Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-24
Famous Trials
ANNA MARIA zwANzIGER.

Anna Maria Zwanzier, one of the
 worlds greatest prisoners, is known as the German Brinvilliers and the many deaths she brought about are sec ond only to the record of the famous
 French woman. Just what obsessions possessed this strange woman no one
 knows. Perhaps it was a kind of mad
 ness, perhaps some subconscious infiu- ence over which she had no control. or
 perhaps she had perfect possession of
 her senses, but used the poison to re-
 venge herself on anyone who sighted
 her. Whatever it was we know not. but
 we do know that she used poison in a
 most appalling way on the slightest
 pretext. It was on this charge that
 Magistrate Gebhard, in whose employ
 she had been, laid information against her at the criminal court of Baireuth, Germany The court immediately ap pointed Chief Magistrate Brater to con- duct the inquiry. He went at once to Saspariel, where the charges against the German BrinviHiers of various cases of poisoning were confirmed and increased in number.
 Zwanziger was charged altogether with poisoning 14 persons. three with 1 fatal effect. These three bodies were i exhuned. and although they had been 1 III the STOuIu TOT I0 .IuOutuS, liiStNdu ] of being decomposed. they were almost lmummy-Iille in their preservation. This alone was a sign of the presence of pois- 1 on. as indeed. two of the bodies plainly showed The poisoner was arrested in 1 November in Nuremberg on the 18th of l October. 1909, and upon being searched ! two naczets of tartar enfetic and one of arsenic were found in her pocket. 1 The trial started the following day, and i from the beginning, right up to the l 6th of April, 1910, this remarkable wc- man denied all knowledge of the crimes. On the last named day, she entered the court with almost a smile of Sat isfaction upon her face as she thought that all the evidence against her was exhausted To her surprise, however. the judge opened up the proceedings l with the announcement that Glaser's wife had once more been exhumed. For two whole hours she passed through what we now call the third degree and finally after weeping and wiring ing her hands, she confessed in one
 great incoherent rush of sentence:
 and then fell. as if struck by light
 ning, rolled upon the floor in stronf
 convuIsions and had to be carried iron
 the court.
 Zwanzieer was now thin and shriv
 eled. When she was young, sAe said fl
 her confession. she had great adeals
 and dreaming of ronances. became th' mistress of several noblemen ant
 wealthy men in turn. every one o : which tilted her as she bace olde and worn through excesses. Bite
 that she should be scorned by old ant voung alike she entered into the hous of Justice Wo1fsng Glaser as house 7 l1aeper with a sad heart. As soon a ? she saw. Chaser. she determined tha f as he was separated from his wifi l he should marry her and so she woul !? he provided for for the rest of her day: 2 To her consternation. however, the es e tranged wife returned to her husband
 1 and they became perfectly reconcile' = putting an end to her prepmaure plan ] ss swanzifer then determined to get IT s of the wife and so, on the 18th. l4t | and 18th of August she put fist arseni t in Mime. Glaser's tea. and later tarta . ernetic in her coffee. saying. 'I mu: : make my old age comfortable, and C the arsenic does not 10 the business tn e time I will give it to her again till s- does"
 T. Mime. Glaser was immediately seize '- with pains and vomiting, and on Il 'f 25th of September, 1908. she died. G,a' It CT. to her disappointment immediate1 E. dismissed her In her confession sl y. accused Chaser of being an acco1npii, e to the crime, but proof showede othe e. wise. and although he was arrested I it was fully exonerated in the end. Ente