Norwich bulletin., 1922-02-14
FAMOUS TRIALS
PAPAVOINE


One of the strangest dramas to be
found in the criminal annals of France
was that of Papavoine, his trial, con-
viction and execution as a child MUIR
derer. On Sunday, Oct. 10, 1924, nu-
merous throng of pleasure seekers
were enjoying the day in the woods
of Vincennes. Among these was a wo-.
man belonging apparently to the
working classes, who was accompani-
ed by two boys aged five and six years
Another woman, dressed in red, join
ed the little group and played for
while with the children and then con-
tinued her way.
A man wearing a blue overcoat
buttoned up to his chin appeared to
watch the scene with interest. The
mother of the two boys noticed the
strange man, but attached no i'm
portance to his presence. Shortly the
sky became clouded and it began to
rain. The mother and her children
sought shelter in a small wooden pa
Vilion.
Suddenly the mother perceived be-
fore her the curious individual in the
blue overcoat. The mans face was
frightfully pale. In a hoarse voice he
said to her: Your walk is almost
ended" Seized with an instructive ter
ror the mother tried to hurry away,
but the man approached the younger
of the two boys and struck him vio-
lently. The woman attacked the man
with her umbrella, but paying no at
tention to her he advanced to the
other boy and struck him the same
way.
Presently the poor mother saw her
two children, one after the other sink
upon the ground; they were both dead
Offering a piercing cry she tainted
People near by ran to assist the moth
er and the gendarmes were summon
ed, but the man had disappeared.
At the hospital where the mother
was taken she related all that had
happened and told of the attentions
of the woman in red, whom she did
not know, but whom she felt must
| be an accomplice of the assassin. FL
nally this woman was discovered al
| Vincennes. On being questioned she
declared that the man who had accost-
| ed her was a perfect stranger to her
The news of the murder spread
through Vicennes A shop keeper
/ stated to the police that man ans
wering the description of the assassin
had stopped near her shop while the
woman in red had entered to make
a small purchase.
| In the mean time the kendarmes ar
rested man in the park, and WheT
| he was brought face TO face with tht
mother she cried: That is the mon
ster that killed my children The
woman in red and also the shopkeep-
er identified him. The man said hi!
name was Papavoine, that he was tbs
| son of ryeIl-to-do ma rents had served
in the army, but that illness had caus.
ed him to resign and that he had ar
rived in Paris on Oct, 6.
| The prisoner calmly repealed the &C.
cusation with which he was charged
He fought the proofs that were pre-
scented to him with a rare lucidity
An autopsy made upon the bodies o
| the young victims demonstrated tina
their death was caused by the blow
of an instrument resembling a knife
Dame lean, the shopkeeper, furnished
a duplicate of the knife she had solt
to Papavoine. and when applied to tn
wounds it fitted perfectly.
The investigation added new fact
to those already known. 1t was ascer
tanned that Papavoine had always ex
hibited a strange character. He wa
very uncommunictiye, sensible, an,
peaeeable.
Suddenly on the 18th of November
Papavoine renowned his denials. H
confessed that he committed the Grim
and even more than was asked of hir
While is prison he simulated madnes:
The trial took place in February, 1926
before the Court of Assizes of tn
Seine, M. Hardouin presiding.
! At the trial the prisoner pertende