AMERICAN BLUEBEARD
TWENTY-ONE WIVES. Joseph Gillain, better known as “Bluebeard" Gillain, confessed to marrying twenty-one wives at least, nine of whom he murdered within the brief span of twenty months.
How lie managed to intrigue so many is not easily understandable, hi the short space of ten months Gillain “married" and disposed of eight “wives." There was a break of ten months between the eighth and ninth murder. A chain of circumstantial evidence was drawn round him h.v skilful detectives, but still the authorities were unable to secure sufficient definite facts until oiliam personally led them to the place where he had buried the woman who is supposed to have been his last victim. But he refused-to divulge any information until he had succeeded in exchanging a confession for the recommendation of a life sentence as against prospective capital punishment.
His method was simple. A notice in the daily Press, of which the. following, found among his papers, is a fair example, was the bait by which lie got into touch with his victims :
“Gentleman, neat . appearance, courteous disposition, well connected in business way, lias quite a little property, also connected with several corporations, and has nice bank account, as well as nice roll Government war bonds, would be pleased to correspond with refined voting lady or widow, object matrimony. This advertisement is in good faith, and all answers will be treated with every respect." His last “wife" became curious about a small black bag which Gillum carried wherever he travelled, and when her curiosity grew beyond all restraint she quietly paid a visit to a private detective agency and engaged a man to investigate the mystery. To explain bis. long absences from home, Gillum had posed as a secret service man. But it so happened that his absences cointided with dates on which several bank robberies bad taken place. He was arrested one morning while taking a stroll.
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Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2233, 1 February 1921, Page 4
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319AMERICAN BLUEBEARD Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2233, 1 February 1921, Page 4
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