The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-08-17


The same symptoms, copious vomitings and
acute abdominal pains all had eaten of
dishes prepared by Helene, and had been at
tended by her in their last moments, and
over each death-bed she had wept bitterly,
but remarked with sinister significance,
'This will not be the last" Only one corpse
was examined, that of the priest, and then
DR.. Gabzain contented himself with saying
that there had been inflammation of the in
testines and serious disorders of the diges-
tive organs. Another physician, Dr. Mar
tel felt nearly convinced that there had been
foul play, but so pious was the conduct of
the suspected woman that he did not care to
insist upon this theory
III.
Helenes next engagement was with the
new cure of Bubry, M. Lorho, where she
succeeded her sister Anna There three
persons died in as many months-Marie
Jeanne Lisconet, her aunt, and the priests
sister and niece. They all exhibited the
same symptoms which had attended upon
the death of the invalids of Guern. Helene
passed many nights watching beside their
bedsides, and M. Lorho's sister was so con-
vinced of her devotion that she would accept
drink from no other hand.
From Bubry Helene moved to Locmine,
where she bound herself out to washwo-
man, Leboucher. Her mistress and daugh-
ter died, but the other child, boy, taking
an aversion to Helene, refused to receive
food or medicine from her hands, and re-
covered. Helene left the house speedily,
saying 81 fear may be accused of all these
deaths. Wherever go Death follows me |"
This was true. The widow Lorey took her
in, ate one of her soups and died. "Un-
happy woman that | am" said Helene, fall
ing on her dead mistress's neck, wherever
go they die" May 0, 1885, she hired out
to Nine. .Toussaint, at Locmine, where four
persons did not hesitate to die, her mistress
ard her husband, the lady's maid and at
last the daughter of household, who perished
almost Immediately after eating one of
Helenes broths Thence the woman went
to a convent at Auray, whence she was ex-
PEELED for maliciously damaging property.
Sister Anne Lecorvec, who conducted a pub.
| lie mission at some little distance, received,
her and died within forty-eight hours. On
the day of the burial Helene left and took
service with Nine. Anne Lefur. She fel
sick, but, having her suspicious, go
rid of her servant and recovered. The
servant then went to one Nine. Hetel
but this woman's son, having heard of he
conduct at the convent, put her out of doors
Too late, however. Nine. Hetel had eater
of several dishes prepared by her servant
and her death ensued in few days. Hell
enc fatal record did not prevent her from
finding employment in the family of one M
Jouanno, whose son, aged fourteen, speed
died but, as the boy had been in the babi
of drinking vinegar, the doctor laid the in
testinal pains and infiammations to the az
count of that habit. Not long thereafte
Helene found home at Hennebon with
NJ. Kerallie, who was just recovering fror
an intermittent fever A cup of tea pre-
pared by her hands and her sleepless minis
tering beside his bed ended him. In l83
the same servant was employed by Nine
Neron, and this mistress died as speedil
and with exhibition of the same symptoms
In lS4l she was found at Lorient, engaged {
cook in the family of NJ Dupuy de Lom
A little grand daughter, aged two years an
half, died almost Immediately, and ne,
dav the other three members of the famil
fell i'll. They all recovered, but for man
years thereafter felt the workings of th
poison in their frames. In the eight yeal
from 1882 to 1871, a period which, by tt
way, was covered under the ten years pr
scription law, Helene Jegado had take
twenty-three lives, besides making five mu
derOus attempts.
".
1t was not till seven years thereafter tn
this egregious criminal was again heard c
She filed several positions in the interis
at nearly all being accused or proven gull
of theft. November 6, 1S49, NJ. :Reebot,
Rennes, engaged her; December 20 his sc
died. The child had been i'll for some tin
but grew rapidly worse under the treatme
of the Jegado during the last nine days
its life, dish of soup served by her endir
its existence. February 3, 1850 the faith
gave her warning, and the next day he al
his wife were smitten down. After riddil
themselves of the girl they recovered, thous
for years they were sensible of the effects
j. the drugs administered. Thence Hele
went to the house of the Ozannes and {
, most Immediately their baby died wi
vomitings and commissions. The next d
| she changed her qearters to an inn. It
r innkeeper's mother.in-law reproached h
\ with untidiness, fell sick at dinner the sar
' day and did not completely overcome h
3 illness for eighteen months. Her fello
: servant, a girl named Mace, attracted
\ dislike and at once fell sick. They We
q rivals for the affection of an hostler, and
O showed his preference unmistakably forMa
e who died in great anguish with the sym
e toms of vomiting pains in the stomach ,swe
q ing of the members,& &c. The doctors suspect
q the presence of poison, but the girls ia
y lily refusedto permit an autopsy lest it mis-
a | ItNtat tbae bhC was eNctttts -
v thereafter Helene engaged with NJ. Bida
a Professor of Law, November z, 1850, a I
n low-servant, Rose Tessier died, her death
r. lug attributed to rupture of the diaphrag
,r FRANCHISE Huriaux succeeded her and /
J. sick with the same symptoms, but having
h incurable antipathy towards Helene, ms
j. ed on being taken home, where she rec
s. cred. A third housemaid, Rosalie Sara
had meanwhile been engaged. She wa
strong and healthy girl of nineteen, f,
six weeks after her engagement fell 81
W languished and died. Justice could no |
o. ger halt after this, and the doctors laid
70 formation against Helene Jegado, who al
10 had fed and nursed the victims of this
's gular epidemic, alleging that so strong
~ unmistakeable were the symptoms ofpois
A. ing that even if no poison were to be 70,