Gaetana Stomoli, Italian Female Serial Killer Murders 23 Children Out of “Revenge” - 1895

FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 2): Catania, Sicily, Oct. 13.— A woman known as Gaetana Stomoli has been arrested for the wholesale poisoning of children with phosphorus. She administered the poison by mixing it with wine and prevailing upon the children to drink the mixture. Her victims already number 23. It is stated that they all died in fearful agony.

The woman has confessed to having committed the deed, and offered as an explanation that she wanted revenge for the death of two of her own children, who had been bewitched. A crowd of people attempted to lynch the unnatural wretch, and were prevented with great difficulty.

[“Poisoned 23 Children. - A Woman Arrested In Sicily For Wholesale Poisoning – She Confesses.” syndicated, Evening Democrat (Warren, Pa.), Oct. 13, 1895, p. 1]

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FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 2): Palermo – A woman has been arrested at Aderno, 17 miles southwest of Catania, on the charge of poisoning children. after her arrest she confessed that she had poisoned 23 children, her object being to avenge the death of her 2 sons, whose taking off she declared was due to witchcraft by the relatives of the child victims. The bodies of 10 have been found in the places whose taking where she said she caused them to be buried. The woman is not believed to have been alone in the crime and 7 persons who are supposed to have been her accomplices are also under arrest.

[“Hideous Poisoner – Of 23 Children for Revenge Upon Those Thought to be Guilty of Witchcraft in Italy.” The Reading Eagle (Pa.), Oct. 12, 1895, p. 3]

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