The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-05-11
WORSE THAN A BRUTE,
THE AWFUL CRIME OF A FRENCH
MAN.
Brutally Murdered His Mistress
Child and Concealed Her
Under the Bed.
The Crime Confessed Without Signs Of Re
morse Consigned to the
Guillotine.
4 Startling Story Of Human Depravity in
the French CapitaI-Murderer Sage
Found Guilty at Marion, Ind,
on His Wifes Testimony
Crime News
rcorrrichted. 18aO. bv James Gordon Bennett.l

copyrighted, 1870 by James Gordon Bennett.l
PAIRS, May "A meek, inoffensive-look-
ing man of middle age at the the Paris
Assizes today was tried and condemned to
death for double crime almost unpar-
alleled in atrOciOus savagery. The mon
ster is Jean VOdable, "A Paris car
ter NOdable used to live with a
scavenger, Pauline Malfilatre, who, af-
ter three years experience, wearied
of her lovers brutal usage and showed him
the door. Breathing threats of vengeance,
Nodable went away and remained absent a
month. On the morning Of November 80
Nine. Mafilatre found Nodable in her
apartment. He urged her to resume for
mer relations, emphasizing his entreaties
by showing her a rope with which
he said he would hang himself
in case of refusal. Nine Nal
fllatre compromised matters, agreeing to
spend the day with NOdable. She had a
daughter, Alexandrine, y years old, whom
she supposed to be at school as usual
When mid day came AleXandrine did not
return. At luncheon time her mother
grew anxious, but Vodable quieted her
by saying that he had given Alexan-
drine 3 sous to get her meal at
school. The afternoon was passed by
NOdable and Nine. Malfllatre in
quaffing bottles of wine As
twilight gathered and Alexandrine still
did not return, her mothers anxiety re-
vived. Accompanied by NOdable, she
went to the school, where she learned that
Alexandrine had not attended. Thence
she went TO the police station. Inquiry
was set on foot; but nothing could be
learned of the missing child. Finally,
tired and discOnsOlate, Nine. Malflatre
went home, still in company with Nodable,
who passed the night at her house.
VOdable took his leave in the morning and
Nine. Malfilatre set about tyding her
4
noticed n bit of red cloth peeping out from
under the bed. The woman staggered
back in terrible fear; then she stopped
down and pulled the cloth towards her 1t
was her child's dress. AleXandrine was
found at last. Shrieking, the mother ran
through the house, and when the alarmed
neigbbOrs entered the house they found the
helpless mother lying insensible upon the
corpse of her child.
Medical examination showed that a brutal
assault had been committed upon the
girl, ana suspicion was at once direct
ed to NOdable who after keeping the pO-
lice at bay for a couple of DAYS. gave him
self up on his own accord, COnfeSSing that
he was guilty of the crime of murder. His
counsel, at the opening of the trial, begged
a remand In order that Nodable might
undergo a medical examination. This
was refused by the presiding judge, who
forthwith began his crOSS-queStlOning.
Vodable answered cOmposedly, almost
carelessly, and kept looking around
the packed court as if he were a spectator
and the persons present were there for his
amusement. NOdable had suffered several
condemnatiOns for wOunding with knife
or revolver the women with whom he had
lived. He lightly acknowledged that he
had shot one woman and stabbed another
in moments of eXasperatiOn. He stTenu-
ously maintained that he had been an in
dustrious and temperate workman, adding,
Il was a great fool to bear with her as
long as | did"
Concerning the murder, the Judge asked
the prisoner to relate the details.
"Noila," ," said Nodable, Il found Alex
andrine getting ready to go to school and
asked her about visits paid to her mother.
She said she could tell me nothing, as it
was not her business. ] said, IF you
don't tell me III wiring yourneck.' | took
her and wrung her neck"
A Shudder ran through the audience. /
Nodable had told the tale without "A tremOr
in his voice, leaning the while Gncon- /
cernedly over the rail of the dock /
When the silence, broken by murmurs of
lOathing from the public, had been re
stored, he resumed without waiting for the /
Judge. "Then pushed her under he bed /
Then ! took a stick and pushed her !
further under"
Nodable's counsel made strenuous efforts /
to save his clients neck, depicting hin as /
jealous lover whom passion had mad |
dened, but the jury, admirably pitiless, |
returned a verdict of guilty. NOdable lis /
tened impressively to the sentence which /
consigned him to the guillOtine.