The Childish Sadist

In the small, secluded village of Saint-Eyr-la-Rossière, where the sun rose over the rolling hills and the birds chirped cheerfully, there lived a child who was far removed from these idyllic images. This child was 10-year-old Honorine Pellois, the daughter of a poor couple who had more worries than joys in their home. Her childhood was marked by neglect and unequal upbringing. Her father was strong and cruel, her mother indulgent and blind to her daughter’s dark tendencies. From an early age, Honorine had developed a bizarre fondness for cruelty. She tormented not only the other children in the village, but also the animals, which she regarded as objects of power. In the eyes of the villagers, she began to dismantle what she loved, causing fear and horror. Many villagers reported her deeds, but no one dared to stand up to her. It was June 16, 1834, when disaster struck. Honorine, in a fit of irrational jealousy, threw Amelie Alexandre, who was only 2 years and 10 days old and as innocent as a flower in spring, into the well. Two days later, she also pushed 2.5-year-old Virginia Hersant into the well. The mothers, full of hope, searched desperately for their missing children. Honorine, in her cold indifference, watched the grief and despair she herself had caused with terrible joy. When the girls’ bodies were finally discovered in the well, Honorine quickly came under suspicion, as she had tried to throw 11-year-old Gaucliard into the well just a few days after the two girls disappeared, but failed. Honorine was arrested and charges were brought against the “little criminal.” Honorine appeared before the judges with a smile, unable to comprehend that her freedom was at stake. The audience was both horrified and fascinated. How could a child be so evil? How could she confess to the horrors she had committed without a sign of remorse? It was not a normal trial. The two mothers who had lost their daughters and testified before the judges were broken, like hollowed-out shells on the beach, while Honorine’s gaze took everything in as if she were watching a play. Her naivety was creepy and disturbing. It was a contrast to the heartbreaking lamentations of the mothers mourning their dead children. During the trial, Honorine revealed with frightening candor that she had killed the little girls out of jealousy. A cry broke out in the room as the mothers collapsed. But she remained unimpressed, her gaze wandering from one face to another, seeking stimulation in the misfortune of others. A witness, an elderly man, recounted how he once caught her killing a sheep with a dog. Honorine laughed as he spoke, as if he had told an amusing anecdote. It became clear that she had not only recognized evil in her heart, but also embraced it. At the end of the trial, she was found guilty and sentenced to twenty years in prison. Honorine’s lips pressed together and her eyes flashed as the verdict was announced. She understood the gravity of her actions, but also the irony of her fate. A child had embodied evil in an art form that frightened adults. Thus, Honorine Pellois became a legend in Saint-Eyr-la-Rossière. The shadows of the well would forever be associated with her name. Parents told their children to warn them that not everyone who smiles is good. The image of a little girl who evoked both fear and fascination in the eyes of the villagers remained in people’s hearts and minds until the end of time. The story of Honorine, the little criminal, remains both fascinating and terrifying to this day.