The sun., 1897-11-07
VACHER'S MANIA TO SLAY.
RITRA0RDINARY CAREER OF THE
ERENoH MURDERER.

Twensy.thTeo Assassinations Already Brought
Nome 70 mius-uis Record without . Parallel
"A Dana or stranEieru In Parls ana 1ts
ReusaIe Chief-KensinGton REuseum Scandals
-u1rs. Ormiston Chant in . Music Hall.
LONDON, Oct 29.-Thero 10 nothing in modern
history with which to compare tho sanguinary
career OF the French slauRhterer. Vacher, the
story OF whose crimes I have told in q frag-
mentary way by cablo as It has como out from
day to day during the past fortnight. The
Jack ths Ripper murders in London ten years
ago are completely eclipsed by IL, and the
revelation 10 still Incomplete. Twonty.three
essassinntions have already been brought homo
70 this bloodthirsty wretch, and scarcely q day
passes that another 10 not added to tho list. 1t s
doubtful II the murderer himself knows the
number OF his victims. He nonchalantly tells
The story Of some fresh tragedy to tho examin.
ing Magistrate from time to time as tho details
rcour to his diseased mind. Investigation in
each case 30 far has produced full corrobora-
tion of the murderer's narrative. These cases
include several crimes not heretofore discov-
cred, but the victims body has in each instance
been found where indicated-in q disused we'll
or lonely thicket.
The story Of this man, who killed merely for
the sake of killing. should be made known
throughout Christendom, for It constitutes the
the criminal folly Of turning loose upon society
IN individual subject to flts of homicidal mania.
vacher, who IN only about 25 years old, was
peasant living near Lyons. He served his mill
tary term in . regiment Of zouaves, and proved
% good a soldier that he was made q non-com-
missioned officer. It was complained of him
that he was brutally severe to the recruits
under him. A young man, member Of Q
renowned French family. tells how vacher once
mhnn L. IL lrtlt L. .l.A
he lost his temper and sprang at the young
martinez. Luckily for the soldier, his compan-
ions seized him before he had succeeded in
striking his tormentor, otherwise court-martial
and sentence TO death for assaultinR an officer
might have been his fate under the stern laws
Of military discipline In France.
But there was no suspicion or ground for sus.
picion Of Vachers sanity at that time. Just
after completing his service, vacher was Ill in
hospital for several weeks. During his confine-
hnent, he attempted TO blow out his brains with
erevolver. and he still carries the bullet some
where inside his skull. The shot produced re-
lnrrent fits Of insanity Of 30 violent a character
Wat he was confined for time at the lunatic
bylum ct Dole. DIR. Gilbert, the well.known ex-
1prt in mental diseases, says that the ply yscians
6I-the asylum released vacher, although they
knew he was not At to be at large. because they
Wore afraid Of an outcry In the press against
EuO OOIOltF0Ey COnHnemenU OF u ClLlZen unu6r tn0
hretext that he was insane.
That was three years ago. Since that time
N7acher has wandered through tho country dis
sriets Of France leaving everywhere q trail of
blood, but undetected, even unsuspe. ted, until
by ..iere chance he was caught almost red
handed near Lyons about three weeks ago.,
Most OF his victims were shepherd boys and girls,
whom he found tending their fiocks in lonely
fields or on hilsides. but sometimes he killed
AL. and women. In each case. he seemed seized
with frenzy after striking down his victim.
aud cut and siashed and often dismembered the
body. He told the Magistrate one day that he
considered himself a scourge sent by providence
to a1lict humanity. But his motive was often
more rational and sordid. Ono man he killed
because his victim wore Q clean-lookng shirt
which vacher coveted. Sometimes. he admits,
he killed because he needed money and food.
The murderer was always remarkably clever
In shifting suspicion from himself. Two years
ago he killed . shepherd boy on a country road
few miles from Lyons. He hacked tho body
almost into pieces and then strolled on. Within
afew minutes the mutilated corpse was dis.
covered and there was immediate search for the
murderer In all directions. A gendarme mount
ed on o bicycle soon overlook Vacher, and
called upon him to produce his papers. He
readily handed over his discharge from the
Eouaves as a non-commissioned officer.
"why, that is my old regiment" exclaimed
the gendarme. "I am hunting q man who has
just cut boys throat Have you seen any sus-
picious character as you came alongT
"Oh. yes" responded the murderer without
the least sign Of discomposure. 81 saw q man
running across tho fields to the north about a
mile back" And tho Rendarme hurried of
after the imaginary culprit.
Occasionally by some lucky chance q victim
escaped him. boy Of ID named Rodier was
herding COWS near Clermont Ferrand one day in
October. a year ago, when he saw an ugly-look'
ing, grinning fellow approach. He was tramp,
poorly ressed, and carried big,bag on his back
and heavy stick In his hand. The boy was
frightened by the tramp's appearance, and as the
stranger oame near. young Rodier, under pro
tence Of minding his cows. ran away. The
stranger. vacher, followed.
"It's bitter cold." he said when he came near
"Why don't you light fret II you wan,
matches. can give you some."
"I want none." said the boy. "and don't bt
coming after me, but keep on tho path"
But Vacher came on, and the boy kept moving
on until he got TO the brow of the hill. where mar
and woman were digging. Whom the tramI
saw them. he stopped short. They eyed him
also. and thought there was something wronl
about him. The man was 90 sure Vacher mean
mischief that he took mp pitchfork to be ready
for the worst. The tramp said:
"This IL horrid country. Tho people ar
worse than dogs. i have been fasting for tw'
days, and nobody has offered me crust" HI
had. not twenty minutes before, murdered
Rosine. the 14-yearold sister of young r dier
but her body was not found until week later
At another time throe or four women In turi
escaped him. A Nine. Marchand has Identihe,
Vacher as man who attacked her on the roa.
near Lyons at Easter. 1898. She was returning
from market where she had sold some oranges
and q man came behind her and seized her b.
the throat She struggled violently. manages
TO scratch her assailant's face and succeeds
finally In screaming. Several persons hear
her. but before they reached her her assailan
Ned. Three other women were attacked In tn
same way that afternoon. but were able /
escape In . similar manner.
Vacher's most prominent victim was tn
Marquis do Villeplaine. who was killed Will
Walking In his mark In aouth hWeatern Eranca. nc