Werewolf of Châlons
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Nicolas Damont, known as Werewolf of Châlons, Tailor of Châlons or Demon Tailor of Châlons (died 1598), was a French man who was executed for murder, cannibalism, and for allegedly being a werewolf.
The case
[edit]Nicolas Damont was active as a tailor with his own workshop in the city of Châlons.
He was put on trial accused of having murdered a number of children. He was accused of luring children into his tailor shop, subjecting them to sexual abuse, murdering them by cutting their throats, and of eating them.[1] He was also accused of having hunted for his child victims in the forests in the shape of a wolf, and thereby of being a werewolf.
When his tailor shop was searched by the authorities, they reportedly found human bones in the basement. Nicolas Damont reportedly confessed to his crimes before the court. His confessions were said to be so horrible that the court ordered all the documents of them to be destroyed.
Nicolas Damont was sentenced to death for murder, cannibalism and for being a werewolf. He was executed by being burned alive at the stake. According to tradition, he was said to have uttered curses and called for the Devil when he was burned.
Legacy
[edit]The case became a well known subject of folklore and myth. It has also been suspected of having been a legend,[citation needed] though it has proven to be an actual case.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Summers, Ken (5 December 2014). "Werewolf on Trial: The Demon Tailor of Châlons, a Monster So Menacing They Tried to Erase Him From History". Week in Weird.
- A. Rowlands Witchcraft and Masculinities in Early Modern Europe
- S. Baring-Gould The Book of Were-Wolves
- Nigel Cawthorne Witch Hunt: History of Persecution