The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-07-06


Mass. Much attention was given 10 tbs
early schooling Of the adopted daughter
and she passed through all grades, in
Guiding the high school.
Fifteen years ago she commenced the
study Of nursing at Cambridge hospital
She was favorite there and soon &C
quired wide knowledge of medicines and
their effects.
Jane Toppan has since confessed she
murdered many persons. though the list
Of known victims covers a much later
period
When she first went to the Toppar
home she was FIVE years old dark OF
skin anw with black hair and eyes. and
continual smile on her face The smile
has never left her. She smiled in the
Barnstsble Jail. She smiled during the
trial She smiles in the asylum
She was the life. Of picnics and coast
ing, skating and rowing parties, and her
friends considered none OF these events
complete without her existence.
She had one love affair and only one,
so far as anybody knows
About twenty years ago young man
named Charles May went to Lowell and
obtained q place in the Office Of one of
the largest manufacturing corporations.
Soon afterward he and Jennie Toppan
became engaged. but before the engage
men had existed Ions he went 70 Ho-
yoke to accept a better position He had
been there only short time when he
married one Of the daughters Of the wild
Ow with whom he boarded
Theengasement rms which he gave -
Jane Toppan had a bird engraved on
it. and her grief was so great that at
that time she formed a prejudice against
birds, whether alive. dead or represented
by printing. engraving. carving OF the
art of the jeweler, that has never left
her
I asked Deacon Brigham for a speci-
men of Jane Toppan's handwriting. and
in response received a copy of a list OF
good days" and bad days from the
true dreamer's standpoint, which the dea-
con said he had found among her effects
carefully laid away between the leaves
OF her dream book.
70. This is a very good day. The vision
of dreams viii be realized within eight
days
20. Good day Realized within ten lays
q Good day Dreams prove delusive
p. Good day. Dreams will be realized.
.. Inauspieious day. Dreams to be kept
secret.
"a Good day. Dreams realized before
close Of day.
.. This is an inauspicious' day.
2s- Good day. Dreams REALIZED within ten
days
p. Excellent day. Dreams will be real
led within ten days
Is Indifferent day. Dreams viii soon be
realized.
9. Good day.
90 Good day. Dreams soon REALIZED.
When Jane Topran was twenty-five
years old she decided to become a train
I'd nurse and when her friends heard
Of this they all decided that no nurse
could be better than she.
The first in order of time Of the eleven
victims whom Jane Toppan is known
20 have murdered was Israel Durham,
IF Cambridge. who died on May %. 1895.
lane Toppan was employed as a nurse
n the family, and two years later Mrs
Durham died under similar circumstances
Both these persons were thought by doc /
OTIS TO have died from natural diseases.
'uy Miss Toppan confessed that she kill
d both
Another early victim was her foster 4
lister, the daughter OF Abner Toppan.
Who married o. A. Brigham. Of Lowell. +
The two women were very intimate.
Jane Toppan when visiting Lowell made
Ter home at the Brigham house Mrs.
Brigham was taken suddenly I'll while
ane was visiting her in 1900. and Jane
ook charge as usual. Mrs. Brighton
lied. 1t has been since alleged as 2
motive that Jane wanted to marry Mr..
Brigham, and this statement she made
o her counsel
After his wife's death Mr. Brigham
ngaged Florence y. Calkins for house
-eeper. and in January. 1850. Miss Cal
ins was taken sick and died as the rest
i'd. Mr.. Brigham himself was taken sick
ut he went away on the advice CT a
MUSICIAN and recovered.
Then. in 1901. Mrs Bannister. who was
fr. -Brigham's sister. came from Yer
mont to Loweu on her way to the Buff
alo exposition She was taken sick the
ext day and died after a few hours
lness- Miss Toppan nursed her also.
The murders of Mrs Alden p Davis
nd her two daughters. Mrs. Genevieve
iordon.- Of Chicago. and Mrs. Mary D.
obhs. Of Cataumet. were surrounded by
circumstances of peculiar horror.
Mrs Gordon and Mrs. Gibbs were sis
srs and lived summers with her par
nts. Mr. and Mrs. Alden p. Davis. in
achin Cottage al Cataumet. Jane Top
an was on terms OF the closest intimacy
18th the family She used 10 visit at
heir house.
Mrs. Davis sickened the day she reach
] Miss Toppan's house and died the
ext day.
Miss Toppau went TO Cataumet with
he body. \ day or two later AR Da-
is was taken suddenly n and died in a
az or two. Then Mrs. Gordon fell in
nd she died very suddenly Miss Top
an. being nurse. taking charge Of each
ltient in charge.
on July 70. Mrs. Gibbs fell I'll. and IL
as shown at the trial that Miss Toppan
ave her mineral water and injections. Il
as also shown that she had purchased
orphine. In her confession she said
le mixed morphine with whisky and
alter for the infection fluid.
The husband OF Mrs Gibbs was sgspi-
Gus of the circumstances OF his wife's
sath and it was he who started the in I
.stigation which resulted in Jane Top
ans arrest IN October 1901. for her frst
'nfession-
These and twenty other murders equal
horrible Jane Toppau has confessed {
l. She declares. however. despite the /.