The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1907-06-19
jeanne WEBER,
Like a Terrible Monster 0! the
Mediaeyal Legends.
NH0SETOUCH SLAYS.

WHOSE TOUCH SLAYS.
Every Child, Now Arrested for
Sixth Death. The Case Recalls
the Most Fantastic Legends of
OgresSes, Who Dwelt in Caves in
the Woods and Feasted on the
Blood of Children.
The case of ''The Ogress of Mont
marte" is again causing the deep
est emotion and rage among the pop
u!ation of Paris.
The ogress whose actual name is
Jeanne Weber, is held responsible
by the inhabitants of Montmarte and
ofParis generally for causing the
death Of at least five children, ana
yet there is no reasonable explana-
ton how she killed any of them.
One child after another, who
came in contact with the ogress Of
Montmarte died suddenly and nays-
teriouslv, as if some invisible force
had stopped it's life. There was
never any sign of violence on the
BODY and the doctors called in were
unable to state the cause of death
with any certainty. All that was
known positively was that Madame
Jeanne Weber had touched them
upon the breast.
The case recalls the most fantas-
tic medieval legends Of ogresses,
who dwelt in caves in the woods and
feasted on the blood Of children, and
Of the historical Marshal de Retz, Of
the fifteenth century who destroyed
hundreds of children N order to
minister to a perverted appetite for
blood.
The parents of the dead children
are convinced that Jeanne Weber
took their lives and the common peo-
pie have become so impressed with
the idea, that the woman would be
in danger Of lynching if she were
not safely lodged in Jail. On the
other hand, all the Judges, doctors
and educated men, who have IN
vestigated the cases, are satisfied
there was no legal evidence against
her.
Nine, Weber is a heavily built
stolid looking woman, who excltes
repulsicn in all who come in contact
with her on account Of her sickly
smile, her long yellow teeth and her
sallow complexion. She expresses
an overwhelming fondness for all
children and loves to fondle them.
While she dose so, she gurgles with
delight and utters loud expressions
Of endearment.
The first child whose death is at,
tributed to Nine. Weber was Cecile
Percy a girl Of three years.
She was the child of neighbors Of
the Webers, living in the quarter OF
Montmarte. Nine. Weber lived at
that time at No. So Rue des Troi>
Freres, Montmarte, and the Percy.
bornes lived at No. 81 in the same
street. She offered to come in anc
take care Of the child whenever Nine
Pereyborne wished to go anywhere
aud the busy mother was glad tx
accept the offer.
Il am happy to spend all day
playing with the dear little thing
said Nine. Weber. Il love her so. D
The girl was frightened when the
ogress first smiled at her, but the
woman quickly overcame the little
ones fears with presents Of candy.
One after noon the mother went
away on a long shopping errand
leaving her daughter in the care o5
Madame Weber. When she return
ed the child was lying motionles:
on her back, while the ogress wa:
pressing her hand on her chest.
"What are you doing?" cried the
mother.
81 wasfeeling her heart to see il
it was still beating,'' said Madame
Weber, 81 am afraid she is very i'll. y
The terrified mother ran to he1
child and found that she was dead
The doctor who was called could moi
decide positively what was the cause
Of death. The little girl had beer
perfectly healthy up to the time
the mother left her. Her face
wore and expression as if she had
died in great agony or terror.
This case did not attract grave
suspicion to Madame Weber. but q
year later three children whom she
had been fondling died mysteriously
within two months and one one mar
rowly escaped. Then the outcry be-
gan and the ogress was arrested.
She passed four months in prison
while the authorizes were gathering
evidence concercing the strange ia.
talities. Then her case was sent to
the Court Of Assizes. The first
Judge, President Favre, to whom
the case was presented, refused tc
hear it on the ground that there was
no legal evidence against Nine. We,
ber, bat another Judge, President
Bertulus, took it up.
She first child to perish among
this new batch of victims was he,
nephew, Maurice Weber, aged
three, the child Of her husband
oldest brother. Nine. Weber al
ways wished to take care Of the
child, and it was said that on the
day Of his death she persuaded the
mother to go away on a long visit tc
the country The child was found