The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25

deal with He had letters Of hers in his
possess ion; ne had the 'recette de Chaser;
De held written promises OF hers to pay him
large sums Of money. the price Of his Co
operation iu her moustrous schemes. and
over these papers they had many quar-
rel
She threatened 90 poison herself. but
fond the pains of arsenic troublesome. and
saved herself through drinking great guam
titles OF hot milk Consoling herself with
other lovers. and especially with Brian
court "a member OF her household whom
she sought 10 bring also into her crimes.
she nevertheless continued TO see Saint
Croiz Before she had time 10 poison him
he died natural DEATH the casket oOn-
tanning tho discriminating papers fell into
the hands of the authorities and present
ly al! he fat was in he fire.
The marquise fled after strenuous cf-
forts 20 obtain the papers. but after many
wauderings she was arrested at Liege
where she had taken refuge in a convent
The history Of her journey to Paris-dur-
ing the course Of which She formed heroic
plans for escape-of her trial confession.
and death is told by NJ Funck- Brentano
in manner at once scholarly. precise. and
thrilling. Al first she preserved her proud
demeanor. When Briancourt wept over
his testimony she flung scorn upon his
tears
IN hard and naughty voice she denied
everything. Her advocate. Nivelle. de-
Tended her with ardor and skill But
there were too many proofs. and it only
needed the influence OF Prot. the priest
who accompanied her from the court to
prison. TO break down her obstinacy. She
behaved with wonderful reasonableness
under his eNhortation, and when brought
again before her judges made a confession
TO which torture could cause her to add
nothing essential They forced enormous
quantities OF water down her throat In
her agony she returned to her former
mode Of reckless and Infatuated speech,
but her spirit was broken. and she went to
her execution a woman resigned. and,
nominally at least changed.
Executed at the Place de GrrNes.
An immense crowd followed her to the
Place de Greves Nine De Seyigne. who
Witnessed the execution. wrote that she
had never seen Paris so full, so attentive
or so moved. Prot made two volumes out
OF his notes on the last day of the con-
dpmned and the Marquise de Brinyillers.
in the reaction OF public feeling was in
fair way TO be ranked as martyr. But
ginning Of events which were 10 send
shudder Of horror throughout Europe.
she was executed in 1876. Three years
later mysterious deaths. rumors Of poison
ing arrests and Investigations. led to the
stupetaeJiOn OF the King at the secret
crimes which were evidently being com
mittod within his realm. and 10 his es-
adjustment Of the "chambre ardente" in
which the whole question Of poisoning was
to be thresbed out. The chamber inst for
the first time on April 10, 1873. The
meetings were suspended from october I.
1850 20 May H. 1851. for reasons which
will appear below. and on July 81 1852. its
doors were permanently CLOSED. Thus 1t
will be seen that its labors were limited,
but In explaining the causes N. Funck-
Breutano covers a wide field.
He shows us a society saturated ar once
IN superstition and corruption. Paris
numerous seekers after the phil
IsopheT's stone. whose transactions were
5ften in one way or another connected
With those Of men and women who frank
y devoted themselves TO sorcery in its
most infamous branches.
The Crimes of La Noisin.
La Voisin is the salient figure in this
Internal company, a creature Of The low
,st type: but among tho "magieiaus" there
we're men Of birth. and among the clients
IF ali the practitioners Of the evil art were
lor only he ignorant common people bu,
bali the great parS0nages around tle
hruue of France. Ladies Of the court
,ame 20 la Noi-in for charms TO win back
he hearts OF their recalcirant lovers,
hey came for noi~0n- with which to re-
move rivals and husbands and for other
hiuzs as hideoBs. La Noisiu was the rage