she stands accused(她是被告)-第41章
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autopsy on Le Drogo； cure of Guern； testified that though he had then
been puzzled by the pathological conditions； he was now prepared to say
they were consistent with arsenical poisoning。
Martel； a pharmacist； brother of the doctor who had attended Le Drogo；
spoke of his brother's suspicions； suspicions which had recurred on
meeting with the cases at Bubry。 They had been diverted by the lavishly
affectionate attendance Helene had given to the sufferers。
Relatives of the victims of Locmine told of Helene's predictions of
death； and of her plaints that death followed her everywhere。 They also
remarked on the very kind ministrations of Helene。
Dr Toussaint； doctor at Locmine； and son to the house in which Helene
had for a time been servant； told of his perplexity over the symptoms in
the cases of the Widow Lorey and the youth Leboucher。 In 1835 he had
been called in to see Helene herself； who was suffering from an
intermittent fever。 Next day the fever had disappeared。 He was told
that she had been dosing herself； and he was shown a packet which had
been in her possession。 It contained substances that looked like kermes…
mineral；＇30＇ some saffron； and a white powder that amounted to perhaps
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ten grammes。 He had disliked Helene at first sight。 She had not been
long in his mother's service when his mother's maid…companion （Anne
Eveno）； who also had no liking for Helene； fell ill and died。 His father
fell violently ill in turn； seemed to get better； and looked like recovering。
But inexplicable complications supervened； and his father died suddenly
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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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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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 A
