History Daily: Delphine LaLaurie’s Torture Chamber

Episode Release Date: April 10, 2025
Host: Lindsey Graham
Produced by Airship, Noiser, Wondery

Introduction to Delphine LaLaurie’s Infamy

On April 10, 1834, a horrifying incident unfolded on Royal Street in New Orleans, Louisiana, that would forever tarnish the reputation of one of the city’s most prominent socialites, Delphine LaLaurie. Host Lindsey Graham delves into the dark history of LaLaurie’s mansion, uncovering the gruesome truth behind her façade of high society elegance.

The Fateful Fire and Initial Clues

The episode opens with a vivid recounting of the events leading to the discovery of LaLaurie’s atrocities. Graham narrates how a horse-drawn fire wagon responded to a burning mansion on Royal Street:

Lindsey Graham [00:00]: "It's April 10, 1834, on Royal street in New Orleans, Louisiana. A horse drawn fire wagon clatters to a halt outside a burning mansion."

As firefighters fought the flames, tensions rose when LaLaurie denied them access to her home, insisting on holding the keys herself. The urgency to prevent the fire from spreading to neighboring buildings prompted a brave firefighter to force entry:

Lindsey Graham [00:40]: "He grabs an axe from the wagon and as the woman continues to argue, he rushes past her to the front door, swings the ax and smashes through the lock."

Inside, the true horror was unveiled. LaLaurie’s mansion housed a hidden torture chamber where enslaved individuals were subjected to unimaginable cruelty. The fire, initially feared to destroy evidence, ironically exposed LaLaurie’s heinous deeds to the public.

The Life of Delphine LaLaurie

Graham provides a detailed background of Delphine LaLaurie, illustrating her transformation from a respected socialite to a monster concealed behind opulent walls:

Lindsey Graham [03:22]: "Delphine considers black people inherently inferior to whites and believes that slavery is a natural part of society."

After inheriting wealth from her late husbands, LaLaurie expanded her household with enslaved workers, hosting lavish social gatherings while perpetuating severe abuse. The narrative highlights the incident with her 11-year-old maid, Leah, whose tragic death sparked the investigation:

Lindsey Graham [05:15]: "Delphine snatches the hairbrush from Lea's hand and swings it at her head. Lea instinctively ducks, but that only makes Delphine even angrier and she screams out in fury."

The Discovery and Aftermath

The neighbor’s eyewitness account of Leah’s death was pivotal in bringing authorities to LaLaurie’s mansion. Despite initial resistance and an attempt to conceal the body, evidence unearthed from the garden revealed the grim reality:

Lindsey Graham [07:30]: "Delphine isn’t charged with any crimes regarding the death, but a judge does give an order that her nine other slaves be removed from the mansion and sold at auction."

However, the socio-political environment allowed LaLaurie to regain control over her enslaved workers, further deepening the suffering within her estate. The introduction of the attic as a new chamber of terror marked a dark turn in the lives of those enslaved:

Lindsey Graham [11:00]: "Those who displeases Delphine is now taken to the attic, to a locked room, where they are held for days or even weeks on end."

The Final Blaze and Legacy

The culmination of LaLaurie’s reign of terror came when a desperate cook, subjected to inhumane conditions, set her shackled kitchen ablaze in a final bid for freedom. This act led to the mansion’s destruction and the public exposure of LaLaurie’s atrocities:

Lindsey Graham [10:30]: "As the cook is about to lose consciousness, she hears the crack of splintering wood. A man carrying an axe enters the smoke filled kitchen."

Judge Jean Francois Canonges played a crucial role in rescuing the remaining enslaved individuals from the attic, ensuring that LaLaurie’s crimes could not remain hidden any longer. Although LaLaurie evaded immediate justice, her legacy became a stark reminder of the brutal realities of slavery:

Lindsey Graham [12:45]: "Delphine will never again be the toast of Orleans society. Instead, her name will only be remembered with horror after her secret torture chamber was revealed."

Impact on Abolitionist Movement

The revelations about LaLaurie’s mansion had a profound impact beyond New Orleans. English writer Harriet Martineau used the story to highlight the inhumanity of slavery, strengthening abolitionist sentiments both in America and Europe:

Lindsey Graham [15:17]: "Harriet soon finds that people in New Orleans are eager to talk about what happened there... Harriet's not convinced."

Despite LaLaurie’s disappearance and the mystery surrounding her fate, the story served as a catalyst for change, exposing the depths of cruelty inherent in the institution of slavery and rallying support for its abolition.

Conclusion

Delphine LaLaurie’s story, as meticulously recounted by Lindsey Graham, serves as a chilling testament to the atrocities committed under the guise of social prestige and wealth. The tragic events of April 10, 1834, not only unveiled personal horror but also contributed to the broader fight against slavery, leaving an indelible mark on history.

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Episode Credits:
Hosted, edited, and executive produced by Lindsey Graham
Audio editing by Mohammed Shazi
Sound design by Gabriel Gould
Supervising Sound Designer: Matthew Filler
Music by Thrum
Research and Writing by Owen Paul Nichols
Edited by Scott Brown
Managing Producer: Emily Burke
Executive Producers: William Simpson (Airship) and Pascal Hughes (Noiser)

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