''The French Ripper'' (Joseph Vacher)

By Crusader1307

Or more appropriately, one Joseph Vacher – is often compared to Great Britian’s infamous Serial Killer, Jack The Ripper. In Vacher’s Case, He definitely suffered from ‘’some form’’ of Mental Illness – perhaps unknown to then ‘’modern’’ Psychology. Vacher was credited with 11 (known), but as many as 27 murders. Unlike ‘’Saucy Jack’’, Vacher ‘’hunted’’ Women, Young Girls and Boys. Coming from an extremely ‘’dirt poor’’ background (the 15^th Child of a large Farming Family), He would run away to join The French Army (1892). But developing a ‘’superiority complex’’, He felt The Military did not recognize His ’’talents’’. He attempted suicide – by cutting His own throat. This seemed to work and He was discharged. Vacher would ‘’fall in love’’ with a Girl – who at first was ‘’interested’’, but soon grew out of it. This made Vacher angry and He decided to shoot Himself (2^nd suicide attempt). He was unsuccessful in the attempt, but scared Himself severely. Trying again to illicit the Girl’s affections, She again rebuked Him. Furious, He shot the Girl multiple time, and Himself (in the head) yet again. Miraculously, the Girl survived Her injuries – and so did Vacher, but even more deformed. Sent to an Asylum, Vacher would be released within  year.

Wandering France, Vacher dressed as a vagrant – often living by begging. If someone ‘’made fun of Him’’, Vacher sprung into action – often stalking His ‘’tormentors’’ and – while in wait, hacking and slashing them with a blade. Police from Normandy to Provence were puzzled, as the ‘’body count’’ rose. But Vacher’s ‘’death count’’ could come to an end, when He bungled an assault of a Woman working in the fields. Her screams brought help, and Vacher was subdued. Arrested, He had no problems in confessing to 11 of the murders (although Police assigned 16 more). During His Trial, Vacher stated that He suffered from various conditions which made Him ‘’black out’’ and ‘’become something else’’. From being bitten by a rabid dog, to the fact that a bullet still rested in His brain (from His suicide attempt), all as the cause of His ‘’condition’’. Perhaps, He was right, but in the 1890s – this was not accepted. Vacher was convicted of the 11 known murders and sentenced to death – by Guillotine.

In 1897 Vacher was drug to His execution, claiming He was doing ‘’God’s Work’’. He was buried in an unmarked grave. As with England’s ‘’Ripper’’, Joseph Vacher goes down in French History as an early example of ‘’modern’’ Serial Killer.