The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25
PRESENTATIONS OF Crime
Poisoning as a High Art in the
Commission of Murder.
The Maruuisc de BripNi!liers
Worth, Rival of Lucretia Borgia.
An Era in France When supcrsti-
ton and Corruption Had IA Trium-
phant Rcign-Romnucc aud Ruin.


phnnt Rcign-Romnucc and Ruin.
Somewhat as progress and improvement
in srmor plate construction is following the
invention of guns and projectiles of hith-
erto unknown velocity. the development Ct
medical science as it is now known Was the
direct result of development in death'de"i-
ing agencies. There was prior to the gen
cral recognition of cures for poison tCr
example a whole catalogue of poisons aG
ministered to cause death. This particular
phase of immGturity in science was pro
lOnged in France-the nation which has
since given the world advanced astronomi-
cal and scientific theories. and it is inter
esting to note that the Pasteur filter. to
cite an instance. has followed in the wake
of the most ingenious poisoning human be-
ings have ever known. In the seventeenth
century. while the Stuarts and the Round
heads were developing theories Of civil
government in England. the French sub
jects OF Louis XIV were killing their quota
of mankind with arsenic, powdered glass,
poisoned needles. and similar agencies.
Had Cromwell been a Frenchman instead
of wearing a breast plate for protection
against his enemies he would have needed
a filter and a magnifying glass.
OF course there were apprentices, adopts
and master hands at the art. Lucretia
Borsia is to most minds the embodiment
of true skill in the administration OF
deadly draughts. But France had also a
figure for excellence. a genius At poisoning
with aseareer of rare interest ard an I'M
broken record of victims-the Narquise De
BTinyilliers.
When Louis XIV was born in 1888. a
writer on the New York Tribune" says,
Marie Madeline d'Aubray, future Mar
quise de Brinvilliers. was on. eight years
old. But by the time she vas i've the
bsseness of her character had declared it
self; in her seventh year she was thor
ouEhly bad case; she ceased 20 be a child;
she was already the evil genius destined to
cast deadly shadow across the reign OF
the Grand Monarque." NJ Funck- Bren-
taro tells her story, one of the most I'M
cannily fascinating in the records of crime.
1t leads him on to other narratives, III
the preparation Of which his scientific yet
Unaffected enthusiasm has been supported
by his official labors in the classification
of the archives of the Bastile lie Drame
script sources. 1t abounds in new facts,
as does the earlier work by the same Gu-
thor, "Legendes ct Archives de la Bastile,
of which an English translation has just
appeared The Bastile book eXplodes mang
familiar theories and robs the famous
prison OF half its gloom. lie Drame des
Poisons" intensiies the horror in which
the criminal annals of the seventeenth
century ia France are enveloped. The
Marquise de Brinvilliers sets the key of
this book. and that means much.
blessed With Accomplishments.
She was well born and beautiful. Her
parents gave her an excellent education,
if that training could be called good which
left her moral nature to take care of it
self. She could write letter with cor
reethess, a thing rare among the women
of her time. Her mind was active. She
spoke to the point. using few words. but
choosing the right ones A difficult situa-
ton found her cool and collected. Sic
confronted it with firm courage and came
swiftly 10 a clear decision. Her hand
writing was masculine and so were many
OF her traits.
Also she showed a feminine impusive-
ness at times and was capable of splendid
fits of fury. Proud as Lucifer, her rage
when she was opposed was terrible TO see.
her twenty-flrst year she married the
Marquis de Brinvilliers she knew very
well what she wanted of life and was re
solved to have it. She wanted Measure
first and last, and, Of course the money by
which a great deal of it could be procured.
The desires OF her husband ran in the
same direction. but this was far from ce-
menting their love.
With a rascally boon companion Of ker
h.. lie
promptly fell in love. Her father. being
man Of honor and apparently expecting lit
tie from his dssipated son-inlaw, acted
also with promptitude, and secured q let
tire de cachet" which landed the lover in
the B5stiIle. Saint-Croix stayed there less
than two months. When he emerged and
renewed his relations with the Marquise,
that Inundated lady. crazy with resent
mem WAS prepared TO undertake any re
prdsals. As she wanted not only revenge
but her inheritance. she thought Of mur-
der From CHASER. a Swiss chemist i'm
Paris The lovers obtained the necessary
poison. The formula was simple. Arsenic
was the prime agent.
student OF POison'> Effects.
The marqui9e frequented the hosainlz
and. under the cloak OF pious generosity.
gave poisoned eatables to the patients. TO
study the effect. She experimental also
on her domestics. Little by little she JG-
ministered the arsenic to her father with
his food and at last had the satisfaction
OF safely killing him. There was an au-
topsy, but medical science had much to
learn. and the doctors ascribed the death To
natural causes.
Other members OF the family. however.
still stood between the murderess and lie
bulk Of her fathers fortune. She proceed
touch in the record that relates how one of
her accOmplices La Chaussce a servant.
played his part so well that the very man
whom he helped 10 poison left him legacy
in recognition Of his loyal services" The
Brln yiiliers could manage this laekey and