted attractions in the area, and not just because until recently it was owned by Nicolas Cage.

Madame LaLaurie, born Marie Delphine Macarty, was the wife of succesful Dr. Louis LaLaurie, he being her third husband. Coming from a well-known family and prominent in the area, Madame LaLaurie established herself as a successful hostess in her new mansion at 1140 Royal Street in the French Quarter built about 1832, but that success was not long-lasting.

It soon became common knowledge in the area that she was a harsh mistress to her slaves. In 1833, her attack on one of her female slaves was witnessesd by a neighbor.  When the poor girl jumped to her death from the balcony, Madame LaLaurie came under investigation and even her friendship with the local judge was not enough to prevent her being fined and having her remaining slaves sold at auctions. Unfortunately, many of the slaves were apparently purchased by her firends and relatives and were soon back under her control.

The following year brough an end to the LaLaurie's social life as a fire broke out in the kitchen of the mansion on April 10, 1834, presumably set by an aged cook who may have figured that a quick death by fire was preferable to a continued existence under Madame LaLaurie's control. The cook, who later confessed to starting the fire, was found in the kitchen, chained to the stove. While Madame exhorted her friends and neighbors to helpher resuce her valuables, others feared for the well-being of her remaining servants. Breaking into the locked attic, they found several slaves chined in place, having suffered grievous harm at the hands of their master.

Here is the original article about the fire, appearing on April 11, 1834 in the Bee:

The conflagration at the house occupied by the woman Lalaurie in Hospital St has been the means of  discovering one of those atrocities the details of which seem to be too incredible for human belief.

We would shrink from the task of detailing the painful circumstances connected herewith, were it not that a sense of duty and the necessity of exposing and holding to the public indignation such a wretch as the perpetrator, renders it indispensable for us to do so.

The flames having spread with an alarming rapidity, and the horrible suspicion being entertained among the spectators that some of the inmates of the premises where it originated, where incarcerated therein, the doors were forced open for the purpose of liberating them. Previous however, to taking this liberty, (if liberty it can be called), several gentlemen impelled by their feelings of humanity demanded the keys which were refused them in a gross and insulting manner. Upon entering one of the apartments, the most appalling spectacle met their eyes. Seven slaves more or less horribly mutilated were seen suspended by the neck, with their limbs apparently stretched and torn from one extremity to the other. Language is powerless and inadequate to give a proper conception of the horror which a scene like this must have inspired. We shall not attempt it, but leave it rather to the reader's imagination to picture what it was.

These slaves were the property of the demon, in the shape of a woman whom we mentioned in the beginning of this article. They had been confined by her for several months in the situation from which they had thus providentially been rescued and had been merely kept in existence to prolong their suffering and to make them taste all that the most refined cruelty could inflict. But why dwell upon such aggravating and painful particulars! We feel confident that the community share with us our indignation, and that vengeance will fall heavily upon the guilty culprit. Without being superstitious, we cannot but regard the manner in which these atrocities have been brought to light as an especial interposition of heaven.

[Since the above was in type, the populace have repaired to the house of this woman and have demolished and destroyed everything upon which they could lay their hands. At the time of inditing this fury of the mob remained still unabated and threatens the total demolition of the entire edifice.]

Within a few days of the article's appearance, fury toward Madame LaLaurie arose in the area, causing teh hosue to be nearlyl demolished in their anger over the inhumanity shown by the woman toward her servants. In the midst of the confusion, Madame LaLaurie fled in her carriage and was never seen again in New Orleans.