The Bismarck tribune., 1921-11-18

Cd Madame Celestine Bulsson, ~
BY N. n. A. Service
Versailles, Nov. 18-The greatest
murderer and the most successful
lover of modern times!
Those titles will be given without
reservation to Henri Desire Landru il
Prosecutor BOnin proves him guilty at
his trial, now tfnt&er way at the .Ver.
sailles assizes. But noted criminolo-
gists who have studied the case, say
the state has hard fight on it's hands
to convict Landru on the evidence.
Landru, known the world over. as
'1Bluebeard,' is charged with having
slain 10 women whom he married or
pledged to marry and the son Of one
of the women.
Landru has been imprisoned for two
years awaiting trial. Not because the
French authurities" delayed-but be-
because Landru, with his keen knowl-
edge, Of French law, always raised
some legal obstacle when an attemp:
was made to bring him to trial.
In those two years Landru has be-
come better known than any living
iFrenchman. Musical comedies even
have been staged in Paris with LandrI
as the central character.
~ H. Real Thrills
Why? Because the case is filled
with more unusual sensational and
comic angles than any criminal case
I'M the last decade. Here are some OF
them: -
The best of Paris world famed de-
tectives have been on the case. Some
won international regulations by un-
covering spy plots in the war.
To collect evidence for the trial the
spolice carried on a billboard advertis-
ing campaign. They tackled up big
red posters bearing Landru's photo
graph and this inscription: III this
man has made love to you or anyone
you know, inform the police!"
Landru, is an expert cOntOrtionist
and is willing to 60 through his tricks
for the amusement of court fans or
prison visitors. He often laughs and
makes witty sallies in the courtnoom
# Once 4 1Model Man.
Landru was a model mana
churchman, faithful, husband and
loving father--until, he was 30, when
his: career sof mixed love and murder
is alleged to have begun.
He's q brilliant man Of quick wit.
His answers to. questions made many
a magistrate ridiculous in prelimi-
nary Investigations. q, &.
Testimony and affidavits against
Landru on closely typewriter sheess
fill several huge trunks. And Landru
now says his eyes have been ruined
reading them and that he'll ask dam
ages from the French government!
Everyone is asking how Landru
won his sweethearts' affections. For
the police say he killed only II Of Is
women whom he Mooed, Landru's not
ladies' man-he's past 80, bald, with
shaggy beard and not at all hand
some. He paid little attention to
dress. b.
Those are angles that are interest.
ing to court hangers.on, criminolo-
gists and everyone who reads about
the case.
WHAT'S the evidence against Lam
dru?
Only d pile of bones found in his
country house at Gambais. Some ex-
perts say they're human bones. 9th
ers deny it..
Articles Of female apparel also were
found and parts Of bodies were discov-
cred in a lake nearby.
And the statements Of Gambais resi-
dents that Landru kept fire in his
furnace in midsummer, when coal was
high priced and hard to get. Al. a
This, coupled with the fact that IL
women who were known to have been
friendly with Landru, suddenly van
ished. has caused the police to con.
struct this theory:
That Landru courted 10 women,
aged from 20 to 60, lured them to his
country home, murdered them and
burned their bodies in the basement
furnace!
How can they prove their theory?