Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-08
FRANCE STARTS
CASE AGAINST
ITS BLUEBEARD
Accused Of II Murders,
10 of Victims
F'iances
Claimed He Promised Marriage
and Then Burned Woman to
Death-Is Calm and Cool AS
Trial Speeds-To Go On
Stand Today

Versailles. Nov. 7-CBy A. P)-For
three hours today Henri Desire Lam
dru. the blue beard of Gambais" lis
tened to the reading Of his indict-
ment, unfolding tale of gruesome
horrors which. if he is found guilty,
will stamp him as one of the most re-
markable criminals ever known. To-
morrow he will take the stand for di-
rect examination.
L.andru sat unmoved and apparent
ly unconcerned throughout the read
ing, which with the roll call of wit
nesses and the selection of the jury
occupied the entire first session of his
trial in the Seine Eft Disc Assizes
He is charged with II murders. Ten
Of his alleged victims were women to
whom he is said to have promised
marriage and the eleventh the son
of one Of them. He is alleged to have
burned his victims bodies.
NJ. Moro Giafferi. who defended
former Premier Joseph Caillaux and
former Senator Charles HumDert a
their sensational trials, will appear in
behalf of Landru. Prosecuting Attor-
ney Godefroi conducting the case for
the people. Judge Gilbert of Yer
, sailles will preside.
The case has attracted greater at
tention than any other criminal case
in the annals of French courts.
Within half an hour after court
convened the jury had been selected.
accepted and sworn in. and the ac-
tual trial begun. The Indictment for
murder on II counts was read. as we'll
as Is charges for forgery and swind-
ling.
! Iandru appeared pale and hagcard
| from his 81 months of detention, hut
he was self possessed and calm. He
had pleaded Illness early this morn
ing but the court physician pronoun-
ced him able to attend the hearing.
Several hours before court con-
vened. large crowds had formed long
lines outside the courtroom hoping
in vain TO reach the small available
space for standing room.
1t was decided TO select one supple
mentary judge and two supplement
tary jurors. who should act in case
Of sickness.
1.andru was arrested in April. 1919
and has spent his time for the past
two and a half years in answering or
evading questions of the police. the
investigating magistrate. and other
court officials as to the fate Of his / /
fancees. He has proved most stub
born as well as very clever prisoner
and the police admit that their case
against him is not as strong as they
should like it to be.
The so-called Bluebeard rented a
small villa at Gambais. a few miles
from Paris and it is there that the
police charge he did away with tho
! women. all trace of whom has
been absolutely lost. 1t is alleged
monial agency papers and chose
from the letters received those
signed by women with a little prop
erty and no near relatives.
A short courtship would follow.
then journey to the Gambais villa
in the company Of the fiancee. The
accusation says that Landru always
returned alone. The police claim to
have proof that women were seen to
enter the villa but none was heard
of afterward. A few weeks later,
whatever bonds. stocks, furniture.
iewelry the women possessed would
be sold
The villa at Gambais has been
searched, ransacked, practically de-
molished by the police in an effort to
find the remains of the missing wo-
men. A few bones were found, some
hair, but not enough TO form cor
pus deficit" RABBIT and mutton
bones says Landru.
why don't YOU bring your former
fancees forward asks the Judge.
How can l when you keep me in
Jail for years." counters Landru. IF
you and your hundreds of detectives
cannot locate them how can t.
A dark visaged man. with shining
bald head and long black whiskers,
Landru has become a familiar figure
by representations on the stage. He
is already under sentence of five
years imprisonment for forgery
growing out Of one of the cases
where murder Is also charged.