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The prison regulations at Geneve are extremely lberal, so for many years prior to 1884, hundreds of tour iista from all over the world were per mitted to see and converse wii Marie Jennueret, “the Swiss Brinvilliers’ Marie's cell was a large, comificith well-slighted room, and the were not, day after day, making lee and exult ing in the fact that her fame was world-wide. Hiving no enascience, ani beltng Ins eopalite of remeras, Marie has been described by the Meterlans as the nea toaster. However abhorrent her character may have been, there was nothing repulsive in her appearance I don't nek for a miniary,” aid me penite, eotoaped girl. “I have private querns, wed Heus't need Lee taney. My ambition bs po dé whet geet Temi, hy miniatering to the sick and suitor ing” Marlaine Tavet was sure she had wanned a treasure when she engaged Marie. ‘The hospital was opened, and Marie soon was in full control. De epiy her gentle, yielding nauners, she had a will of iron. ‘The madame, me well as the staff, took their orders from her. Madame duvet had two bright children, a boy and a girl Marie preferred to be very fond of cram, and one day sre said to the mother: “Tam afraid Jute is very delicite, and Tam sure Kirille is about to be seri ously sick.” ‘The mother was anused, for the children were pictures of health. Meanwhile Marie told some of the servants, In strict confidence, that she was greatly worried over Madame Juvet. “She is a doomed woman,” said Marie. “I read her fate in her eyes.” Presently Julie fell sick and then litle Besile, and then Madame Juvet took to her bed, suffering miserably ‘Yhe doctors came and were puzzled ‘They seemed to recognize the symb tons of poisoning, but poisoning was imposible. Was not all the medicine administered by that gentle erature with the yearning eyes? There was a niuch sickness in the house that Braile won sent away, and his life was saved Julie grew worse and died at Christ men tore, 1567, and a month later her mother died and almost her inst we was an expression of gratitude to th faithful three who had been at her Ieetaide night and day through so muany weary weeks. Meanwhile Marie had not been acting her other opportunities the aagering she knews of Madame Juvet three patient to the hospital died, and it was afterwards proved that their deaths were due to or manners. She was rather short and slight and her face, pale in mar ble, was Ughted up by large, dark, In telligent eyes ated she hid masses of beautiful black hair. Her voice was soft, gentle and caressing, and all her uetlons seemed to hiciente an affec tionate, sensitive nature. When she was tried for her crimes and convicted, she looked so much Iie a martyr that the jurors couldn't And It In their hearts to waxens the death penalty, which was then the pre xembers punishment for murder, #6 she was given 20 years. The canton Wei laters then reckoned that it would be unfair t bring any other murderer to the gallows after permitting her to es cape, #0 they abolished capital pualb, lrient, $0 Marie did some good in the world. She began experimenting with pol ‘sons when a girl She seemed to have a fascination for her. She always kept In her room medicine chest, and was forever toying with [is Nttle boxes and bottles. One day her room mate, Ber the Berthet, complained of feeling it, ‘The helpful Marie opened her medi cine chest and said: “I know just what to do for you, my dear.” So she nixed up a tempting effervescent bev erage and handed it to Berthe, who frank it eagerly, and a few minutes later was in a paroxyam of pain. The landlady heard her screams and sent for Doctor Lambassy, who saved her life. When Berthe had told him of the drink given her by Marie, the doctor said: “You have escaped death by a hair’s breadth. The girl made a miss take that would have been fatal had there been any delay in sending for me. She gave you belladonna.” ‘That usually was the verdict when ever Marie scored a victim. It was assumed that she had made a mistake, it was impossible to believe that a girl with such a genie, wistful the could have administered persons delib erately. For a time Marie dispensed her pei sons an occasion offered, future want ed larger opportunities, so she went into trating as ature, and, although sde did not finish her course, she had no trouble in securing employment in the desired capacity. Nature evident ly had designed her for services in the sick room, she was so quiet, so mettle, so patient, her handy and voice were #0 soothing. She went to nurse Madame Chaulox, and promptly gave her poison, which brought her to the * of the grave, but the madam we a wt a woman, and she rallied. Madame SJavet of Geneva conceived * them of establishing a private hos pital, and Marte applied for the promo tion of head nurse poison. When Marte had finished her campaign she nod My duvet and a couple of servants were the only sur vivors of the household. ‘Then Marte, st! intent upon doing good, went to wuter a Madame Te noir, and the madame’s funeral oc curred a few days after her arrival. By this time her reputation as a death angel was be#ioning to attract atten tion, and who found it didicult as get patients. ‘The strange things that nobody seemed to suspect her up to sim time. ‘Time and again the dev had found indications of polonting In her wafferh@r patients, and yet they seemed unable to believe that Marie wuld do anything but what s he seemed. Tt is Able that makes the story of her enters remarkable Sho vena careless to the point of reckless lies. She would predict the early death of people In perfect health, and when these people did nobody seamed to see anything strange In it. Tt speaks much for her ingrathiting mane ner that she could so long be “shak ing from out her condor wings Invial+ ble woe,” and still avoid suspicion. ‘When at last she was arrested, it was easy to secure the proofs of her crimes, and the indictment against her accused her of the murder of nine per sons. Her attempts at murder were too numerous for consideration. She was an artist in crime. She had none of the ordinary motives. It was art for art's make with her. She never tried to profit by her horrid deeds. She was willing to work for nothing any time. If It would give her a chance to remove somebody. She was absolutely pitiless and enjoyed the sufferings of her victim. “Death had such beautiful momenta,”he said, when asked why she committed her crimes. “There is poetry In poison,” she remarked, upon another occasion. She died in 1884. In her little white cell, and to the last she retained her weird beauty. Her marble white face, with Its beautiful dark eyes, haunted the memories of the thousands who journeyed to Geneva to see the strangest criminal of modern times, Mixed Up a Tempting Effervescent Beverage and Handed It to Bertha ‘Who Drank It Eagerly.
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Yale Expositor
Yale, Michigan, US
Thu, Jul 20, 1916
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Brittany B.
USA 18 May 2026
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