The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1885-05-31
Modern Tofana.

One of the most extraordinary GRIMM
ais on record since the days Of the fiend-
isb Italian woman who invented the
Aqua Tofana was tried at Leyden, in
Holland only few weeks ago. Up to
the time of her conviction, this female
monster, whose name is Van der Linden,
had always enjoyed an enviabIe reputa-
ton. Her neighbors had generally re-
par,led her as kindly open-hearted,
self-sacrifcing soul full Of generous
energy in her vocation of professional
sick-nurse and largely possessed Of all
those amiable qualities which enable
person to move through life with the
good will of all, and the admiration Of
many. But this attractive exterior mas
ked most extraordinary character,-a
sociological enigma,-an astonishing
riddle in human character. The woman
Van der Linden possessed all the smiling
! secretiveness of the tabled sphinx, and
more than its malignance. She was
much less of professional nurse than of
4 a professional poisoner.
Just how many people she poisoned is
not known. and probably never will be !;
for it is doubtful whether she could re-
member them all herself, even supposing
that she could manifest willingness to
) confess,-which is the reverse of likely.
But it is positively known that since 1853
she administered poison to one hundred
and two persons! OF these, fifty-four
survived and recovered sufficiently to be
summoned as witnesses. Among others
whom she is charged with having muir
dered were her own father, her own
mother, and her own three children.
Sometimes the poison was administer
ed in ice cream, sometimes in coffee,
sometimes in beer. sometimes in victual5
or in medicine She poisoned indircrim-
inatelv her boarders and tenants, her pa
tients, her friends and neighbors. The
poison was a vulgar one, easily obtained
and easily detected, arsenic and it is
only astonishing that the woman's excel
lent reputation, and the esteem enter
y taine1 for her even by her victims,
i should have so long turned away suspi
cion from her door Children entrusted
to her care were usually poisoned with
milk, and any unhappy family in need OF
food who made appeal to the we'll
known charity OF Mrs Van der Linden
were invariably fed to their hearts con
tent with soup, strongly seasoned will
arsenic.
1t was believed during the early par
of the trial that these crimes were com
mitted for the sake of obtaining smal
sums paid by what are called Funera
Insurance Societies in Holland, and by
other societies organized for charitable
purposes. There was ample evidenc,
that She had induced a number of he
victims to allow her to pay the fees o
these societies, and had afterward draw
the money but outside Of these case
there were many others for which n
possible motive could be discovered
except the delight OF murder. For eN
ample. Marie van der Lindin, q femal
cousin who called to see her. accOmpar
led by her husband, were invited to
supper which was their last; and frienC
ly neighbors were invited to take Gu
of tea or coffee, from the effects of whic
they never recovered. And all the Will
this Locusta appeared to be the most il
nocent creature in the world,-a lit
slender, pale woman of forty-siX, with
rather expressionless face, and dull, SUI
ken eyes.
The penalty i'll her case is solitary an
silent confinement for life, rs there is 1
capital punishment in Holland. She hi
had the benefit of able counsel, who d
Tended her on the plea of insanity, m
nomauia, etc, etc. Here is a fine i
stance of the defects of modern legisl
ton Whether this horrible creature
sane or insane. or partly insane, or pc
fectlv sane, the claim that society shou
be burthened with the expense of h
support in a Iunatic asylum or in pei
tentiary seems equally absurd; and it
not altogether to be regretted, perhal
that she poisoned her own children. L
breed is extinct