The House wife

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18430, 14 March 1922, Page 2

The House wife

HOW BLUEBEARD MADE LOVE TO ME THRILLING REVELATIONS BY LANDRU’S LAST FIANCEE. What was the mystery of Henri Landru, the French Bluebeard? In this powerful article Mlle Ferdinande Segret—the last of his “fiancees”—tells of her amazing adventures with the fascinating and courteous little man of Gambais. Her startling revelations constitute a warning—a grave warning—which applies in this country as much as to those in France. A knock sounded at the door. It was opened and in walked two men. One of them turned and said: “Your name is Henri Landru?” .... The little man rose to his feet and followed the visitors. Then the door closed. Thus was Henri Landru, the modern Bluebeard, arrested at his flat in Paris. All the world knows the story of his thrilling career as a Ibver; of his long trial for murder, and of his final sentence. But it has been left to Mlle. Segret, one ot his many fiancees, to tell the secret history of this remarkable man. The method by which Landru was able to pick and choose the women that pleased him; the revelations of his heartless and wholesale deceptions; and the surprising ease with which he covered his crimes—these show the consummate skill he exercised' in his dealings with his numerous victims. WARNING TO WOMEN. The disclosures, Indeed, constitute a warning to the womanhood of the world. “I was twenty-seven year’s of age when I met Henri Landru," Mlle Segret declares. “At the time I was filling a small-part engagement in Paris as a singer in a musical comedy. One fine morning in May I was going shopping. I boarded a tram. The tram was very full and. a very elegant and slim gentleman, beautifully dressed, rose and offered me a seat with a most becoming bow. I was flattered. He did not speak but watched me intently. When I left the tram he followed me and we entered into conversation.

“That was my first meeting with Landru. We exchanged some remarks, and I noticed particularly his soft voice . It was certainly the most beautiful voice that I have ever heard. Then, too, his eyes fascinated me. They were a sort of golden brown, very brilliant, and as he talked they- seemed to hold me. “He Was pressing that we should have a rendezvous the next, day. Something in my brain wanted to say ‘No!’ yet my heart’s answer was Yes. I felt drawn to this elegant gentleman who enveloped me with a kind of tender consideration and spoke so gently. Eventually I agreed that I would meet him. “I met him. Again he impressed me most favourably. He grew communicative as to his business. I learned that he was ‘Lucien Guillet,’ and he told me that he worked as a consulting engineer. We dined together several times. Always I felt that some spell was winding round my heart and numbing my judgment H spent much money upon me. He seemed rich and I was poor. “It became very pleasing to me to have the acquaintance of this courteous and fascinating elderly gentleman, and soon I was seeing him every day almost. I had kept a secret from him. Determined at last to tell him, I was suddenly anticipated by an unlooked-for event. CRIMINAL AS COMRADE. “We went one night to a theatre and, codling home, he passionately and vehemently declared his love for me. We were in a taxi at the time, and his caresses and endearments thrilled me. Never before had I felt such tempestuous love. I was frightened and yet deliciously excited. I cannot explain in what way this man drew me. The fact remains that his love was like a burning fire that scorched away my cold self-control. “Then I told him—l was engaged to another. He seemed staggered. Then he said, quietly: 'Very well. I must take a second place. But I beg ot you to continue to be my friend.’ “I assented, but after this there was a subtle change in our relations. We became comrades. He told me many times that he loved me, and he seemed to search my soul with his glowing eyes as he painted the picture that might have been had we met earlier. I must confess that the picture appealed to me —a house in the country, a devoted husband, and sufficient money to be happy. “Soon afterwards my fiancee came home. I could not help comparing him unfavourably with the polished elderly friend who gave me so much consideration. Then we quarrelled, and at last I told my fiance that we must part. So it came that, as my future husband, I chose M. ‘Guillet.’ He was Introduced to my family, came frequently to my house, and brought me many charming presents.

THE MYSTERIOUS VILLA. “But a day came when he told me that he had had business losses and the marriage must be put off. We continued on excellent terms. I was almost entirely under his influence. Then suddenly he flashed before my eyes a delicious and intriguing picture—the life I yearned to live in rural solitude . He told me that the house embowered l in the woods was a reality—that I had only to say ‘Yes’ and everything would be prepared for my reception. “Was I mad Surely this man must have exercised some dreadful spell over me I said ‘Yes.’ “That was how I went with him to the mysterious and dreadful villa, among the thick woods at. Gambais. “When I first entered the house a

strange, a subtle feeling stole over me. I felt as if the house was full of memories—memories of those who had lived there before. What was the dreadful mystery? Even yet I am not persuaded that those unhappy women were murdered. Knowing the gentleness, the ever-attentive kindness that I received from him, I cannot believe th’at he is such an inhuman monster. And yet.... 1 wonder. “I was not happy at Gambais. There was always a strange haunting fear ot something that I could not define. Still, I never saw anything there to justify the suspicion that he was a murderer. But I was glad to get back to Paris and our little flat. “The ways of my lover were most mysterious. Often he would be gone for days. Then he would suddenly reappear. And always, too, I felt that he veiled his real personality, except on a few rare occasions. “Sometimes he revealed something of his life. He talked of women with fine scorn. He told me ot his matrimonial scheme—the agency and the advertisements. He used to talk with glee of the ‘elderly fools’ who fluttered into his net. I thought at the time that it was all a good joke. “Then came the last evening. I recollect it vividly. He had been with me all day and was very restless. It was while we were sitting down to supper that the two men came. When asked for his name, Landru replied, politely: ‘My name is Lucien Guillet and I have papers.’ Then for the first time I heard the dreadful word ‘murder.’ He was taken away, and I did not see him again until I testified against him." A SINISTER FIGURE. Landru boasted that one advertisement inserted in a Paris paper offering himself in marrjpge produced over two hundred replies. The police inserted a “test” advertisement which brought in nearly three hundred replies. Many ot the applicants were possessed of means, a • number were over sixty years of age; a few below eighteen. Landru ran a Matrimonial Bureau in company with another man. In this way he obtained the names of hundreds of women likely to suit his purpose..