FRENCH CRIMES

Southland Times, Issue 20525, 29 June 1928, Page 7

FRENCH CRIMES

WOMEN VICTIMS

MURDERER’S GHOULISH

METHODS

THREE BODIES RECOVERED

(United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) (Rec. 9.10 p.m.) Paris, June 28.

In connection with the new Landru case at Marseilles it is established that at least five women were murdered. The first clue was the strangled single woman named Foce at a villa in Englantine, a suburb of Marseilles. Inquiries led to the discovery that Perome Prat purchased the villa and also hired another villa at Genevieve, another suburb. It was here the second and third bodies were found. All the women were middle-aged. Prat was last seen on June 15 carrying a large sack. Foce’s death cries at the villa in Eglantine attracted attention, causing the murderer to flee, leaving the victim’s body beside a large hole in the garden where he was about to bury her. The police are now investigating the third villa owned by Prat. It is also believed that further bodies will be discovered at the villa in Genevieve.

A search of the apartments of the man wanted revealed methods similar to Landru’s, the murderer becoming acquainted with the victims by means of matrimonial advertisements, then luring them to the villas where they were murdered. —Australian Press Association.

A message from Paris on Tuesday stated: The Landru affair is recalled by the discovery in a villa at Sainte Marguerite, Marseilles, of the body of a strangled woman found in the house. A search revealed two others buried in a chicken house. The cellar floor of the latter had been newly cemented by the missing occupant of the villa who has allegedly been engaged in marriage swindling. It is known that he had love affairs with five women, all of whom mysteriously disappeared. Landru was executed a few years ago for the murder of several women, whom he married and then killed after getting possession of their property.