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former servant of M。 Bidard's； a girl named Rose Tessier； who had also
died。 With this in mind they had persuaded the relatives of Rosalie to
permit an autopsy。 They had to confess that they had found no trace of
poison in the body； but they were still convinced the girl had died of
poisoning。 With his colleague backing him； Dr Pinault was able to put
such facts before the Procureur…General that that official almost at once
reached for his hat to accompany the two doctors to M。 Bidard's。
The door of the Professor's house was opened to them by Helene
Jegado； another of M。 Bidard's servants。 She was a woman of forty odd；
somewhat scraggy of figure and； while not exactly ugly； not prepossessing
of countenance。 Her habit of looking anywhere but into the face of
anyone addressing her gave her rather a furtive air。
Having ushered the three gentlemen into the presence of the Professor；
the servant…woman lingered by the door。
‘‘We have come； M。 Bidard；'' said the Procureur； ‘‘on a rather painful
mission。 One of your servants died recentlyit is suspected； of
poisoning。''
‘‘I am innocent！''
The three visitors wheeled to stare； with the Professor； at the grey…
faced woman in the doorway。 It was she who had made the exclamation。
‘‘Innocent of what？'' demanded the Law officer。 ‘‘No one has
accused you of anything！''
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This incautious remark on the part of the servant； together with the
facts already put before him by the two doctors and the information he
obtained from her employer； led the Procureur…General to have her
arrested。 Helene Jegado's past was inquired into； and a strange and
dreadful Odyssey the last twenty years of her life proved to be。 It was an
Odyssey of death。
Helene was born at Plouhinec； department of Morbihan； on （according
to the official record） ‘‘28 prairial；'' in the eleventh year of the republic
（1803）。 Orphaned at the age of seven； she was sheltered by the cure of
Bubry； M。 Raillau； with whom two of her aunts were servants。 Sixteen
years later one of those aunts； Helene Liscouet； took Helene with her into
service with M。 Conan； cure at Seglien； and it was here that Helene
Jegado's evil ways would appear first to become manifest。 A girl looking
after the cure's sheep declared she had found grains of hemp in soup
prepared for her by Helene。
It was not； however； until 1833 that causing death is laid at her charge。
In that year she entered the service of a priest in Guern； one Le Drogo。
In the space of little more than three months； from the 28th of June to the
3rd of October； seven persons in the priest's household died。 All those
people died after painful vomitings； and all of them had eaten food
prepared by Helene； who nursed each of them to the last。 The victims of
this fatal outbreak of sickness included Helene's own sister Anna
（apparently on a visit to Guern from Bubry）； the rector's father and mother；
and Le Drogo himself。 This last； a strong and vigorous man； was dead
within thirty…two hours of the first onset of his illness。 Helene； it was
said； showed the liveliest sorrow over each of the deaths； but on the death
of the rector was heard to say； ‘‘This won't be the last！'' Nor was it。
Two deaths followed that of Le Drogo。
Such a fatal outbreak did not pass without suspicion。 The body of the
rector was examined by Dr Galzain； who found indications of grave
disorder in the digestive tracts； with inflammation of the intestines。 His
colleague； Dr Martel； had suspicions of poison； but the pious sorrow of
Helene lulled his mind as far as she was concerned。
We next find Helene returned to Bubry； replacing her sister Anna in
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
the service of the cure there。 In three months three people died：
Helene's aunt Marie…Jeanne Liscouet and the cure's niece and sister。 This
last； a healthy girl of about sixteen； was dead within four days； and it is to
be noted that during her brief illness she drank nothing but milk from the
hands of Helene。 But here； as hitherto； Helene attended all the sufferers。
Her grief over their deaths impressed every one with whom she came in
contact。
From Bubry Helene went to Locmine。 Her family connexion as
servants with the clergy found her room for three days in the rectory； after
which she became apprentice to a needlewoman of the town； one Marie…
Jeanne Leboucher； with whom she lived。 The Widow Leboucher was
stricken ill； as also was one of her daughters。 Both died。 The son of the
house； Pierre； also fell ill。 But； not liking Helene； he refused her
ministrations； and recovered。 By this time Helene had become somewhat
sensitive。
‘‘I'm afraid；'' she said to a male relative of the deceased sempstress；
‘‘that people will accuse me of all those deaths。 Death follows me
wherever I go。'' She quitted the Leboucher establishment in distress。
A widow of the same town offered her house room。 The widow died；
having eaten soup of Helene's preparing。 On the day following the
Widow Lorey's death her niece； Veuve Cadic； arrived。 The grief…stricken
Helene threw herself into the niece's arms。
‘‘My poor girl！'' exclaimed the Veuve Cadic。
‘‘Aibut I'm so unhappy！'' Helene grieved。 ‘‘Where…ever I go
Seglien； Guern； Bubry； Veuve Laboucher'speople die！
She had cause for grief； sure enough。 In less than eighteen months
thirteen persons with whom she had been closely associated had died of
violent sickness。 But more were to follow。
In May of 1835 Helene was in service with the Dame Toussaint； of
Locmine。 Four more people died。 They were