Note: Charlotte Winsor was convicted of serial child-murder in Exeter, England in 1865.
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FULL TEXT: This Court of Assizes of the Nievre has just tried a laborer’s widow named Balouzat, aged fifty-seven, residing at Limanton, charged with having poisoned her husband and two other persons. The evidence showed that the prisoner was married to Balouzat about thirty years since, and had by him six children, of whom only one, now the wife of a man name Mazou, survives. Three of the others died in their infancy, under very suspicious circumstances, having all expired in convulsions. Notwithstanding her position as a wife and mother, the prisoner led a most scandalous life, and frequent quarrels between her and her husband were the consequence. In March 1857 the latter died suddenly, and was buried without any inquiry having been made as to the cause of his death. Sometime after the prisoner began to cohabit with an infirm weak-minded man, named Sauvenat, who had some little property. In 1863 she induced him to make a will leaving her all, he possessed; and on the 22nd September of that, year he died, after a very short illness.
The prisoner was again suspected by her neighbors, but the village rumors did not come to the knowledge of the judicial authorities. In 1884, her married daughter, who lived in the same house, gave birth to a child, which died suddenly when about 4 month old, after having been fed by its grandmother. This death revived all the suspicions which had been entertained in the village that the prisoner, was an habitual poisoner; but eight months elapsed before the circumstances reached the ears of the police authorities.
The woman was then arrested, the bodies of her husband, Sauvenat, and the child were exhumed, and all found to contain arsenic. She was accordingly committed for trial. In Court, the prisoner not only protested that she was innocent, but even attributed the death of the child to poison administered by its own father. The evidence, however, having satisfied the jury that she was the real criminal, they brought in a verdict of guilty, with extenuating circumstances, and the Court sentenced her to hard labor for life.— Galignani.
[“A French Charlotte Winsor.” The Colonist (Nelson, New Zealand), Aug. 28, 1866, p. 4]
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FULL TEXT (translated from French): The Nevers assize court
has just tried a poisoner, whose crimes bring back the most sinister memories
of famous causes.
Marie Gateau, now fifty-seven years old, about thirty years
ago, François Balouzat. She had six children. Only one survived, because we
were careful to nurse him away from his mother. Public opinion accuses Marie
Gâteau of having poisoned the other five.
On March 10, 1857, her husband was poisoned death.
After the death of her husband, she took at home, as a
boarder, a man crippled in body and mind, named Sauvanet. She completely dominated
him, and made him sign a will which designated her as universal legatee. This
woman was feared to be hated. One dared not remove Sauvenel from her home;
however. She would treat this wretch with revolting harshness; she hit him, she
refused him food. His family had Sauvanet admitted to an psychiatric home. But
when they came to get him, he was dead.
Later, the only daughter of her husband, François Magon came
to live with her the widow Balouzat: she gave birth to a son. The grandmother
poisoned this child to take revenge on her son-in-law, who sometimes reproached
her for his bad behavior. The court heard reports from doctors Tardieu,
Boudot and Rotis. These three scientists are found in agreement with the
chemists who had carried out an initial examination. They noted the presence of
arsenic in the bodies of the victims.
Found guilty with extenuating circumstances, Marie Gâteau was
sentenced to forced labor for life,
[“Courts - La Brinvilliers De Village,” La Presse Illustree
(Paris, France), May 26, 1866, p. 151]
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FULL TEXT: La cour d'assises de Nevers vient de juger une
empoisonneuse, dont les crimes rappellent les souvenirs les plus sinistres des
causes celebres.
Marie Gateau, âgée aujourd'hui de cinquante-sept ans, il y a
environ trene ans, François Balouzat. Elle a eu six enfants. Un seul a survécu,
parce qu'on a eu la précaution de le mettre en nourrice loin de sa mère.
L'opinion publique accuse Marie Gâteau d'avoir empoisonné les cinq autres.
Le 10 mars 1857, son mari est. mort empoisonné,
Après la mort de son mari elle prit chez elle, comme
pensionnaire, un homme infirme de corps et d'esprit, nommé Sauvanet. Elle le
dominait complètement, et lui fit signer un testament qui la désignat
comme légataire universelle. Cette femme était redoutée exécrée. On n’osait retirer Sauvenel de chez elle;
cependant. elle trairait ce malheureux avec une dureté revoltante; elle le
frappait, elle lui refusait, des aliments. Sa famille fit admettre Sauvanet
dans une maison d'aliènes. Mais quand on vint le chercher, il était mort.
Plus tard, la fille unique de la veuve Balouzat vint s’etablir
chez elle avec, son mari, François Magon: elle accoucha d’un fils. La grand'mêre
a empoisonne cet enfant pour se venger de son gendre, qui lui reprochait
quelquefois sa mauvaise conduite. La cour a entendu les rapports des docteurs
Tardieu, Boudot et Rotis. Ces trois savan tsse sont trouvés d ‘accord avec les
chimistes qui avaient procédé à une première expertise. Ils ont constaté la presence
de l'arsenic des cadavres des victimes.
Reconnue coupable avec circonstances atténuantes, Marie
Gâteau est condamnée aux travaux forcés à perpétuité,
[“Tribunaux - La
Brinvilliers De Village,” La Presse Illustree (Paris, France), 26 Mai 1866, p.
151]
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