LANDRU TO DIE.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 December 1921, Page 5

LANDRU TO DIE.

a; verdict of guilty. FAMOUS CASE ENDS. PLEADS HIS INNOCENCE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 1, 8.45 pjn. Paris, Nov. 30. The trial of Landru has concluded, the jury finding him guilty of murder, forgery and theft. He was condemned to death. M. Giafferi, in his concluding speech, emphasised that there was a cemetery within 250 yards of the Villa Gambais, and it was possible the bones were put in the garden by unknown persons after the police had made the first search. He suggested that Landru’s fiancees were the victims of the white slave traffic in the United States and South America. Landru, replying to the judge, solemnly declared his innocence, appealing to the love he bore his children. As the jury left he dramatically cried: “I am innocent 1 am innocent. I never killed anyone. Jurymen, do your duty.” The jury then retired to consider 48 questions left by the judge. A verdict of “Guilty” was returned, and Landru was condemned to death. The jurymen were absent for two hours. When. Landru re-entered the court he seemed very pale and shaken, and with difficulty kept his seat. When the judge asked if he had anything to say regarding the sentence, he muttered: “Nothing. Nothing.” Several jurymen left the court, l>eing unable to hear the sentence pronounced. A number of others signed a statement recommending Landru to mercy. After the judge read the decision condemning Landru to be guillotined at Versailles, and to pay the cost, Landru said: “The court has macle a mistake. This will be my last protest.” Asked by counsel to sign the petition for mercy, Landru refused, saying: “A man like me begs no grace—no pardon.”—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.