davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times., 1922-09-10
Accepts fnDitafion.

She accepted the invitation, and .
fsw days iater-on August Q, 1918,
70 b precise-she arrived at Yer
nouillet with q large brown trunk.
Because Landru was pretending to
make arrangements for his de-
parturo to Australia, she had pur-
chased the trunk. secondhand, at
her lovers suggestion.
After the date mentioned, when
Madame Guillin locked up her fiat
At IS Rue Crozatier. and went by
train to Vernouillet, she was never
again seen.
From the drama that was en-.
acted at tho House of Death I am
now able to lift the veil. On the
evening Of madame's arrival the
pair dined together. and after
ward sat in the garden.
Have you no servant here7'
she asked presently, rather sur
prised.
"Yes. I have . very excellent
woman-Madame Bricourt, was
his reply. Her son was unfor-
tunately wounded q week ago, and
she mas gone to the military hos
pital at Rouen to see him. fear
she will not be back for a couple
of days. 50 We must get on as
best We can without her-eh?
She lives with her brother just at
the end Of the road"
With that explanation the WON.
an was quite satisfied. Landru
was in no way impatient to OBJ
tain the woman's money, for he
knew that It was already within
his grasp. The crime was, how.
ever, precipitated by an incident
which occurred on the following
afternoon.
while her fiance was out post.
fng a letter to another, woman
whom he had recently marked
down as a victim, Madame Guillin,
on going over the villa, came upon
q locked attic. She had the curios-
ity 10 peer through the keyholc.
and, q stray bar Of sunshine ligh:-
The Washington times., 1922-09-10
DRU MADE HIS HEADQUARTERS I'm MODEST HOME WITHIN
EIE HE WAS SHARING AND KILLING WOMEN in GAY PARIS

lord is raising the rent for this
wretched little trout" ~.
Have you found another flat?"
asked the giri--for she was not
much more. although she was q
widow. Her husband. who had
been studying law. hal fought
valiantly at Verdun and won his
war-cross Just before his death.
Yes. In the Montmartre. I
saw It only yesterday. A friend Of
mine who Is leaving Paris has
offered II to me. 1t Is in the
Place Dancourt. one Of the old
world backwaters Of Paris, quaint
and secluded, off the Boulevard de
Clichy--just q little square of the
Paris of Napoleon. Do you hap
pen to know it7" 49,.
The Washington times., 1922-09-10

rich American for the next ten
years, at q very considerable
rent. We will 60 there together
one day. I want to view some
adaptations OF which my agents
inform me-"
Yes" replied the widow,
charmed by his manner: yet.
nevertheless. a trifle suspicious,
be It said.
An incident Of which Landru.
alias Dupont. was in ignorance
was that q few days before, she
had been in a taxi with q friend
Of hers. Madame Picard, passing
along the Rue Royale. when she
had pointed out Raoul Dupont.
her fiance. whom she saw hurry
ing along on the opposite side
Of the street.
The Washington times., 1922-09-10
He Is Recognized.

Madame Picard glanced In the
direction indicated, and replied:
why. my dear! You surely
have made q mistake! That is
not Monsieur Dupont. I hap.
pen to know him very well. He
met me on the Metro six months
ago. followed me. spoke to me,
and we had several walks to.
gether. He told me that he was
Henri Mignot. He asked me to
60 to his apartment in the Rue
des ! Petits-C Champs, and was
highly inquisitive as to what
money I possessed. I was afraid
he might rob me; hence I in
stinctively distrusted him; 30
went only on one occasion to the
Rue des Petits.Champs."
That is most curiousw re-
marked Elsie. He surely cannot
be the same man.
Madame Picard, the rather
skittish wife of a photographer.
described Landru's sittins.room.
and at last convinced her friend
that Henri Mignot and Raoul
Dupont must be one and the
same. Yet, after all, both women
had only caught a fleetns glance
Of him in the crowd. so either
could have been mistaken.
That incident had sown In
Madame Elsie's mind the seeds of
distinct suspicion, and therefore
she was now taking all Raoul's
assertions with grains OF salt.
Was he really q fortune-hunter
she wondered.
The Washington times., 1922-09-10
Betrayed Much Emotion.

Truly tho modern "Bluebeard"
could. on the discovery of his cup
board" effect . deep and touching
sentiment. for 30 grave was he
and betrayed such emotion that
his latest victim held him In higher
esteem than ever.
At heart, however. the discovery
caused him certain misg1vings, for
II the woman mentioned the in
cident to any Of her friends, I'M
welcome inquiries might follow.
80. while he looked her in the face
with that sweet, attractive smile
Of his. he resolved that she should
die that night.
They were, later on, seated out.
side, in the sunset, at tho back Of
the house, when Landru suddenly
said:
do not you think, my dearest,
that II would be wise to see about
selling your furnitursf We do not
want to leave It till the last mo-
ment before our departure and
then sell II at any price offered.
I happen to know Of . very honest
dealer. and II you care to leave 1t
in my hands, I will see after It
next time I go to Paris"
IT think your advice quite
sound, Henri" she replied.
Every WELL" he said. Let US
20 in. You had better write q let
ter. addressed to me. authorizing
me to deal with your effects. 1
will draft It."
So the arch criminal wrote out
draft Of the necessary document
which would not only give him pos
session Of his victims furniture
and jewelry, but also allow him to
draw her money from the Banque
de France and sell certain shares
which she possessed.
The Washington times., 1922-09-10
Aliss Was Chic.

"oh! yes" replied the war
widow. who was a born and bred
Parisienne, and showed 1t in her
dress, her gestures. her gait, her
shoes and her speech. The Pa
risienne is ever a type" just as
is the Cockney lady or the New
York woman. Each nationality
has its own distinctive chic and
speech, always the more pro-
nounced in the fair sex. II know
the Chope Dancourt, on the cor.
ner, and in the little place there
is the Cinema Montmartre. My
brother once took me there"
Then. IL you will permit it,
madame. I win take you there in
a few days, after I have got over
the disturbing troubles OF re-
moval." he said politely.
The Place Dancourt. as the
reader will remember. II a tiny
square just off the busy Boule.
ward de Clichy. q middle-class
quarter Of Paris. secluded and
quiet. save when the roysterers> Of
the Montmartre arrive home in the
early hours Of the nnornins-fS the
Montmartre is just the same as
ever, with its biazrre cabarets. it's
gay night restaurants. its ques-
tionable cafes. its harpies and its
apaches.
The small, self-contained flat
which "Bluebeard'' took was over
q -tobacconist's. Its windows; by
the irony OF fate, looked straight
upon the "Poste de Police" before
which an agent on duty stood
night and day.
The Washington times., 1922-09-10
Drinks the Poison.

Landru watched. and himself
drank. The poison he had al
ready placed in the glass while
she was out Of the room haitian
hour before was . most deadly one.
By dint Of long study. he knew
tho exact fatal doses Of certain
poisons, and in the present case
he had filled her glass half full.
well knowing that II she drank
but . quarter death must ensus
within five minutes.
She drank again, and the as
sassin glanced at the Swiss clock
upon q side-table. which stood at
twenty-five minutes past eleven.
Tho pendulum was, though she
was still In her full health and
visour. beating out the remaining
seconds Of her life. The hand
moved slowly until. suddenly. as
It reached the half-hour. tho de-
luded woman, sitting In her chair.
uttered . low scream and stretch
ed out her arms at her side,
while she seemed to choke while
trying to speak.
Her dark eyes started Wildly
from her head, and then through
her body ran . quiver which
shook the room. A few seconds
later she was seized BY tetanic
convulsions, her hands, her Jaws.
her legs and arms becoming par
aly1ed.
The Washington times., 1922-09-10

ing man possessed such faculties.
such strange magnetic eyes, such
powerful fascination upon women
such devilish ingenuity or diaboh-
cal invention.
II was growing late-aiready
eleven o'clock. a,
I'VE will motor tomorrow even.
ing" remarked Landru. \"The
nights are beautiful just now"
The words he uttered had a
sinister meaning, as will be seen,
though the victim was all unsus.
picious.
"Exceilentr remarked the poor
woman. IT love to be In the gar
with you. my adored." n
You shall--tomorrow night"
was his reply. and rising. he
added: 1T is late. You will have
a glass Of sirop before you re
tire?" ..s
Then. crossing to the buffet, he
took out a bottle Of groseille. q
syphon, and two long glasses.
Though she did not notice It. he
examined the glasses very criti.
cally. turning them in his hand
and gazing at the bottoms. Aft
erwards he placed one glass be-
fore her. and took the otherf HIM
self. Then he poured out q little
Of the sirop into each glass and
filled It UP with soda-water.
In his deep-set eyes showed .
strange isht-the expression OF
Satan himself. y,
I'm horribly thirsty" hs re-
marked. IT suppose It must BE-
the weather"
And I also" said the woman
who had assigned to him all her
possessions. raising her glass to
her lips and taking . few mouth.
fuls.
The Washington times., 1922-09-10

ing up the place. as 1t did only for
half-an-hour each day, she saw
clothing, lingerie and shoes.
They were relics Of her prede-
cessors.
Much surprised. she naturally
demanded Of Landru to whom the
garments belonged. whereupon the
criminal. quite imperturbed, sigh
ed. and apparently much moved,
replied:
"Ah! my dear one. Those clothes
belonged to my mother. 60 to
that room often to weep. I keep
them in memory Of her"
The Washington times., 1922-09-10


The man who was already plan
ming yet another crime told her
that he had received high honors
for his services against the enemy
In the North Of France. and had
been appointed French Consul In
Australia, to which country he was
shortly going. The prospects he
held out to this woman Of humble
origin were highly alluring. and It
was not surprising that she soon
became his "fiancee." Hence after
his affair with Madame Labord-
Line had run its course. he had
already another In hand! Madame
Guillin was charmed with him, and
on q visit to Melun, = few miles
cut of Paris. she told her friends
Of the great happiness that had
como to her. Of her proposed voy-
ago TO Australia ~ the Consul's
wife, and Of the exquisite charm
ef the man who had proposed mar
rtage to her.
Now the woman was aged fifty
Two. and Of distinctively common
typs; therefore all Landru's fables
appealed to her. She admired his
motor car-the Same car that he
had used to dispose Of his previous
victims- and when he took her to
vsrnouillet. where fresh flowers
adorned the sunlit rooms, she was
charmed with the place.
why not spend . week or %
hersi" he suggested In his soft, In
s1nuattng way, Tt II hot int
Paris these days, and. besides, We
never have air raidsr'
The Washington times., 1922-09-10

the keener elusiveness Of the up
to-date thief. In the underworld
Of Paris he was well.known In
haff-a-dozen different guises and
under as many names. Yet none
Of the circle OF blacknaiiers Of
women, Jewel thieves, or swind-
lers, ever dreamed Of the terrible
traffic in women's lives upon
which he was engaged.
The Washington times., 1922-09-10
USED AUTOMOBILE
TOCARRY THE BODY
OF VICTIM TO RIVER

The Cunning Slayer, by His Hold Upon Drug
Crazed italian Medical Student, Obtained
Vial of Deadly Germs Which Were Sufficient
to Decimate Gty--Bacteria Were to BE
Placed ON Food or Candy for the Helpless
Women Whom He EnSnared.
The Washington times., 1922-09-10
By WILLIAM lie QUEUx.

Famous Crimnologist and Author Of THE Fifth Finger"
1.-THE -Four Faces" Tracked by Wireless" etc.
i ANDRUS early life is described by Mr. LIE Queur
in the opening chapter of his story of the aoords
greatest love criminal After years of petty s,on-
ding Landru turned his attention to victimsng sooem
making oue to them getting control of their property and
then killing them Nine. Cuchet of the first.
Landru poisoned her and her son. Andre a via rented
,Dth her money, set furnace and burned their bodies
He then turned his attention to uring other to
gruesome deaths by assuring them of his overwhelming
deUotion
When the police Investigated his activities at the villa
he shredly aayed their suspicious. He then made ove
to Nina Ldmgois, got her to sign her money and
threao her body into river. a0do Nadaud nert fell
into his net He planned cruel death for her, but she
recovered from the effects of poisoned grapes ohe her
friend died.
At the conclusion of last aoeeRs instalnen Landru
had Just ensnared Mme Guilin through neaospaper
advertisement proposing maiony In his notebook he
bor"
The Washington times., 1922-09-10
HE WOOED AND WON
WIDOW GUILLIN TO
I GAIN PALTRY SUM

In This Gripping Installment of ''The Love
Affairs of Landru," William lie Queux Tells
How the Arch-ASsaSSin Met the DaShing
Young War Widow, Madame Elise LapOTte,
Who Had 100000 Pounds i'm Bank and who,
After Marriage, Nearly Turned Him
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01

cipal and school bonds seems al
most unlimited in this district and
constitutes one OF the strongest
features of the present financial
situation These bonds are absorb
ed almost as soon as they are put
on sale. When several lots of such
bonds were offered here last week
there were bidders representing all
the coast cities and eastern finan-
cial centers among the bidders. A
veritable construction boom is on
The demand for apartments and
homes was the first to manifest it
self but now business construction
| is keeping pace.
I Money is plentiful for construc-
ton purposes.
The recent frost damages among
the orchards of the state was
heavier than was at first estimated
and the peach and apricot yield in
! many sections will be short
Strawberries also suffered a severe
setback. Cold nights are holding
/ back the development of the vines
! in the grape districts although
present indications are for a large
crop.
The volume of automobile sales
! continue to increase Some deal
ers report the largest gales in their
history in the last thirty days. The
demand seems confined to certain
/ lines but the volume is large.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
CITY PLANNERS
MEET THURSDAY
discuss Bond Issue with which to
Widen Twenty fourth
Street.

Bond issue by which to carry
through the project of widening
Twenty-fourth street will be dis
cassed at a special meeting of the
Rock Island city planning commits
sion Thursday evening in the city
hall.
One OF the methods to be con-
sidered is the calling of a special
election to vote on the bond issue,
hut several matters are to be con-
sidered in this proposition, among
them the cost OF the election. If no
special election is held this summer.
the issue will not come up for a
vote until the city election next
spring.
The widening of the street from
Third to Fifth avenues will mean
the condemnation of six properties,
each owned by different parties, -
Mayor Harry NJ. Schriver said this
morning. NO estimate on the cost
of this project has been made, but it
will run up into several hundred
thousands of dollars"
Several organizations may have
representative at the meeting.
Resolutions approving the widening
Of the street, which is the main
thoroughfare leading into the city,
have been adopted and other or
CARNATIONS are to be addressed on
the subject soon.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
Business Topics

Philadelphia, Pa, May Am in
quiry directed to the board of trade
for brewery with equipment
which could be utilized in the
manufacture of soft drinks brought
ten offers from the forty brewing
plants here. This is takea to in
dictate brewers have little conf
dence in the possibility of the re-
turn of beers and light wines.
Detroit, Mich, May Employ
ment conditions have improved so
greatly here that the American
Legion employment bureau has dis
continued service of free lunches.
The manager of the bureau said to-
day that every ex-Service man here
who really wanted work can be
provided with a job which will
yield him a living wage and that
there was not need for charity.
The calls for skilled workers both
at the legion bureau and that of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars is great
er than the number of applicants.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
TT. WORTH.


/ Fl. Worth, Texas. May 1.-Busi-
ness which was just beginning to
assume satisfactory proportions in
this section with. every prospect
+ that April would be. the banner
month for the last two years. suf-
Tered serious setback because of
the flood last week Vast sections
were affected, including large CEN
| tiers like San Antonio, FIT. Worth
and Dallas. Tens of thousands of
acres were inundated but the dam
! age was not heavy and the setback
to trade was only temporary. None
, of the communities swept by high
water was forced to call for OUT
side assistance.
Throughout south and west Tex
as the shearing machines are click
ing steadily at their task of remov-
ing the wool clip from the sheep
of the ranges. There is every in
dicat!on that the clip will bring
prices averaging better than thirty
cents a pound, which is IL cents
above the average of last year
That means that growers will re-
ceive 81, 160 900 more for their wool
than in 1921. This estimate is
| based on the production of last
year, which was about $4,000, 900
pounds. Production this year is
expected to equal or surpass that
figure
Flowing and seeding has been
delayed in some sections but the
entire farm and range outlook is
excellent.
BOSTON.
Boston, Mass, May 1.-Sentiment
in business and banking circles of
New England is cheerful 1t must
be admitted, however, that this
feeling is due more to a study of
the fundamental conditions than
any specific favorable develop
ments in this section The officials
of the Federal Reserve bank of the
district confirm the fact that New
j England is behind the remainder
of the country in general improve
ment. This is due almost entirely
to labor trouble. Most of the cot
) ton mills in Rhode Island and New
Hampshire still are closed by
strikes as are those in Lawrence
Mass. Mill owners have given no
indication of a willingness to make
any concessions and there is a
possibility that the labor disputes
will spread to the shoe manufac-
turing centers. The paper mills
also face the possibility of a
strike in the near future as the
manufacturers of newsprint have
announced that they will put lower
wage scales into effect A strike
vote among the paper employees
will be taken this week.
These labor troubles, however
are temporary. Where workers
and employers have reachey'
agreement, conditions are improv-
ing. 1t is estimated that manufac-
turing in New England was pro-
crossing at a pace in April fully
equal to that of March and that
stocks in the hands of jobbers and
retailers are less than normal.
SAN FRANCISCO. !,
San Francisco, Calf, May L.
The demand for high grade NUM-
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
FIRST NATIONAL OF
DAVENPORT GIVEN
CHARTER REMOVAL

For the fourth time in it's history
the First National bank of Daven-
port has renewed its charter. The
extension is from April 80, 1922 to
April 80, 1912.
The bank was opened on June %,
1865, and the charter lasted until
1882 In that year it was reorgan-
lied under new charter, and a
furtherexsension secured in 1902
for 20 years.
There have been nine presidents
of the bank, Austin Corbin, 1863
65, George H. French, 1865-67, Ira
B. Clifford 1S67-73, Hiram Price,
1874. James Thompson 1S74-76
and 18S2-95. Charles E. Putnam
1876. Tristan T. Dow. 1S76-S2, An
thony Burdick 1S95-1911, and A. F.
Dawson from 1911 until the present
time.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
FISHER TALKS TO
SHEFFIELD GRADS

E. c. Fisher, Rock Island city su-
perintendent ,of schools, will give
the commencement address at the
Sheffield high school graduation ex-
ercises this year. Mr.. Fisher is
well known throughout the Shelf
field district.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01

rings, especially OF the lower per-
iod varieties. The most popular de-
signs are drops swung from fairly
long chains.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
The Argus Business Review
(BY CONSOLIDATED PRESS. /

Teiegaphe dispatches important enter giving
Busines News Reviews Importance to Pro.
dueer and Consumer.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01

this state suffered more from .he
recent cold snap than did the or
chards in New Jersey. The truck
gardens in New Jersey also es-
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
Commodity News
HATS.

HATS.
New York, May 1.-Straw hat
manufacturers anticipate the larg-
est season in many years. The
prices of most expensive grades
have been reduced materially ac-
cording to dealers.
LUMBER
Chicago; May Prices for yell
low pine are advancing in step with
the increased demand in this sec
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
IOWA SPEEDLR FINED.

G. D. Matheson, 421 West Sixth
street, Davenport, was fined SIS and
costs this morning in police court
when he pleaded guilty to charge
of speeding with his automobile.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01

as low as So cents pound at week
end sales.
FRUIT.
Philadelphia. May Fruit in
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01

Pittsburgh, Pa, May 1.-Buildlng
materials are moving freely IN re-
Spouse to an increased building
program here. The Chamber OF
Commerce housing corporation VIII
erect 500 dwellings this year.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
AUTOMOBILES.

AUTOMOBILES.
st. Paul, May 1.-AutemoDlie
sales in this section are fully dou-
BILE those of this time last year. ac-
cording to local dealers. The heay-
lest demand is for medium priced
pleasure cars. Demand for service
cars is increasing and the acces-
sorry tradeNis good.
st. Louis, May Automobile
manufacturers and dealers report
largest sales and better demand
for cars throughout the southwest.
New Orleans, La. May 1.-Saies
of nearly all makes of motor cars
showing steady improvement, al
though the lower priced makes are
doing the best business. Some
agencies report increases of 80 per
cent in business over last month
BREAD.
st. Louis, May bakers in this
section threaten to strike If the
master bakers put proposed low
eer wage scale into effect.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
RUBBER.

Cleveland, Ohio, May 1.-The
Seiberling Rubber company re-
ports that the plants at Barberton,
Ohio, and New Castle, Pa, are now
turning cut more tires than were
built by the plants at the peak of
their production before they were
taken over by the present company.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01

capped serious injury.
JEWELRY.
New York, May There is a
widespread demand here for ear
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
DRYGOODS,

Seattle, May 1.-The sales of To-
cal retail drygoods stores are run
ming well ahead of the total for
this time last year. Prices are
well stabilized, although there have
been light reductions in some lines.
While overhead has been materially
reduced, dealers are counting on
increased volume of business to
hold up profits.
The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-01
RI-uDIyG MATERIALS.

ton and Douglas FIR prices are
also up.