A DREADFUL SCENE

Evening Star, Issue 17880, 28 January 1922, Page 15

A DREADFUL SCENE

FRENCH JUSTICE TARNISHED. GHOULISH SPECTATORS AT BLUEBEARD’S TRIAL. Tho termination of the Landru case has left mo with a sense of bewilderment at tho system which allows a law court to become like the gallery of a theatre “presenting ” a cheap melodrama (wrote tho ‘ Sunday Express’s ’ Palis correspondent). Truly legal proceedings are among tho things which we manage better in England. The final scenes in tho Versailles court were a disgrace to any country claiming civilisation. “ Cowards ! What sort of people are yon, clamoring like this whoa a man is about to bo condemned to death?” These avoids, wrung from the lips of Me. Godefroy, , who the day before had been demanding in an impassioned speech the death sentence against Landru, arc an eloquent comment on tho astounding scenes which greeted' the verdict in the long-drawn-out trial of Landru, the Bluebeard of Qambais. The scenes in tho little court at Versailles on the last day of the Landru trial constitute a blot on tho name of French justice which nothing will efface from my mind. From an early hour strong military guards had their work cut out. to restrain (ho crowds trying to force their way into tho court. Hours before the judges arrived the court was so full that it was impossible to move about. Ninety-five per cent, of tho spectators were women. At a quarter past 6 in tho evening, when tho sitting was suspended, the women in court started a, picnic. Bottles of champagne, cold chicken, pate de foie gras, and other delicacies were brought in and consumed amid shrill Laughter and offers of bets on the outcome of tho trial. Cigarettes were handed from one to the otlicr in gold and jewelled cases, and the crowds at tho back of tho court, taking a leaf from tho book of their social superiors, sent out for bottles of beer and sandwiches. It seemed incredible to realise that one was sitting in a court of justice. Women painted their faces and rouged their lips, and watched the photographers fixing special lights so that they might procure accurate pictures of the manner in which Landru hoard his death sentence. Men lighted cigars, and the odour of oranges and ether taken by women on the point of collapse became mingled with tho already horrible atmosphere. . And then the sentence. Hardly had the words been spoken which condemned a man to death when the most amazing tumult arose. Hoarse shouts qnd animal erics rent the air; triumphant ejaculations of “I told you so!” conflicted with counter-cries of “It is 2, shame!” Tho whole of this last day was a terrible indictment of French justice. Hero was a man. accused of wholesale murder—a sordid, depressing tale, of tragedy—and to it flocked a crowd of sensation-seeking, neurotic women, who gave vent to their feelings and views in the most outspoken manner, who turned* tho court room into an eating-house, and who Laughed raid applauded as if they wero witnessing a popular drama. Many of us who wero forced to follow the trial would willingly have echoed ole. Godefroy when ho turned to the clamoring crowd and said: “Cowards! What sort of people are yon, clamoring like this when a man is about to bo condemned to death ?”