Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-01-04
GIRLS POISON HUSBANDS
TO SAVE ENTIRE GARRISON
Dramatic Episode Just Revealed
Creates Sensation Through
out France.
NO PRECEDENT FOR SACRIFICE
Young Women Critically Ill for
Months Following Incident, but
Have Now Recovered and Trying
to Forget Life.
by c. F.. DERTELLI.

PARIS, January Slow two little
French girls poisoned the husbands
they loved to save the life OF an entire
garrison on the night OF July 80, has
Just been made known in Paris. and 1t
has created tremendous sensation.
as the. story has dramatic quality
more tragic than anything Shakespeare
ever wrote.
Roso and Marie Dupont, two eigh-
teen year-old twins, were born and
raised Mt INTERRUPT. Il small village on
the Lorraine frontier.
In 1912 they married two students
of chemistry named Ulr!ch and Will
helm. who loved them 80 much that
they became French citizens and
bought drug store in the town.
Both unions were most happy until
July % OF last year, when the hus-
bands received letter from across the
frontier. Immediately both became
very nervous and asked the two girls
to go to their Srantimothcrs home in
Longwy until the situation cleared.
Both went to Longwy. but found that
their grandmother was not there. They
returned very late the next day TO
INTERRUPT
When they arrived at the drug store
they found it closed. Going through
tho back garden, they peered through
the closed shutters and saw their hus-
bands. to their great Amusement, talk =
ing in quite friendly manner to two
Uhlans in full uniform.
They could not believe their eyes at
first. but they were Mortified later at
tho conversation they heard.
a deep plot had been arranged by
Clrich and Wilhelm. They had stored
big dose OF strychnine. and during
tho night II was planned TO drop IT
in tho wine casks reserved for the
French garrison.
Are you sure the dose is strong
r. Il
why" answered Ulricl. at is
strong enough to kill all the garrison
and Its reserves"
With a low cry. Rose shuddcred and
almost tainted. Both realized they had
been fooled, and that. instead Of being
loved. they were the wives OF the
worst OF scoundrels. and evcn worse
than that-traitors.
we must act" said Marie. ITO pre-
vent this most awful crime. even II we
must commit one ourselves"
Half an hour later they rang the
front door bell. They appeared very
Joyous. and they explained their ella
ton by saying they had heard the
war had been avcrted. They said they
were so glad that they wanted to open
some wine In honor of peace and the
friendly Uhlan soldiers.
Marie went out ana brought back n
champagne bottle. She poured the IL
quid. and they drank 1t.
Next morning they ran out Of the
house. They were widows, for they
themselves had used the poison
They went straight to the chef-de-
gendarmes and told OF their sorry
plight
I'VE have killed our husbands" they
cried. do what Is right with us."
But the official simply wept with
them and. besides. kissed them. for
1t was discovered that the plot
had been deeply laid. and that the sac
rifce OF the girls. which has no pre-
cedent In history. had saved thousands
OF French troops from certain death
Marie and Rose have been critically
Ill. and for two months they were
lowering between life and death, and
1t was feared they would lose their
reason. but they have recovered, and
arc now Red Cross nurses
In caring for the wounded they arc
trying to forget their terrible life
lrar