Daily Republican., 1883-10-22
Tho SsrnugIers Of Paris.

l
The first famous stranger was |
fellow named Francois Denizett, nick
named Father Francois. He flourishet
about 1900. Having failed in business
rs a cabinetmaker, he was already az
old man when he began his career o
crime. He was master robber-a
cagon, as they used to say in those
days. He was also "a solitary" wht
did his work without accomplices. He
always wore about his person, like a
belt, a fine and narrow leather strap,
made of strong but supple leather. AT
one end of this strap there was buckle
attached-a buckle without any tongue,
and three sides of this buckle were GOV.
cred with little metal cylinders, serving
rs pulleys. To the other end of the
strap leader ball was fastened, which
served the double purpose of handle,
and in case OF necessity "slung shot. :"
Father Francois would, on some i'm
aginary pretext, introduce himself into
a house which he knew to be momen-
tarily occupied by a single woman
only. Sometimes he would enter AZ
though to make a neighborly call-like
any bon jonrier He would then en-.
gage In conversation, and at q propi-
,ious moment would suddenly fling the
running moose of his strap over the vic
tins head, press against the base of her
neck with his left hand and pull with
his right In one moment the poor
creature would be strangled. This mas.
ter. .strangler-a product of the first Re.
public--ended his villainous career in o
very singular fashion.
1t happened in the early part of 1898.
Francois Denizett had done two good
" jobs" In the neighborhood of the
Marche des Innocents. They we're
highly profitable ventures, and he was
imprudent enough to risk third. 1t
was the end of him The women who
kept stores had become terrified at the
two previous crimes committed in the
middle of the day, and were all upon
their guard. At 1 o'clock on Sunday
afternoon our Stranger entered No.
3 Rue de la Reynie, under the pretext
of selling handkerchiefs to a certain
Nine. Lalouette who kept a stand In
the market. This woman-a solidly
built and active person, quick Of hand
and eye--was preparing dinner for her
family. Just as Francois entered she
was abont to cook roast of beef, and
she held an immense iron spit In her
right hand.
tended peddler, the recollections of the |
" stranglers came to her she pre-.
pared herself against attack, and never
took her EYES off the man for q moment.
When Father Francois thought he had
Q good opportunity he threw his strap !;
but at the same moment Nine. LalOuette
threw Zip her left hand, and the moose
wound itself around 1t. Then she gave
Francois snch a terrible thrust in the
abdomen with her spit that 1t actually
in his body The blow was
all' the more violent because Francois
had at the same instant pulled violently
,oward him, in the hope Of flinging her
lown and numbering her. Nine.
Lalouette called for help, the neighbors
'ushed in and Father Francois was ar
'ested. But he was foolish enough to
'ecover from being "spitted," and WAS
me of the first ferlampires of note who
the guillotine after its
naction Of several month.
Suspension" or hanging, is a much
more modern method of strangulation,
,rac.iced chiefly In the lowest quarters
If the city. Two persons are required
or this work, the suspender" and the
'rumInager." If the accomplices are
men, they generally select drum ken
,arties for victims If it be man and
woman who practice the crime, it is
Usually accomplished thus: The wo-
nan, always female of ill repute,
allod vanueuse (liar) approaches an
Individual and engages in conversation
With him, endeavofing to entice him to {
ollow her. While this is going on, |,
Ter imam approaches, like any other I
PEDESTRIAN, holding in his hand the ends
f long and large Handkerchief twisted I
nto rope. .
The moment he comes near enough I
e suddenly passes the handk rchief +
nder the victims chin, turns himself +
ALT way round with jerk, and raises '
he poor wretch upon his back like a !
ack. The more the victim struggles, '
he sooner he is strangled. He loses all r
Consciousness. While he is in this con- =
ition the woman, tho vanneuse, plays n
he part of Toulouse, ransacking his n
ocktts and taking from him every Q
bject of value. When this has been e
one, the suspender" let's the victim +
all heavily to the ground. This was v
ow poor workman was murdered a n
ew months ago in a dark alley in
irenelle. The murderers obtained only
Il old silver watch and twenty francs.
n defence the criminals swore that o
hey had not intended to kill him, but t
My to gag him, and that the haniker- g
hief slipped from his mouth over his t
eek. n