The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-11-26
CONCLUDED l

no inkling of their nature and development. They
may quite possibly have understood how to cause
such disturbances, and the absence of any knowi-
edge of their treatment would assurediy have rem
dered them useful to the poisoner.
Still the idea persists of mysterious and lost
poisons which in common use among the ex-
pert prisoners of Italy three and four hundred
years ago. The famous case of Marie dAubray,
Marquise de Brinvillierss offers evidence of cir
cumstantial character. This handsome and noble
French woman, put to death in 1876, nearly two
centuries after the accession Of Alexander Borgiz,
had caused the death of both her brother and her
father in attempt to get the family property
into her hands. She had also tried to despatch her
sister and her husband.
Her guilt was proved by establishing her con-
nection with St. Croix, gentleman adventurer
and poisoner, who had probably furnished lethal
potions to whole group of politicians and women
favorites at the court of Louis XIV This St. Croix
had died and bequeathed to the Brnvilliers secret
chest but the mans heirs refused to deliver it and
it was opened and found to contain many poisons.
The history of her crime and trial is too familiar
to be restated here but the nature and origins OF
ST. Croix's posons, which undoubtedly those
used by the Marquise and many others, mat
ters in point.
st. Croix had been confined to the Bastille some
years earlier, as the result of lettre de cachet
obtained against him by M. d'Aubray, the father
of La Brinvilliers, who had taken umbrage at the
scandalcus relations between st. Croix and his
daughter. In prison, St. Croix was confined with
one Ex, an Italian alchemist and druggist, VINO
ha made many Subtle discoveries in the courss
of his experimentation" St. Crox learned the
Jtaliars secrets in prison, and later, when he
freed, procured the release Of Exili through power
full Iersonages who were later suspected of having
edge. The laboratory of this man and Of st. Croix
was discovered subsequently in the house of high
" placed person who had fallen under suspicion
but was not convicted because as the Count do
Granmont said che too rich"
The strongbox of st. Croix when examined by
court officer was found to contain quantity Of
lustrous white powder (metalc trioxid of arsenic,
bevcni question:, corrosive sublimate, Roman
yitrol powdered vtroil; antinony and two bottles,
ntaning colcrless clear fluid and the other
similar liquid but with a slight white preciptate.
The ature of all these except the liquids
derstood. The latter then tested pigeon,
a cat and dog. All died, and surgical examination
after death showed evidences Of poisoning in the
bodies Repeated experiments made with
these liquids but the science Of that day
aisle to determine either their character the pre-
else organic effects by which they caused death.
Neither Brinvillers nor her servant, when put 70
the torture could reveal the nature Of these fluids.
These, then, may have contained some Of the
mysterious posons of the Italian school of killers
Sceptcs will prefer to believe that they sub
stances probably and well known to mod
science. but there is evidence this
siIe Of the question than On the other.
The romance Of Renaissance posons thus re-
mains undispelled and he who buys ring belong
ing 20 the great florescent period of modern art
and culture may indulge his fancies freely his
temrerament will permit If his imagination be
powerful enough he may even be able to work up
q first class attack of physical infection and give
good doctors something else to puzzle and contend
over.