The Penn's Grove record., 1883-10-06
The Strangers of Paris:

The first famous stranger was a
fellow named Francois Denizett, nick
named Father Francois. He flour
ished about 100. Having failed in
business al a cabinetmaker, he was
already an old man when he began his
career of crime. He was a master rob-
ber-a cagon, as they used to say in
those days. He was also "a solitary
who did his work without accompliA Is.
He always wore about his person, like
a belt, a fine and narrow leather strap,
made of strong but supple leather. At
n end of this strap there was a buckle
attached buckle without any tongue,
and three sides of this buckle were
covered with little metal cylinders,
serving a pulleys. To the other end of
the strap a leaden ball was fastened,
which served the double purpose of a
handle, and in case of necessity a
''slung shot," Father Francois would
on some imaginary pretext, introduce
himself into a house which he knew to
be ~momentarily occupied by a single wo-
mar only. Sometimes he would enter as
though to make a neighborly call-like
any bon jourier. He would then en-
gage in conversation, and at a propi-
tious moment would suddenly fling the
running moose of his strap over tie
victims 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
republic--ended his villainous career in
in a very singular fashion.
1t happened in the early part of 1893.
Francois Denizett had done two good
jobs" in the neighborhood of the
Marche des I~nnocents. They were
highly profitable ventures; and he was
imprudent enough to risk a third. 1t
was the end of himl 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 4 O'Clock on Sunday
afternoon u "Stranglern 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 about to cook a roast of beef, and
she held an immense iron spit in her
right hand. The moment she looked
at the pretended peddler, the recollec-
lions of the strangers came to her
she prepared herself against attack, ard
never took her eyes off the man for a
moment. When Father Francois
thought he had a good opportunity he
threw his strap; but at the same moment
Nine. Lalouette threw up herleft hand,
and the noo wound itself around it.
Then she gave Francois such a terrible
thrust in the abdomen with her spit
that it actually disappeared in his body.
The blow was all the more violent be-
cause Francois had at the same instant
pulled violently toward him, in the hope
of finging her down and numbering her.
Nine. Lalouette called for help, the
neighbors rushed in and Father Fran
co.'s was arrested. But he was foolish
enough to recoverfrom being ''spitted, +"
and was n of the first ferlampires of
note who entertained the guillotine after
its inaction of several months.
Suspension or hanging, is a much
more modern method of strangulation,
practiced chiefly in the lowest quarters
of the city. Two persons are required
for this work, the s'suspender'' and the
''rummager." If the a~ccomplices are
men, they generally select drunken
parties for victims. If it be a man and
woman who practice the crime, it is
usually accomplished thus: The wo-
man, always a female of i'll repute,
called uannease (liar) approaches an In
dividual and engages in conversation
with him, ~endeayoring to entice him to
follow her. While this is going on her
''man" approaches, like any other Pc
destrian, holding in his hand the ends
of a long and large handkerchief
twisted into a rope. The moment he
comes near enough he suddenly passes
the handkerchief under the victims
chin, turns himself half way round with
a jerk, and raises the poor wretch upon
his back like a sack. The more the
victim struggles, the sooner he is
strangled. He loses all consciousness.
While he is in this condition the woman
the u~anneuse, plays the part of toulouse,
ransacking his pockets and taking from
him every object of value. When this
has been done, the '~'suspender" let's
the victim fall heavily to the ground.
This was how a poor workman was
murdered a few months ago in a dark
ally in Grenelle. The murdereIs OBJ
tanned only an old silver watch and
twenty francs. In defence the criminals
swore that they had not intended to
kill him, but only to gag him, and that
the handkerchief slipped from his mouth
over his neck.
Fashions for Both Sexes.