The Washington times., 1922-02-25
NEAT JOB,
SAYS COOL
HEADSMAN
Continued from First Page)

uttie group OF caValrymen VINO were
present to preserve order saluted
with their sabers.
The execution was described as
drops Of blood stained the sawdust.
Executioner Apologies. +
The chief executioner made a little
speech to the spectators. aologizing
to them and to the public prosecutor
because there had been about half a
seconds delay. This was caused,
he said. by poor adjustment of the
board.
Death should have been almost in
Simultaneous, the executioner said.
The knife should have fallen 30
quickly, he added, that the specta-
tors could hardly see the head drop
into the basket.
Later the body was taken to the
Versailles cemetery for burial.
Landru's last words were uttered
rs his body was being forced upon
the execution board. He apparent
ly spoke to himself. for the words
were muttered. The scaffold was
erected In Rue st. Pierre In front
Of the Jail.
twelve feet high and the knife a tri-
angular affair, a foot high, weighed
100 pounds.
Landru's lawyer was present, and
as the condemned man was lei
through the prison yard. he turned
to the attorney and asked to be al.
lowed to speak with his divorced
wife II she were present.
Was q Speedy job.
The whole affair lost some Of It's
grewsomeness through the speed
with which II was enacted. The
crowd could hardly believe 1t was
all over when Landru's body was
being put In the casket. Even after
the knife fell the men and women
remained open mouthed and star
ing. It was necessary for soldiers
to force hack some Of the people who
stood between the guillotine and the
wagon bearing thecoffin. Everything
had ben arranged for speed.
A number of persons had come
to Versailles from Paris, and as
the wagon rumbled away toward
the cemetery they made a break for
the railway station to get back
home.
For a better view Of some Of the
spectators had brought step Lad.
ders to the scene. Others climbed
mp into trees.
The Rue st. Pierre was a scene
OF activity all night long, with spec
tators arriving in carriages, motor
cars and on bicycles. The street
was continuously lighted up with
the rays of headlights. Some OF
the spectators carried blankets,
with hot coffee or cold wine.
Just before the ceremony the sol
diers took charge and massed the
spectators into a roughly formed
hollow square. Some Of the women
were dressed In evening clothes and
appeared to have left the ball room
for the execution. Men In evening
clothes who had spent the night
carousing In the MOntmarte district
Of Paris escorted women to the
scene.
Made No Confession.
Famous actors and actresses were
In the front rank Of spectators. One
Montmarte cabaret singer and
dancer chartered q sightseeing bus
to make the trip to Versailles.
In the darkness of early morning
the public prosecutor and the police
project OF the department Seine ct
Mise, wearing tri-colored sashes; the
Judge who presided at Landru's trial,
the police commissioner, a Roman
Catholic priest, and Moro Giaffery,
Landru's attorney, entered the con-
demned mans cell. Landru said he
had no confession to make. He &C.
copied spiritual consolation and then
said he was ready to go.
$50 they have decided to guillotine
an innocent man." he murmured.
"Alas, what will be the thoughts OF
these men when the alleged victims
arc found"
Caillaux Case Recalled.
Landru's long and sensational
trial was the most dramatic the
French courts had known since Nine.
Joseph Caillaux, wife of the former
premier, was acquitted of the muir
der of CASTOR Calmette, editor Of
the Figaro, in the summer of 1914.
Landru was arrested in 1919. The
Paris detective force then concen-
trated all its energies in attempting
to trace the missing women whom
Landru was alleged to have killed,
chopped up, and burned in the celler
of his villa at Gambais. Landru,
cool, calm, and philosophical, coun-
tered every query as to the where
abouts of the women with the set
statement:
"You accuse me Of killing these
women and doing away with them.
I deny II. 1t Is for the state to
produce the women; not me-"
Landru had wife for whom he
apparently had real affection and
respect. She knew nothing Of his
dealings with other women. She
knew that her husband had business
relations with women. for he claim.
ed to be q second hand furniture
dealer and frequently bought used
household furnishings from women.
The wife divorced Landru before his
trial began.
Landru did not deny knowing the
women he was accused of murder
ing, but he claimed that he had never
harmed any of them. 1t had been
reported that one and perhaps two
of the missing "fiancees" would be
produced at the trial, but this was
never done.
After the trial 1t was reported
that two of the women had been