Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-11-22
ALLEGED BLUEBEARD'S TRIAL.
HOLDS FRANCE SPELLBOUND|
Man of 283 Love Affairs Is
Conducting Keen Case in
Defense of His Life
BY GRANT GORDON
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
(CODyright. 1921

BY GRANT GORDON
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal)
Copyright, 1929
VERSAILLES, Nov. 19.-Anoth-
err Of those amazing French trials
mas held the country spellbound for
the last fortnight and has threatened
at times to crowd the Washington
conference entirely out Of the French
newspapers. So much so, in fact
that the prisoner at the bar cried
out in spectacular rage one day
against the prominence given him,
protesting that the attempt to dis
arm the nations Of the world was
Of vastly greater Importance than
his attempt to cheat the polished
blade Of the guillotine.
The trial is that of Henri Desire
Landru, the "bluebeard of Gambais,"
the man of 283 love affairs, accused
Of the murder Of ten of his f1ancees
as we'll as the little son Of one of
them. Daily the stuffy little court
of Assizes has been stormed by wom-
en- of fashion and the great lumlna-
ries Of the French stage.
A Paris newspaper has been con-
Quoting a symposium as to what
should be done with any man Of 2S3
"affaires due occur" The question
was put to distinguished actress.
1.-TWO hundred and eighty-three
affaires," she repeated, Mon dieu,
the man should be given the legion
Of honor"
Great Excitement
An American visiting the court
room and lacking previous knows
edge of French Jurisprudence, would
think himself in mad house. Most
of the day is taken up with wrangles
between Presiding Judge Gilbert and
the prisoner, seated in the dock not
far from the bench. The judge hurls
charge after charge at Landru and
the prisoner lashes back with a ven
geful tongue. At times both begin
talking at once and the excitement
among the spectators reaches fever
heat. Occasionally the court room
laughs at some sally by the Judge
against the prisoner.
"Shut up" yells Landru, this is
no laughing matter. I am defending
NV poor head" All Of which calls
for more laughter.
Every now and then other wit
nesses are heard, but whenever Gull
ness threatens the proceedings, elth
err the Judge or the prosecutor turns
upon the prisoner and proceeds 10
berate him soundly. Then the court
room goes into an uproar ana the
debate becomes general. Througn an
the noise and confusion a jury oL
stolid peasant farmers is all put Lor-
COTTON. The divisions noticed IN the
court room crowd are indicative OF
all French today. You either are
Landruist, or an ant1-LdLorule''
Nothing else happens.
Virtually all Of the witnesses against
Jandru are his former sWeethearts.
Thev are applauded or Missed as
thew tell Of their visits to MS viva
at Gambais, the villa from WHICH
the police say ten of the 283 women
failed to return. Occasionally q
note of boastfulness from one OIL
the former sweethearts brings Jeers
and "ha-ha-s'' from the others.
The trial is a vaudeville show ana
Iandru is the chief actor IN IT, re
has a famous Corsican duelllst as ms
attorney, M. Moro-Giafferl' out Iue
master seldom is heard from, Lahuru
conducting his own case with Gun
ming skill which more than oAIeh
turns the tables upon mis- DC
CuSerS.
Grilling Every Day .
He has had a grilling every Cay u
the trial and the he eXultS IN It. f1e
chafes at the stupidity of some OF
the witnesses for the prosecution,
and never let's an opportunity pass
to slur the police.
Speaking of grilling, the trial occa'
sionally takes CHASTITY turn "neh
the court at a certain hour each Gay
accuses Landru Of having cut up
and burned his victims in MS VIVA
cook stove. The court room oeV'
otees turn from a grin to a 'nuo-
der with delicious thrills which ire
uuently find vocal expressions
There is no direct testimony against
Landru. The case is circumstantlal'
The victims disappeared and many
of their personal belongings ana
trinkets were found when ponce
raided Gambais villa. The theory
is that Landru killed some OF the
women for money, but he is sad TO
have netted not more than 35'OOO
francs from the entire lot.
Landru's conquests were not
brilliant lot, judging by the former
sweetheart witnesses. Many OF
them were billiards. They ranged in
age from 16 to so, however, and let
tiers to one of his fty-one-year-old
victims always began Petite Frlp.
pone," meaning little rascal.
Partisan women insist they see no
attraction in Landru. He wears the
beard Of a poilu, is not impressive
in height or bearing, but tries to
keep himself immaculate in appear
ance. The only thing unusual about
the man is a look in his eye. Some
say it is a criminal eye, others in
sist is hypnotic. In any event 1t
is strange.
Some of the details Of circum-
stances built up against the prison
er are interesting. Each time a vic
tim disappeared, the prosecutor has
been able to show Landru bought a
round trip ticket for himself to
Gambais, but only a single passage
for his f1ancees. The French are
noted for their thrift. But Landru
has another explanation. He did
not want the fiancee to feel she was
not free to stay at Gambias as long
as she desired.
It would have been an" insult to
buy her round trip ticket.
Tried on Eleven Charges
Landru is being tried for all eleven
of the murders at once. Nothing
like that could happen in America.