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of a haemorrhage of the intestinal canal。 His sister Julie； who had been
the first to fall sick； also seemed to recover； but after the death of the
father had a relapse。 In his idea Helene； having cured herself； was able to
drug the invalids in her care。 The witness ordered her to be kept
completely away from the sufferers； but one night she contrived to get the
nurses out of the way。 A confrere he called in ordered bouillon to be
given。 Helene had charge of the kitchen； and it was she who prepared the
bouillon。 It was she who administered it。 Three hours later his sister
died in agony。
＇30＇ Or； simply； kermesa pharmaceutical composition； containing
antimony and sodium sulphates and oxide of antimonyformerly used as
an expectorant。
The witness suggested an autopsy。 His family would not agree。 The
pious behaviour of Helene put her beyond suspicion； but he took it on
himself to dismiss her。 During the illness of his father； when Helene
herself was ill； he went reluctantly to see her； being told that she was
dying。 Instead of finding her in bed he came upon her making some sort
of white sauce。 As soon as he appeared she threw herself into bed and
pretended to be suffering intense pain。 A little later he asked to see the
sauce。 It had disappeared。
He had advised his niece to reserve his sister's evacuations。 His niece
replied that Helene was so scrupulously tidy that such vessels were never
left about； but were taken away at once to be emptied and cleaned。 ‘‘I
revised my opinion of the woman after she had gone；'' added the witness。
‘‘I thought her very well behaved。''
HELENE。 I never had any drugs in my possessionnever。 When I
had fever I took the powders given me by the doctor； but I did not know
what they were！
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
THE PRESIDENT。 Why did you say yesterday that nothing was ever
found in your luggage？
HELENE。 I didn't remember。
THE PRESIDENT。 What were you doing with the saffron？ Wasn't
it in your possession during the time you were in Seglien？
HELENE。 I was taking it for my blood。
THE PRESIDENT。 And the white powderdid it also come from
Seglien？
HELENE ＇energetically＇。 Never have I had white powder in my
luggage！ Never have I seen arsenic！ Never has anyone spoken to me of
arsenic！
Upon this the President rightly reminded her that she had said only
that morning that her aunt had talked to her of arsenic at Seglien； and had
warned her of its lethal qualities。 ‘‘You deny the existence of that white
powder；'' said the President； ‘‘because you know it was poison。 You put
it away from you with horror！''
The accused several times tried to answer this charge； but failed。 Her
face was beaded with moisture。
THE PRESIDENT。 Had you or had you not any white powder at
Losmine？
HELENE。 I can't say if I still had fever there。
THE PRESIDENT。 What was that powder？ When did you first
have it？
HELENE。 I had taken it at Locmine。 Somebody gave it to me for
two sous。
THE PRESIDENT。 Why didn t you say so at the beginning； instead
of waiting until you are confounded by the witness？ ＇To Dr Toussaint＇
What would the powder be； monsieur？ What powder would one
prescribe for fever？
DR TOUSSAINT。 Sulphate of quinine； but that's not what it was。
Questioned by the advocate for the defence； the witness said he
would not affirm that the powder he saw was arsenic。 His present
opinion； however； was that his father and sister had died from injections of
arsenic in small doses。
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SHE STANDS ACCUSED
A witness from Locmine spoke of her sister's two children becoming
ill after taking chocolate prepared by the accused。 The latter told her that
a mob had followed her in the street； accusing her of the deaths of those
she had been servant to。
Then came one of those curious samples of ‘what the soldier said' that
are so often admitted in French criminal trials as evidence。 Louise
Clocher said she had seen Helene on the road between Auray and Lorient
in the company of a soldier。 When she told some one of it people said；
‘‘That wasn't a soldier！ It was the devil you saw following her！''
One rather sympathizes with Helene in her protest against this
testimony。
From Ploermel； Auray； Lorient； and other places doctors and relatives
of the dead came to bear witness to Helene's cooking and nursing
activities； and to speak of the thefts she had been found committing。
Where any suspicion had touched Helene her piety and her tender care of
the sufferers had disarmed it。 The astonishing thing is that； with all those
rumours of ‘white livers' and so on； the woman could proceed from place
to place within a few miles of each other； and even from house to house in
the same towns； leaving death in her tracks； without once being brought to
bay。 Take the evidence of M。 Le Dore； son…in…law of that Mme Hetel
who died in Auray； His mother…in…law became ill just after Helene's
reputation was brought to his notice。 The old lady died next day。
‘‘The day following the revelation；'' said M。 Le Dore； ‘‘I put Helene
out。 She threw herself on the ground uttering fearsome yells。 The day's
meal had been prepared。 I had it thrown out； and put Helene herself to
the door with her luggage； INTO WHICH SHE HASTILY STOWED A
PACKET。 Mme Hetel died next day in fearful agony。''
I am responsible for the italicizing。 It is hard to understand why M。
Le Dore did no more than put Helene to the door。 He was suspicious
enough to throw out the meal prepared by Helene； and he saw her hastily
stow a packet in her luggage。 But； though he was Mayor of Auray； he did
nothing more about his mother…in…law's death。 It is to be remarked；
however； that the Hetels them