FRENCH PUBLIC EXECUTION

Hawera Star, Volume LIV, 13 April 1934, Page 7

FRENCH PUBLIC EXECUTION

ACID IBATH AfUiRDERER PARIS, April 10. A message- from Aix-en-Provence states that ‘Georges ISarret was guillotined in the public square of the town to-day for murdering victims for the sake of their life insurance money. The trial was concluded on October 31 at Aix-en-Province, of Philomene and Catherine ISchmidt, Gerfan sisters, and Georges iSarret, an Italian domiciled in 'France, who were jointly charged with the disposal of two victims in sulphuric acid baths, and the subsequent collection of insurance. Sarret was sentenced to death, and the two sisters were each sentenced to 10 years’ penal servitude.

It was alleged -the trio procured a bath and placed in it a quantity of sulphuric acid, in which they immerse the corpses for several days. The solution was then baled out and poured on not rocks in the garden, where it evaporated. A police inquiry was held, but it was futile. The man- and the women would have escaped but for a strange incident.

Catherine Schmidt ostensibly died, after insuring her life for £21,000 with five companies in her “mother’s” favour. Philomene, carefully disguised as an aged woman, represented the mother and secured the money, but 'Catherine „ foolishly reappeared in public. This led to further inquiries, and it was ascertained that the '“‘corpse” of Catherine was that of IMadali Herbin, a young consumptive, whom the sisters were alleged it© have murdered with poisoned champagne.