If you are a fan of murder mysteries, you might be interested in a real-life case that happened in Paris in 1887. It involved a triple homicide, a high-class prostitute, a charming Egyptian gigolo, and a sensational trial that captivated the public. This is the story of the Rue Montaigne murders, also known as the Pranzini Affair.
The Crime Scene
On the morning of March 17, 1887, the concierge of a luxury apartment building on the Rue Montaigne, near the Champs-Elysées, discovered a gruesome scene in one of the flats. Three bodies were lying in pools of blood, stabbed multiple times with a razor. The victims were Marie Regnault, also known as Régine de Montille, a wealthy courtesan who rented the apartment; Annette Gremeret, her maid; and Alice, Annette’s six-year-old daughter.
The police were called and soon arrived at the scene. They found no signs of forced entry, suggesting that the killer was someone the victims knew or trusted. They also noticed that some valuables, such as jewelry and money, were missing from the apartment. The police suspected that the motive was robbery, and that the killer had slaughtered the victims to eliminate any witnesses.
The Prime Suspect
The police quickly identified a prime suspect: Enrico Pranzini, a handsome and charismatic Egyptian migrant who had been seen with Regnault the night before the murders. Pranzini was a notorious gigolo who seduced rich and lonely women, and then robbed them of their money and jewels. He had a criminal record in several countries, and was wanted by the police in Italy and Egypt.
The police launched a manhunt for Pranzini, who had fled Paris after the murders. They traced him to Marseille, where he was arrested on March 21, was brought back to Paris and interrogated by the police. He denied any involvement in the murders, and claimed that he had left Regnault’s apartment before midnight, and that he had taken some of her jewels as a gift. He said that he did not know who the killer was, and that he was innocent.
The Media Frenzy
The arrest of Pranzini sparked a media frenzy in France and abroad. Newspapers eagerly reported every detail of the case, from the lurid details of the crime scene, to the scandalous lifestyle of the courtesan and the gigolo, to the twists and turns of the investigation. The case became a sensation, and Pranzini became a celebrity. Some people admired him for his charm and intelligence, while others despised him for his cruelty and greed. Some even compared him to Jack the Ripper, the infamous serial killer who was terrorizing London at the same time.
The case also ignited a political debate about immigration, nationalism, and empire in France. Pranzini was portrayed as a foreigner, an outsider, and a threat to the French society and culture. Some newspapers and politicians used the case to fan the flames of anti-immigrant sentiment, and to call for stricter laws and policies to control the influx of migrants from the colonies and elsewhere. Pranzini’s case became a symbol of the dark side of empire, and the dangers of the colonial “Other” within France’s own borders.
The Trial and the Execution
The Rue Montaigne Murders Pranzini’s trial began on July 4, 1887, at the Paris Assize Court. He was charged with three counts of murder and one count of robbery. The prosecution presented a strong case against him, based on the physical evidence, the testimonies of witnesses, and the confessions of his accomplices. The defense tried to cast doubt on the reliability of the evidence and the witnesses, and to portray Pranzini as a victim of prejudice and injustice. Pranzini himself maintained his innocence throughout the trial, and showed no signs of remorse or emotion.
The trial lasted for three days, and attracted a large and curious crowd. The jury deliberated for an hour, and returned with a guilty verdict. Pranzini was sentenced to death by guillotine. appealed the verdict, but his appeal was rejected by the Court of Cassation. He was executed on August 31, 1887, in front of a cheering mob. He refused to confess or repent, and died with a defiant smile on his face.
The Rue Montaigne murders remain one of the most notorious and fascinating cases in the history of French crime. They reveal a lot about the social and political climate of the late 19th-century Paris, and the tensions and conflicts that shaped the French Third Republic and its colonial empire. They also show how the media and the public can turn a crime story into a spectacle, and a criminal into a legend.
Here are the Aftermath and the Legacy
The execution of Pranzini did not end the public fascination with the case. On the contrary, it sparked new debates and controversies, and inspired various artistic and literary works. One of the most famous examples is the conversion of Thérèse Martin, a young girl who later became Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, the patron saint of France. She claimed that she had prayed for Pranzini’s soul, and that he had made a sign of repentance before his death, by kissing a crucifix offered by a priest. She saw this as a miracle, and a confirmation of her vocation to become a nun.
Another example is the novel Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant, published in 1885, two years before the murders. The novel tells the story of Georges Duroy, a former soldier who becomes a successful journalist and a seducer of wealthy women in Paris. Some critics have argued that Duroy is partly based on Pranzini, and that the novel anticipates some of the themes and issues raised by the case, such as the role of the press, the corruption of the elite, and the exploitation of women.
The Rue Montaigne murders also had a lasting impact on the history of criminology and forensic science. The case was one of the first to use fingerprint evidence, which was then a novel and controversial technique. The police found a bloody fingerprint on a door handle in Regnault’s apartment, and compared it with Pranzini’s fingerprints, taken after his arrest. They claimed that the fingerprint matched Pranzini’s, and that this was a conclusive proof of his guilt. However, the defense challenged the validity and reliability of the fingerprint analysis, and the court did not accept it as evidence. The case showed both the potential and the limitations of fingerprinting as a method of identification and investigation.
The Rue Montaigne murders are a fascinating example of how a crime story can reflect and shape the culture and society of its time. They offer a glimpse into the dark and glamorous world of 19th-century Paris, and the complex and contradictory forces that animated it. They also show how a crime story can transcend its original context, and become a source of inspiration and interpretation for generations to come.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the victims and the killer?
- The victims were Marie Regnault, a wealthy courtesan who rented an apartment on the Rue Montaigne; Annette Gremeret, her maid; and Alice, Annette’s six-year-old daughter. The killer was Enrico Pranzini, an Egyptian gigolo who seduced and robbed rich women.
What was the motive and the method of the crime?
- The motive was robbery, as Pranzini took some of Regnault’s jewels and money after killing her and her servants. The method was stabbing with a razor, which Pranzini used to slash the throats and faces of the victims.
How was Pranzini caught and convicted?
- Pranzini was caught in Marseille, where he had fled after the murders was identified by some of his accomplices who confessed to the police and he was convicted based on the physical evidence, the testimonies of witnesses, and his own inconsistent statements was sentenced to death by guillotine and executed on August 31, 1887.
Why was the case so sensational and controversial?
- The case was sensational and controversial because it involved a triple homicide, a high-class prostitute, a charming foreigner, and a sensational trial that captivated the public. The case also sparked debates and controversies about immigration, nationalism, empire, gender, sexuality, crime, and justice in France and abroad.
What was the impact and the legacy of the case?
- The case had a lasting impact and legacy on the history of criminology, forensic science, media, culture, and religion. The case was one of the first to use fingerprint evidence, which was then a novel and controversial technique. The case also inspired various artistic and literary works, such as the novel Bel-Ami by Guy de Maupassant, and the conversion of Thérèse Martin, who later became Saint Thérèse of Lisieux.