Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-02-03
FAMOUS TRIALS
TRIAL OF sLUEBEARD

Everyone if familiar with the story
of Bluebeard, who murdered his wives
and concealed them in a closet and
warned each succeeding spouse against
peering into the closet else through
their inquisitiveneIs they meet the
same fate This French fiction is
founded on fact. although greatly
elaborated The 'Bluebeard' of real
history was one Giles de Laval of
Retz, marshal of France in 1929, who
was burned at the stake in expiation
of his many crimes in the year 144O.
AS a distinction between the myth
and the fact, the real Bluebeard's
victims were not women, they were
children, and they were counted by
the hundreds. The Marshal de Retz S
beard, it is said in certain lights, or
when he was powerfully moved, as
sumed light blue hue
This notable criminal was placed on
trial on Oct. 10, 1440 For many years
he had been a councillor and chamber
lain to Charles VII. He was one of the
most famous and powerful noblemen
in the province, a distinguished soldier
and a shrewd politician.
Evidence at the trial showed that
GILES de Laval owned and occupied
the castle of Machecoul, gloomy
structure of sombre and repulsive APP
pearance, composed of huge.towers and
surrounded by a deep moat. Witnesses
testified. that on certain days and times
the drawbridge was lowered and ser
wants of De Retz stood in the gate
way distributing clothes, money and
food to the mendicants, who came SOL
letting arms. Sometimes children were
among the beggars. The servants coax
ed the little ones into the kitchen with
promise of reward and so often as
they accepted the invitation they dis
appeared within the gloomy recesses
of the old castle and We're seen no
more.
1t became the duty of John, Duke OF
Brittany, to move the matter of his
Cousins outlines He was slow in
deed to believe in the guilt of his kins-
man. But at last those in high estate
interfered in the matter, and GILES de
Laval, Marshal of France. and two OF
his servants were apprehended and
taken to the Chateau de Ia Tour Neuve
at-Bouffay.
The Duke nominated the Commits
sioner Jean de Toucheroude to collect
Information and take down the charges
against the marshal. At the time there
seemed to be a great deal of doub1
among those whose duty it was t.
bring such offenders to justice as t.
the guilt of the marshal. But 'upor
| the investigat ton witness after witnes.
deposed to the loss of their children
and connected the loss with the mar.
shall and his servants, until there was
terrible array of evidence agains
them. 49, ~'''-' -
r1J,a Noror,oIee;o,o, booa-,o .ax:-s:.i
of the guilt of the prisoner; yet the
Duke was loath to believe his kinsma1
! the most powerful of his vassals, thu
best of his captains, a councillor ant
marshal of France, could be guilty o
! such an atrocity. But at this time D,
Retz sent letter to the Duke which
was in the nature of a confession. II
this letter the marshal acknowledged
having sinned horribly again and again
! but said that he had never failed il
his religious duties. He was ready t,
ac11n owledge and expiate his crime b,
retiring into a monastery there to lea
a good and exmplary life.
At the trial the marshal was faugh
| ty. He suggested to his judges tina
| they expedite matters, so that he nigh
consecrate himself to God, and that h
might go about his work of endowin
charities and distributing his aims 70
the" salvation Of his soul. He was ar
rogant. It had not entered the mar
shaPs mind at this time that con
viction of his crime would condem
him to death. He seemed to think tina
his goodness and piety would procur
him that admission to monster
which he so much desired. ~
But the bishop of Nantes stood
| his way He believed the testimony c
the witnesses who testified agains
the marshal and was Mortified at tn
magnitude of his crime. The Side d
Retz assumed a bold front and charge
that the. witnesses were testifyin
falsely; but when informed that hi
servants had divulged the whole Ola