davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune., 1919-12-21
4 Proper Family Man

He calls himself an engineer, and
up to tho year 1915 he was living
in the odor Of sanctity with his wife
and four children. In that year, how
ever, he deserted his family and
went to Vernouillet, not far from
Paris, where he took small villa.
He was Joined at the villa by q GER
tain Nine. Cuchet, a plump person
OF forty-tive years, and her fifteen
year-old son, and it is remembered
that the trio frequently made motor
and cycle trips in the neighborhood.
Then the woman and the lad disap-
peared, and the neighbors were in
formed that Nine. Cuchet had
gone to England to represent a Paris
fashion house," while the lad had
enlisted in the British Army.
A few weeks later another woman.
OF about the same age, took the
place of Nine. Cuchet, but in less
than a month chs also had disan-
peared. She was succeeded by a
woman OF thirty, who also passed
into oblivion after q short residence
in the fateful villa.
No trace of any one of these three
women. or of the lad Cuchet has
been found, but it is recalled that dur
ing the term of Landru's residence
at Vernouillet there often issued
from the chimneys Of the house a
peculiarly thick and acrid smoke, the
cause of frequent complaint and
New-York tribune., 1919-12-21
Fair Enough

Landru smiled YEARLY.
"1n view Of the fact, monsieur le
juge," he remarked, that no trace
has been found Of Nine. G. either,
l claim for my part that she also
never existed"
At times he will address the Judge
as from plane of moral superiority
which must be hard indeed TO bear.
Pressed for details of his relations
with a woman for whom he is SUP
posed to have acted as confidential
agent, he rebuked the judge roundlg.
Nothing" he declared. "can ex-
cuse your request that I should v'.>-
late professional secrecy"
Then he will soften, he will allow
tender sympathy for the judge to
move him. When his counsel was
heatedly contending with the court
on some point of procedure, Landru
interrupted him.
'Do not irritate monsieur le juge,"
he said. "Let US be conciliatory."
Small wonder that Paris reads Of
him and chuckles. When the Landru
case is settled some Of the gayety Of
the nation will disappear, yet this
day does not seem soon to be coming.
In all that concerns Landru's guilt
or innocence of the murder of thir-
teen women, no more is known to-
day than was known last April, SO
sklllfully has this remarkable man
caught upon his shield all thrusts
that might have pierced through to
the truth, SO vain have been the in
vestigations of the police in the face
OF his refusal to speak.
The air Is as full to-day as ever ii
was Of rumors, but no more than
rumors. The gossip of the con-
cierges, the tattle of the villagers,
the smoke that rose from the houses
at Vernouillet and Gambais, the
abortive dragging Of the marshes,
the discovery of the bodies of ths
griffon dogs, the finding Of small
fragments of charred bone, she utter
absence of any indication as to the
whereabouts Of the thirteen women
these things bring us within reach
of the horrible, yet do not carry Us
out OF the realm of the grotesque.
And over everything is the figure
Of Landru himself, unmoved, un-
movable, protesting his innocence,
f1outlng the court. 1t will be long
before he passes out of the memory
OF the Parisians. He has been
source of amusement in a time Of
great sadness.
New-York tribune., 1919-12-21

ers Of topical songs In the music
haMs-took up the cry, the cartoon
lists sharpened their pencils and their
wits on 1t, and the Gambais villa
became mecca for Sunday trip
pers. 1t Is even said that little boys
were promised by their mothers that,
If they were good, they should have
sight Of Landru's house.
All the Details
Within easy reach of the villa lie
marshes, and no sooner was it known
that these were to be dragged than
refreshment stalls sprang up on
their banks and did thriving busi-
ness. 1t was Landru, Landru
everywhere. The newspapers with
out exception-even the staid semi
official "Temps," even the historic
Journal des Debats"-f1ung them
selves on the story, and the litera-
ture Of the subject was soon COM
plete as to Landru's life, his habits,
his taste in books, his clothes, his
domestic life, his religious leanings,
his wife, his family. Interviews
were eagerly sought, and soon we
had the fearful tale Of young
woman who had known Landru, and
who consented to recount her expe-
riences, and even a lifting Of the
domestic veil by his wife, seen by
an enterprising reporter in her lit
tie home at Clichy.
New discoveries, or what we're
New-York tribune., 1919-12-21
Landru, the Suspected Slayer of
Is Trusting Women, Is
Mirth-Provoking Mystery
reason for Landru's unpopularity
among his neighbors.

reason for Landru's unpopularity
among his neighbors.
Our Bluebeard left Vernouillet.
and next emerged at Gambais, also
near to Paris. There he had trans
ported the furniture from the first
residence, and there he also rented a
villa. Woman succeeded woman as
his companion, and once again we
learn that the folk Of the neighbor-
hood had to complain Of thick and
acrid smoke issuing from the Chin
neys and spreading over nearby gar
deas and dwellings,. Landru's un-
popularity grew to tho point at
which he was denounced to the
authorities, the local belief being
that he was German spy and
that the smoke was caused by the
burning Of important and incrim-
mating papers.
Discovery an accident
Nothing came Of this denuncia-
tion. however, and we have to
imagine our Bluebeard going about
his grisly business unmolested
through 1916, 1917 and 1918, add
Ing to the list Of women deceived
and {perhaps) made away with
until it reached the number Of thir-
teen. Not until April Of 1919 did
arrest come. Landru was then in
Paris, living in the Rue Rochechou-
art. calling himself an engineer, and
it was a trivial charge Of fraud that
brought him into the clutches Of
the authorities. His rooms were
searched in the usual way, and a
number Of papers were seized that
pointed to him as a criminal Of
new and amazing sort.
A notebook was seized, which
seems to show that the man kept
record of the names--in some cases
the nicknames-of his victims, to-
gether with the dates on which
generally by means Of q matri-
monial ADVERTISEMENT he had be-
come engaged" to them. a. number
Of marriage contracts belonging to
the vanished women were also
brought to light among his belong
ings, and when these facts were
made known the press leaped on the
story as a hungry dog darts at
bone.
Gossip, all the tittle-tattle Of
Vernouillet and Gambais, swelled
the tale to unbelievable proportions,
and there was nothing that the
papers and the public were not ready
to believe. The police made minute
Investigations at Vernouillet and at
Gambais, but this was slow business,
and the reporters easily outdistanced
them. There is no law of libel to
restrain the French journalist, and
he let himself go with vengeance
in all that concerned this heaven
sent opportunity for sensational
copy. The chansonniers-the sing
New-York tribune., 1919-12-21

protest against this new machina-
tion, and I am determined to
justify myself in the light Of day.
1t would be too easy, after con-
demning mo without proof on the
statements Of concierges and soul
less journalists, to send me to
end my days in madhouse cell.
am determined to have justice"
All Paris read the letter, all Paris
grinned, and all Paris said appre-
ciatively: "Quel typo, heinl-no'a,
mais q,tel type" Which, very free
ly translated, would be: ttHe's a
birdl He's a birdp'
Let it not be thought that this
figure Of Landru, debonair, unde-
feated, inpovide, is an invention
Of the special writer. No special
writer would have set down that
passage in the letter quoted above,
in which this known seducer and de-
ceiver Of simple-minded women,
this man accused of thirteen muir
ders, invokes the worship he has
always paid to woman, that being
Of exquisite sensitiveness and per
feet grace" And this prodigious
impertinence is typical Of him who
day by day outw1ts an exasperated
}ugo d'inst7uction in a conversa-
tional duel.
There was the occasion, for IN
stance, when the judge severely
criticized the action Of Landru's s
son, a soldier Of France, to whom
his father had handed certain of his
victims jewelry for sale to the
troops at tho front. So the Judge
declared roundly that the suspicious
Of the son should certainly have
been aroused.
"Do you mean to say" he asked,
''that your son made no comment
when you told him to sell this Jew
elry?"
New-York tribune., 1919-12-21
20 YOU wish some lawn
seed; Is your soldier sons
allotment paid; would you

0 all0tmenC PAID; would you
get your friends husband
out Of the penitentiary; could your
community use a cannon for deco
rative purposes; are you desirous Of
a good government position, or are
you anxious to have an efficient
accounting system for your bakery?
Just take the matter up by mali
with your Congressman.
Seize your pen.--or typewriter
and give full vent to your feelings
in an expressive letter to your Con-
gressman.
Don't be squeamish; everybody is
doing it.
Never before in tho history Of
Congress has such a variety and
quantity Of mail deluged tho mem
bers Of the House Of Representa-
tives and tho Senate as is now pour
ing into the Capitol daily. The del
uge- started during the war when
the folks back home suddenly awoke
to realization that they had men
at Washington who could do favors
for them. At that time tho mail
dealt mainly with martial matters,
such as safety Of the men in service,
allotments, insurance, discharges
and mail, and phlegmatic, corpulent
Representatives putfed, worked their
secretaries and stenographers over
time and trusted when this war
ends we will get let-up."
But the war has ended and the
let-up has not materialized. Instead
the variety Of subjects touched
upon merely has widened in endless
ripples until virtually every human
Ill, notion or inclination has been
embroiled.
A hundred or more letters in The
first morning mail Is no unusual
sight for the Congressman and, to
use the prevailing phrase, every
one hRs a lick in it," or, in other
New-York tribune., 1919-12-21
A Form OF Epithet

"Un Landru" is any bearded man
Of half a century who may incur the
displeasure OF any young woman on
the street, in The subway, anywhere
you will. 'Espece de Landru" is a
form Of address which will at once
win the laughing suffrages Of the
crowd and reduce the offender to
impotent silence.
So true Is this that back In the
month of May, when the Landru
case wed with the doings Of Presi-
dent Wilson and his associates Of the
Peace Conference for newspaper
honors, hundreds Of men who all
their lives had gone bearded paid a
shamefaced visit to the barber. A
black beard was al invitation to any
crowd to indulge III pleasantries
little to the taste Of the wearer. It's
an i'll wind that blows nobody good,
and Landru has been a benefactor
to the tribe Of BARRIERS, at least.
The month Of April was some days
old when he arose above the horizon.
An astonished and Ito be perfectly
frank) an amused Paris heard that
the police had laid hands on man
who had spirited away thirteen
women. In each case he had prom
ised marriage, in each case no had
possessed himself Of the woman's
furniture, her jewelry, all her pitt
able little belongings, and then-~ah,
then? The women had disappeared,
and a hundred suggestions were
made as to their fate. Any one or all
Of these suggestions may be correct,
but even to-day, many months after
the curtain rose on tho first act Of
the affair, nobody knows.
Stripped Of the embroidery 80
literally applied to the story by the
crime experts Of the daily press, the
history of the twentieth century
Bluebeard seems to be as follows:
New-York tribune., 1919-12-21

nEACE CONFERENCES come
and go, but Landru, like the
h brook, goes on forever.
Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06

If the grounding came out of his winter quarters Sunday as he is supposed to do on Candlemas day, he must have seen his shadow, in which case, according to the legend, he went back into his hole for six weeks more of winter weather. If the sky had been overcast, so goes the leg end, Mir. Groundhog would have re- mained out with perfect assurance that winter was over.
 There is a tradition that fair Candlemas day portends a severe spring. In Scotland the notion is expressed in the following:
 Eff Candlemas is fair and clear,
 There'll be twa winters in the year"
 This winter has been exceptionally mild so far but judging by records of previous years "the worst is yet to come." During the first week of February last year, this section was visited by the most severe cold wave on record. A minimum of 36 below zero was reported from one part of the town. In February 1917, fifteen inches of snow fell during the first week of the month; and in 1914, the temperature. dropped to 1A below zero early in the month and the cold spell was followed by the heaviest snow fall since 1888.
Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06
Lincoln Day Concert

An annual event that is awaited with eagerness by all lovers of mu- sic is the Lincoln Memorial concert at Norfolk, given through the gener- osity of Mrs. Henry H. Bridgman This is held in the Congregational church, to which admission is se- cured by the invitation tickets issued by the hostess.
 For the concert this year Mrs Bridgman has secured Jacques, the brilliant French violinist, Miss Mary Kent, with an exquisite contralto voice, and James Price, a distin. guished tenor. Nicholar Schneer will be at the piano.
 The major part of the program will consist of patriotic numbers, g tribute to the allies and to America
Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06
PILGRIM CHURCH

| Memorial services to Theodore Roosevelt will be held throughout the entire country on Sunday, Febru- ary 9th. All Americans, whether his political friends or not, will welcome the chance to pay tribute to the man who believed in and worked for America.
 At Pilgrim Church the day will be fittingly observed at the morning service. Roosevelt the Man" will be the subject of MT. Timberlake's address, for, as an English writer says, "The world can i'll spare any of its truly big men just now, and even the strongest opponents of Roo sevelt's politicies will readily admit that Theodore Roosevelt was a big man."
 Making Democracy Safe for the World" will be the topic at the Brotherhood Class. MT. H. F. Yale has consented to lead the discussion. Russia is not the only country where there is a very undemocratic revolt against the established order. ~ Is American Democracy able to hold its own against the Bolshevist ten- dency? Must it yield, or should it yield, to another form of govern ment? Men are invited to come and help solve this question.
 MT. Maitland Adam leads the meeting of the Young People on Sunday evening. It is a Consecra- tion meeting with the topic 'T Will'' and What Will F"
 The Young Woman's Guild. will hold it's weekly meeting with Regina Adams at the home of Mrs. Molando on Monday evening.
Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06
Boy Scout Notes

The Scouts continued their work of fixing up Scout Headquarters last Saturday afternoon. The building was wired and the electric lights were installed. Several windows were put in.
 The Scouts rehearsed their play Tuesday night at the Town Hall. They are getting along with the work finely and hope to give you a fine en- tertainment the fourteenth.
Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06
SNAP SHOTS

Bolsheviki in Russia have plenty of money-such as it is. They've captured the printing presses.- Washington Herald.
 Merely signing an armistice seems not to have materially affected the high cost of running war.-Hart- ford Times.
 Some events in the past few weeks have almost recalled the existence of a gentleman named William Jen- nings Bryan.-Hartford Times.
 Taxing purses and pocketbooks as Iuxuries will be defended as prop CT on the ground that nobody will need them after the tax collector has been around.-New York Sun.
 Now along comes Colonel Whittle- sey and says he did not tell the Ger mans to go to hell. Somebody is al- ways taking the joy out of war; Hartford Times. A*A
 All other considerations aside, setting the clock forward at mid night on March 30 brings us one hour sooner to midnight of the last day of June.-New York Sun.
 #x*
 As if there were not enough trou- ble in the world the volcano of Xii laueo, Hawaiian Islands, has begun to erupt. Bolshevism seems to have spread to the Pacifc-New Bedford Star.
 The Detroi~ News wants to know if you would call it a saloon that man is going to have out in the ocean or life-saving station. We don't know but there won't be any moaning of the bar when it puts out to sea.-Hartford Times. I~=' >. **a
 The price of an airplane trip to Philadelphia has been fixed at $15, which in comparison with the mount ing railroad charges for passenger transportation, is not excessive New York Sun.
 Victor Berger avows that he will never give up. Oh, well, that's all right. Many a man who refused to give up has been locked up-for good long terms. too.--Kansas City Jaurnal.
Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06
BONDS TO PAY
 DEBT OF HONOR
They Will Bring Home the Fight ing Men Who Have Won the
 Victorious Peace.

The Fifth Liberty Loan will be used especially and emphatically in paying debt of honor.
 The debt is one owed by the nation to its fighting forces. Who could think for a moment that it would not be paid eagerly in the finest spirit and with pride in meeting the obliEa- tions?
 This Loan - the VICTORIOUS FIFTH-which will be offered in about three months, will bring home the men who fought through France from Chateau -Thierry right to Sedan, thou sands of whom are today on German soil
 The President says that large pro- portion of them must remain during the period of occupation. Those who will be brought home will be trans ported and demobilized at a very heavy expense for months to come.
 The Loan will pay these charges. To avoid them in any way, to try to cut down on them, to fail to provide money for them, would be an incred- ible act on the part of the people of the United States.
 The men who went to France, ready to give their lives if need be for the nation, did not halt half way-did not stop when they thought the end seemed almost near. They went to the very limit. They saw the war to the very close, however bitter 1t might be.
 To look after them in the period of the making of the peace, to bring them home in comfort and safety and honor, must be the one effort of all the war loans in which the nation will join to a man.
 The realization of what the men have done Is written across the history of the United States the past eighteen months. The opportunity to pay the debt of honor will be met in return ing them to psace and prosperity.
 The opportunity lies in the new Liberty Loan bond, that Is the Fifth Loan.
 Use the next three months in pre- pairing to join in paying the country's debt of honor to her soldiers who have won the victory.
Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06
Wearing of Uniform

Present law authorizes a discharg- cd officer or soldier to wear his uni form from the place of discharge to his noIla. within three months of the date of his discharge, from the ser vice. Thereafter the officer may wear his uniform only upon occasions of ceremony.
 The enlisted man must return his uniform within four months of date of discharge; but can wear it only as stated above.
Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06
Fathers Know Your Boys

"Who builds in Boys builds lastingly
 in Truth, And vanished hands are multiplied
 in power, And sounds of living voices, hour
 by hour, Speak forth his message with the lips
 of Youth. Here, in the Home of Hope, whose
 doors are love, To shape young souls in images of
 right, To train frail twigs straight upward
 toward the Light; Such work as this God measures
 from above! And faring forth, triumphant, with
 the dawn, Each fresh young soul missioner
 for veal, Forward they carry, as shield, the
 seal, Of his example-so his work goes
 on. Granite may crumble, wind and wave destroy, :. Urn, shaft or word may perish or
 decay; But this shall last forever and a day, His living, loving monuments
 Boyw
Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06

Estate of Florian c. Petey, late of
 Sharon in the Probate District of
 Sharon, deceased.
 At a Court of Probate holden at Sharon, within and for the District of Sharon on the 3rd day of Febru- ary, A. D. 1919.
 Present, Willard Baker, Judge.
 Estate of Florian c. Petey, late of Sharon in said District, deceased.
 Bertha P. Petey the widow of said deceased appeared in court and moved that letters of administration be granted on said estate and that she be appointed the administrator thereof as per application on file. And it appearing that Charles Pet ey is a minor, the Court appoints said Bertha P. Petey, guardian ad Item of said minor. And it is
 ORDERED-That said application be heard and determined at the Pro. bate Office in said Sharon on the 11th day of February 1919, at two o'clock in the afternoon, and that notice be given of the pendency of said appli- cation and the time and place of hearing thereon, by publishing a copy of this order in some newspa- per printed in this County and hay ing a circulation in this district, and by posting like copy on the public sign post in the said town and return make to this Court.
 Attest, Willard Baker, Judge. A true copy,
 Attest, Willard Baker, Clerk.
Connecticut western news., 1919-02-06
LOCAL ITEMS

Miss Mary Jaques of Lincoln, Neb. who has been visiting her aunt, Mrs. Joseph l.. Parsons left yesterday for Lowell, Mass, where she will visit relatives. Mrs. Parsons accom- panied her as far as Boston. Conductor .Kaschau announced to the Choral Society at the Tuesday evening rehearsal, that Dr. Arthur Mees would conduct the rehearsal next Tuesday.
 Miss Fannie Kasson of Southfeld is spending few days with Mrs. Robert D. Peirce.
 Frank F. Stevens was among the prize winners at the Lenox Poultry show, taking the following prizes on his Buff Wyandottes; first on cock, first and second on hen, first and third on cockerel, fourth on bullet second on pen.
 Mr. Tracy has returned from Camp tDevens and entered the employ of C.. M. Benjamin, electrician.
 The Canfeld hotel dining room has been secured for the Father and Son banquet, to be held Wednesday night, February 18th. The Ladies Catholic Club will meet with Mrs. Michael O'Neil this after noon at the usual hour.
 Miss Josephine Flynn is visiting at the home of her sister, Mrs Daniel Flynn in Great Harrington.
 Horace E. Hatch of Danbury spent Sunday with his family on High St.
 Esther Chapter o. E. s. will holC a whist party in the Masonic lodge room, Weoncsday evening, February 18th.
 Mrs. Charles Moore spent Tuesday