The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
THE REAL HUBBARD.
GILES DE RE7Z, BoLD SOLDIER,
ARTIST and AWEUL MURDERER.
The Story of His Life-FouEht by the Side OF
Joan of Arc-Marshai of France and Then
nBankrupt-His Murders and His Trial
lie Confessed His Grimes and was Hanged

Bankrupt-His Murders and HIS I rial 81
lie Confessed His Grimes and was Hanged
The origin Of the story Of Bluebeard told in
the immortal "Contcs dc pcraut is not fixed alb
solut,ly beyond dispute but, on the authority Of
the French historian Michcct and Of numerous
Breton legends We may reasonably assume that
the boOdthirsty and uxurous ogre who has
been the terror Of 50 many nursery had his his
toTic prototype in the notorious Giles de Retz,
a Baron Of Brittany and Marshal Of France in
the fifteenth century. Learned scholars and
industrious delivers amid the dusty archives Of
the middle ages may dispute among themselves
as TO whether this or that historic character was
the original Of this cruel hero Of the COntes de Ia
Mere L'Oyo" Cstorcs OF Mother Goose, but 10 this
day tho peasant folk Of Brittany hold To their
belief that tho tale Of Blucbeard and his unhappy
wives is founded on the life Of a human monster
who lived in their country hundreds Of years ago,
and tried and executed in their ancient city
Of Nantes for his many crimes against humanity.
Interest in the story OF this notorious criminals
life is revived 1t the present moment by the pub
licaton by the l'utnams Of a volume on the sub
icct. "BlucbcaId. a contribution to History and
Folk Lore. Being the History Of Giles dc Retz
OF Brittany, France, who was executed at Nantes
in l440 A. d., and who the original Of Blue
beard In the tales Of Mother Goose" by Thomas
Wilson. LII. u. Mr.. Wilson, who is one Of tho
curators Of the National Museum and
sellor Of the Bar Of the Supreme Court, for
some years United States Consul at Nantes, and
while resident there he made the Investigations
which resulted in this volume. lie had
TO tho original records OF the trial Of Giles do
Retz. and, among other photographs, he made
a copy of q page of the confession Of the accused,
taken from Latin MSS of the record in the pro-
cess against him in the archives OF Loire Infcri-
cure. lie has drawn freely upon the comparatively
recently-issucd works OF the Able Brossard and
NJ Charles Lcmre, aud he has iudciOusly ex.
purghted the criminal records in such Il way as
TO make the story acceptable TO the general reader
Neither the exact date nor the place of birth Of
Giles de Retz is known. but the event occurred at
one Of the family chateauX in Southern Brittany
somewhere about 1904 His father died during
the childhood Of Giles, and his mother remarked
leaving the boy to the OF an aged and ndu-
gent grandfather In li20 no married rich
young noble woman who brought him number
of chateauN and q fortune which, together with
his own patrimony, made him ono OF the richest
Barons Of his province The standard OF educa
ton at that and in the province Of Brittany was
not high and as Giles, in after years and at his
trial, said: In my youth l was allowed TO go
always according to my own sweet will" Never
thelesS he spoke three languages. Latin, French
Ind Breton. had some knowledge OF chemistry.
~ S'~'NNS ~ 'N'''''NA
ana in'euectua' men In lao, when he appeared
~ inc court OF the Dauphln his contemporaries
represent him as vigorous, robust man OF great
beauty and rare personal charms, and Micheet
describes him as un grand S'i0neur de bon enten-
demenl, oeis perSonne ct bon fdcoh Like many
Oh inc breton race he was oil fair complexion and
ms eSes were large ana Diue' lie had long, blush
black. soft and silky hair and beard square Shout
ders and an athletic and graceful figure. In at
40, rtt,.a, o
uacu'ehess oil person and manner he seem to have
been model OF the great noble Of his time.
AT this epoch France and England were in tho
midst oil the Hundred Years War. while Brittany,
Guless own duchy had been since the death Of
john ~. engaged in civil war over the succession.
Inc family OF Montfort had gained the victory
over the party OF Penthievres and Blois, and
Gilcss family, which had formerly fought on tho
side oil Blols' had changed sides and taken up the
cause OF john V. oil Montiort Giles fought side
by side with his grandfather at the head of all
army OF 10000 in series of battles that resulted
M inc defeat "l the Blos party, and later he ap-
peared at t"uI' and took service with the King of