The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-21
THE ANTWERP BoRGIA.
A Society Woman Accused of Three
Murders TO Obtain Life Insurance.

Letter in Philadelphia Telegraph.
The trial of Nine. Henri Joniaux a
charge of having murdered her brother, Sis
ter and uncle in order to get their life in
surance began this morning.
The arrest of Nine. Henri Joniaux at
Antwerp on April Is, 1894 charged with hav-
ing murdered her brother, sister and uncle,
created a great sensation In that city. She
is the wife of NJ Henri Joniaux, chief state
engineer of roads and bridges in the Prov
ince of Antwerp, and her social position
was of the highest, Since her arrest the
affair has grown to be cause celebre, and
has taken it's place as one of the most re-
marks BILE in the annals of European crime.
Marie Therese Joniaux, VINO was born in
General Ablay, and niece of former aide
de-camp on the staff of King Leopold.
right, her high family connections and the
great wealth of many of her relatives
sured her an enviable social position.
of twenty-five to Frederick Faber, the au-
thor of book entitled The French Thea
ter in Belgium and other works. and lived
with him until he died, in 1884: In 1886 Nine.
Faber was married to NJ Joniaux. AL
though M. Joniaux's income was confined to
a a, salary of only 1000 francs nc; 81 year and
means, they lived in great style, maintain
ing a magnificently appointed establish
ment in large mansion IN the Rue de
and where the relatives died for whose
murder Nine Joniaux has been taken into
custody.
The first of Mime. Joniaux's alleged vic
TINS was her own sister. Mile. Leonie Alb
lay, who was unmar1led L, and resided with
was announced that the cause of her death
was influenza. A short time subsequent to
her burial it was learned le I'm that her life had
her niece, the daughter of Nine. Joniaux
by her first husband, NJ. Faber, and it was
further found that the premiums on the
policies had been paid by the Joniauxes
The next victim was Nine. Joniaux's
brother, NJ Alfred Ablay. who was formerly
1foi,1 IT,, h. Dale fny7 l-,,4 a
been retired, presumably on account of his
dssolute habits. Shortly after his retire
ment he emigrated to Buenos Ayres where
career of a gambler in various parts of the
Argentine Republic for some time, he OBJ
tanned employment as railway conductor,
count of his habits, and in 1877 he returned
to Antwerp. Subsequently he engaged in
but was able to do no better than to make
bare living, and in February last he came
to Antwerp to live with his sister. A few
sister he died, as it was given out from
heart disease. His life was insured for 1o0-
900 francs for the benefit of his sister, the
being paid by the Joniauxes.
The third victim was Jacques van den
Kerchove, a wealthy uncle CT Nine. JONI
aux, who was extensively engaged in cotton
manufactures in Client. NJ. Kerchove, who
was man of gigantic stature and robust
health, paid visit to his niece, at whose
house he intended to remain few weeks
While he was a guest of Nine. Joniaux he
died. as it was said, from cerebral conges-
ton. NJ. Kerchoye's life was insured for
large sum in favor of Nine. JoniauX, the
policies having been taken out only a few
days after his arrival at Nine Joniauxs
house
The succession of sudden deaths at Mime
Joniaux's residence of persons whose lives
We're insured for her benefit aroused the
suspicious of the police, and their invests
cations have DEVELOPED overwhelming proof
of her guilt The bodies of Mile. and ex-
Captain Ablay and M. Kerchove have been
exhumed and examined, with the result of
finding unmistakab1es traces of poison in
each. On April % the Court of Appeal fully
committed her for trial, and now that this
has begun the most sensational develop
ments are likely to occur.