The Killer and the Saint

In 1887, a brutal triple murder not only shocked the whole of France, but also dominated the front pages of daily newspapers for weeks. But what had happened? It was March 17, 1887, when three bodies with their throats cut were found at 17 Rue Montaigne in the 8th arrondissement of Paris. The cuts were so deep that they almost resembled decapitations. The victims were 40-year-old Claudine-Marie Regnault, a well-known courtesan who offered her amorous services under the pseudonym Régine de Montille, her 38-year-old chambermaid Annette Grémeret, and Grémeret’s 9-year-old daughter Marie Grémeret. The latter had cuts on the fingers of her right hand and five cuts on her wrist. The three women had to die because their murderer was after Régine de Montille’s jewelry and valuables. Although he was unable to crack the safe, he stole jewelry and diamonds worth over 150,000 francs. The gendarmerie’s investigation was in full swing. The imprint of a man’s foot could be seen in a pool of congealed blood on the living room carpet. Initially, a man named Gaston Gessler came under the scrutiny of the Paris police, as a signed letter with his initials, a leather belt, and cufflinks with the same initials were found at Madame Régine de Montille’s home. The man they were looking for had allegedly fled to Belgium. But after four days, the tide turned. A brothel owner named Madame Aline had reported to the police station in Marseille. She reported a customer named Henri Pranzini who frequently visited her brothel “Chez Aline” on Rue Ventomagy in Marseille and had most recently paid for the amorous services of her prostitutes with diamonds and precious stones. Madame Aline suspected that these were stolen goods, which is why she notified the police. Examination of the jewelry revealed that it belonged to the murdered Régine de Montille. Since Madame Aline had noted down the coachman’s number, Henri Pranzini was arrested in Marseille at the Grand Théâtre. It turned out that Henri Pranzini had indeed been in Paris at the time of the murder and also knew Madame Montille. However, his mistress Antoinette Sabatier initially gave him an alibi, which she later revoked. Henri Pranzini protested his innocence to the police. However, in the Longchamp Park, where Henri Pranzini had asked the coachman to take him, Madame de Montille’s stolen jewelry was found in a cesspool. During a search of Henri Pranzini’s apartment, the police also found jewelry that clearly belonged to Madame de Montille. But what about the other suspect, Gaston Gessler? It turned out that Henri Pranzini had worked at the reception desk of the Caprani Hotel in Naples in 1881. However, when Henri Pranzini was caught stealing by his supervisor, Gaston Gessler, the latter fired Henri Pranzini, who took revenge by stealing his belt and cufflinks, which he left at the scene of the crime. Henri Pranzini, the son of Italian immigrants who settled in the metropolis of Alexandria, Egypt, where Henri Pranzini was born on July 7, 1856, persistently protested his innocence. After completing his studies, Henri Pranzini worked for the Egyptian postal service and also worked as an interpreter on cruises in the Mediterranean. Henri Pranzini was a bon vivant who liked to gamble his money away at the casino and also spent a lot of money on women. However, Henri Pranzini lost his good position at the post office because he opened letters and stole money from them. Henri Pranzini then joined the Indian Army and took part in wars in Afghanistan before serving in the Russian Army. Henri Pranzini loved adventure. He joined the British Army in 1884 and took part in the Sudan expedition as chief interpreter, fluent in eight languages. In 1886, he found himself penniless in Paris, where he worked as a translator and clerk. He is also said to have dealt drugs and worked as a pimp. Henri Pranzini was the prime suspect, and bloodstained clothing was found in his possession. In addition, Henri Pranzini matched the description given by a Parisian shopkeeper from whom he had purchased a sharp knife. The murder weapon used in the triple murder was a sharp knife. The evidence against Henri Pranzini was overwhelming, which is why he was charged with triple murder. On July 9, 1887, the trial began before the Seine Assize Court. He was found guilty on July 13, 1887. His last words in court were: “I am innocent!” Henri Pranzini was sentenced to death. His pleas for clemency were rejected. On August 31, 1887, Henri Pranzini was led to the scaffold in front of the Grande Roquette prison in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Before his execution, he asked the chaplain for a crucifix and kissed the holy wounds of Jesus three times before being beheaded at 5 a.m. by the executioner Louis Deibler. This was extraordinary, as Henri Pranzini had completely refused to repent for his crimes until that point. Was this thanks to Thérèse of Lisieux, who had prayed incessantly for Henri Pranzini’s conversion and was later venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church? According to her, it was: “My prayer was answered to the letter!” After Henri Pranzini’s execution, a cast of his head was made from wax, mouth-blown glass, and covered with human hair in order to study the physical characteristics of criminals. This head was displayed in the window of the Paris Police Prefecture Museum. Henri Pranzini’s body was sent to the medical faculty, where another scandal ensued. At the request of Gustave Rossignol, a high-ranking member of the Sûreté, his skin was tanned by a Parisian leather goods dealer to make two leather card holders, which was of course punished.