Jane Toppan

[icghosts]

There is a book about her, can't remember the name of it, but I did read it and found it very interesting. Jane Toppan is listed on findagrave.


Jane Toppan (1880-1901) was a 26-year old nurse from Boston, Massachusetts who gave lethal injections of morphine to 31 hospital patients, and was suspected of having killed an additional 70 patients over the course of a two-decade career. When apprehended, she said she wanted to kill more people than anyone who has ever lived before, but could only provide details to solve 31 crimes. Her history of suicide attempts helped her win an insanity plea, and she was eventually confined to a state mental hospital for 40 years until she died in custody.

[Kat]

I did read that book after Stefani read it and she wrote a review of sorts in the Vol. 1, Issue 4 of The Hatchet, called "The Lizzie Borden Connection."
It's been a while, so I can't corroborate what you posted, but it defintely was good, and worth a read.
Thanks for bringing it up.

[augusta]

Thanks, guys. I gotta read that book!

[Constantine]

[quote="icghosts @ Fri Dec 31, 2004 2:39 pm"]

Jane Toppan (1880-1901)

a 26-year old nurse

eventually confined to a state mental hospital for 40 years

_________________________

Doesn't add up. Can anyone clarify?

[diana]

That was a little confusing. I also had problems reconciling a 26-year old with a two-decade career...

But, according to this website -- 1880-1901 was when she was actively pursuing her murderous activities -- from ages 26-47.

http://www.kaiserpapers.org/janetoppan.html

And according to another website -- she died in 1938. So didn't quite last her 40 year confinement, I guess.

http://www.capecodtoday.com/features/co ... ht19.shtml

[Constantine]

I Thought it was something like that. Thanks.

There's a little something about her in one of Pearson's essays, but not much. (It's in Masterpieces of Murder.)