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Cotton was arrested。
She was brought to trial in the early part of 1873 at Durham Assizes。
As said already； she was found guilty and sentenced to death； the sentence
being executed upon her in Durham Gaol in March of that year。 Before
she died she made the following remarkable statement： ‘‘I have been a
poisoner； but not intentionally。''
It is believed that she secured the poison from a vermicide in which
arsenic was mixed with soft soap。 One finds it hard to believe that she
extracted the arsenic from the preparation （as she must have done before
administering it； or otherwise it must have been its own emetic）
unintentionally。
What advantage Mary Ann Cotton derived from her poisonings can
have been but small； almost as small as that gained by Helene Jegado。
Was it for social advancement that she murdered husbands and children？
Was she a ‘climber' in that sphere of society in which she moved？ One
hesitates to think that passion swayed her in being rid of the infant
obstacle to the fifth marriage of her contemplation。 With her ‘‘all o'er…
teeming loins；'' this woman； Hecuba in no other particular； must have been
a very sow were this her motive。
But I have come almost by accident on the word I need to compare
Mary Ann Cotton with Jegado。 The Bretonne； creeping about her native
province leaving death in her track； with her piety； her hypocrisy； her
enjoyment of her own cruelty； is sinister and repellent。 But Mary Ann；
moving from mate to mate and farrowing from each； then savaging both
them and the litter； has a musty sowishness that the Bretonne misses。
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Both foul； yes。 But we needn't； we islanders； do any Jingo business in
setting Mary Ann against Helene。
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VII： THE MERRY WIDOWS
Twenty years separate the cases of these two women； the length of
France lies between the scenes in which they are placed： Mme Boursier；
Paris； 1823； Mme Lacoste； Riguepeu； a small town in Gascony； 1844。 I
tie their cases together for reasons which cannot be apparent until both
their stories are toldand which may not be so apparent even then。 That
is not to say I claim those reasons to be profound； recondite； or settled in
the deeps of psychology。 The matter is； I would not have you believe
that I join their cases because of similarities that are superficial。 My
hope is that you will find； as I do； a linking which； while neither profound
nor superficial； is curious at least。 As I cannot see that the one case
transcends the other in drama or interest； I take them chronologically； and
begin with the Veuve Boursier：
At the corner of Rue de la Paix and Rue Neuve Saint…Augustine in
1823 there stood a boutique d'epiceries。 It was a flourishing
establishment； typical of the Paris of that time； and its proprietors were
people of decent standing among their neighbours。 More than the
prosperous condition of their business； which was said to yield a profit of
over 11；000 francs per annum； it was the happy and cheerful relationship
existing between les epoux Boursier that made them of such good
consideration in the district。 The pair had been married for thirteen years；
and their union had been blessed by five children。
Boursier； a middle…aged man of average height； but very stout of build
and asthmatically short of neck； was recognized as a keen trader。 He did
most of his trading away from the house in the Rue de la Paix； and paid
frequent visits； sometimes entire months in duration； to Le Havre and
Bordeaux。 It is nowhere suggested that those visits were made on any
occasion other than that of business。 M。 Boursier spent his days away
from the house； and his evenings with friends。
It does not anywhere appear that Mme Boursier objected to her
husband's absenteeism。 She was a capable woman； rather younger than
her husband； and of somewhat better birth and education。 She seems to
have been content with； if she did not exclusively enjoy； having full charge
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of the business in the shop。 Dark； white of tooth； not particularly pretty；
this woman of thirty…six was； for her size； almost as stout as her husband。
It is said that her manner was a trifle imperious； but that no doubt resulted
from knowledge of her own capability； proved by the successful way in
which she handled her business and family responsibilities。
The household； apart from Mme and M。 Boursier； and counting those
employed in the epicerie； consisted of the five children； Mme Boursier's
aunt （the Veuve Flamand）； two porters （Delonges and Beranger）； Mlle
Reine （the clerk）； Halbout （the book…keeper）； and the cook （Josephine
Blin）。
On the morning of the 28th of June； which would be a Sunday；
Boursier was called by the cook to take his usual dejeuner； consisting of
chicken broth with rice。 He did not like the taste of it； but ate it。 Within
a little time he was violently sick； and became so ill that he had to go to
bed。 The doctor； who was called almost immediately； saw no cause for
alarm； but prescribed mild remedies。 As the day went on； however； the
sickness increased in violence。 Dr Bordot became anxious when he saw
the patient again in the evening。 He applied leeches and mustard
poultices。 Those ministrations failing to alleviate the sufferings ofthe
invalid； Dr Bordot brought a colleague into consultation； but neither the
new…comer； Dr Partra； nor himself could be positive in diagnosis。
Something gastric； it was evident。 They did what they could； though
working； as it were； in the dark。
The patient was no better next day。 As night came on he was worse