she stands accused(她是被告)-第38节
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Helene： ‘‘That was for vengeance。 I was furious at being sent
away。
Sieur Cesar le Clerc and Mme Gauthier swore to thefts from them by
Helene。
Helene： ‘‘I stole nothing from Mme Gauthier except one bottle of
wine。 If I commit a larceny it is from choler。 WHEN I'M FURIOUS I
STEAL！''
It was when Helene began to poison for vengeance that retribution fell
upon her。 Her fondness for the bottle started to get her into trouble。 It
made her touchy。 Up to 1841 she had poisoned for the pleasure of it；
masking her secret turpitude with an outward show of piety； of being
helpful in time of trouble。 By the time she arrived in Rennes； in 1848；
after seven years during which her murderous proclivities seem to have
slept； her character as a worker； if not as a Christian； had deteriorated。
Her piety； in the face of her fondness for alcohol and her slovenly habits；
and against her now frequently exhibited bursts of temper and ill…will；
appeared the hypocrisy it actually was。 Her essays in poisoning now had
purpose and motive behind them。 Nemesis； so long at her heels；
overtook her。
％ III
It is not clear in the accounts available to me just what particular
murders by poison； what attempts at poisoning； and what thefts Helene
was charged with in the indictment at Rennes。 Twenty…three poisonings；
six attempts； and a number of thefts had been washed out； it may be as
well to repeat； by the prescription legale。 But from her arrival in Rennes；
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leaving the thefts out of account； her activities had accounted for the
following： In the Rabot household one death （Albert； the son） and three
illnesses （Rabot； Mme Rabot； the mother…in…law）； in the Ozanne
establishment one death （that of the little son）； in the hotel of the Roussells
one death （that of Perrotte Mace） and one illness （that of the Veuve
Roussell）； at the Bidards two deaths （Rose Tessier and Rosalie Sarrazin）。
In this last establishment there was also one attempt at poisoning which I
have not yet mentioned； that of a young servant； named Francoise Huriaux；
who for a short time had taken the place of Rose Tessier。 We thus have
five deaths and five attempts in Rennes； all of which could be indictable。
But； as already stated； the indictment covered three deaths and three
attempts。
It is hard to say； from verbatim reports of the trial； where the matter of
the indictment begins to be handled。 It would seem from the evidence
produced that proof was sought of all five deaths and all five attempts that
Helene was supposed to be guilty of in Rennes。 The father of the boy
Ozanne was called before the Rabot witnesses； though the Rabot death and
illnesses occurred before the death of the Ozanne child。 We may；
however； take the order of affairs as dealt with in the court。 We may see
something of motive on Helene's part suggested in M。 Ozanne's evidence；
and an indication of her method of covering her crime。
M。 Ozanne said that Helene； in his house； drank eau de vie in secret；
and； to conceal her thefts； filled the bottle up with cider。 He discovered
the trick； and reproached Helene for it。 She denied the accusation with
vigour； and angrily announced her intention of leaving。 Mme Ozanne
took pity on Helene； and told her she might remain several days longer。
On the Tuesday following the young child became ill。 The illness
seemed to be a fleeting one； and the father and mother thought he had
recovered。 On the Saturday； however； the boy was seized by vomiting；
and the parents wondered if they should send for the doctor。 ‘‘If the
word was mine；'' said Helene； who had the boy on her knees； ‘‘and the
child as ill as he looks； I should not hesitate。'' The doctor was sent for
about noon on Sunday。 He thought it only a slight illness。 Towards
evening the child began to complain of pain all over his body。 His hands
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and feet were icy cold。 His body grew taut。 About six o'clock the
doctor came back。 ‘‘My God！'' he exclaimed。 ‘‘It's the croup！'' He
tried to apply leeches； but the boy died within a few minutes。 Helene
hastened the little body into its shroud。
Helene； said Ozanne； always talked of poison if anyone left their food。
‘‘Do you think I'm poisoning you？'' she would ask。
A girl named Cambrai gave evidence that Helene； coming away from
the cemetery after the burial of the child； said to her； ‘‘I am not so sorry
about the child。 Its parents have treated me shabbily。'' The witness
thought Helene too insensitive and reproached her。
‘‘That's a lie！'' the accused shouted。 ‘‘I loved the child！''
The doctor； M。 Brute； gave evidence next。 He still believed the child
had died of a croup affection； the most violent he had ever seen。 The
President questioned him closely on the symptoms he had seen in the child；
but the doctor stuck to his idea。 He had seen nothing to make him
suspect poisoning。
The President： ‘‘It is strange that in all the cases we have under
review the doctors saw nothing at first that was serious。 They admit
illness and prescribe mild remedies； and then； suddenly； the patients get
worse and die。''
M。 Victor Rabot was called next。 To begin with； he said； Helene's
services were satisfactory。 He had given her notice because he found her
stealing his wine。 Upon this Helene showed the greatest discontent； and
it was then that Mme Rabot fell ill。 A nurse was put in charge of her； but
Helene found a way to get rid of her。 Helene had no love for his child。
The child had a horror of the servant； because she was dirty and took snuff。
In consequence Helene had a spite against the boy。 Helene had never
been seen eating any of the dishes prepared for the family； and even
insisted on keeping certain of the kitchen dishes for her own use。
At the request of his father…in…law Helene had gone to get a bottle of
violet syrup from the pharmacist。 The bottle was not capped。 His
father…in…law thought the syrup had gone bad； because it was as red as
mulberry syrup； and refused to give it to his daughter （Mme Rabot）。 The
bottle was returned to the pharmacist； who remarked that the colour of the
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syrup had changed； and that he did not recognize it as his own。
Mme Rabot having corroborated her husband's evidence； and told of
Helene's bad temper； thieving； and disorderliness； Dr Vincent Guyot； of
Rennes； was called。
Dr Guyot described the illness of the boy Albert and its result。 He
then went on to describe the illness of Mme Rabot。 He and his confreres
had attributed her sickness to the fact that she was enceinte； and to the
effect of her child's death upon her while in that condition。 A miscarriage
of a distressing nature confirmed the first prognosis。 But later he and his
confreres saw reason to change their minds。 He believed the boy had
been poisoned； though he could not be certain。 The mother； he was
convinced； had been the victim of an attempt at poisoning； an opinion
which found certainty in the case of Mme Briere。 If Mme Rabot's
pregnancy went some way in explaining her illness there was nothing of
this in the illness of her mother。 The explanati
