Description
Book SynopsisThis page-turning translation of a seventeenth-century infanticide trial tells the story of a single mother accused of poisoning two children, including her own.
Trade Review"The real value of this book lies in the transcription, as translated by Beam, who is to be commended for bringing it into print. It offers rare insight into the thinking processes of people involved in a criminal trial three and a half centuries ago, as well as glimpses of the lives of real people trying to represent themselves honestly, or to their own advantage, before the law." -- John Lepage *
The Ormsby Review *
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations a. City of Geneva b. Map of the Centre of the City c. Map of Region around Geneva including the Village of Laconnex d. Birthing Room with Midwife e. Sample Manuscript from the Trial Introduction 1. Historical Background Jeanne Catherine Thomasset Protestant Republic of Geneva Laconnex Court Officers and Criminal Procedures Proving a Crime: Torture and Punishment Good Mothers and Bad Mothers Prosecuting Poisoning and Infanticide 2. Understanding the Text The Archival Source Notes on the Translation 3. List of Important Characters 4. Glossary 5. The Trial May 6, 1686: Report of auditeur Humbert May 6, 1686: Statement of Jeanne Thomasset May 6, 1686: First Interrogation of Jeanne Thomasset after Arrest May 7, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 7, 1686: Interrogation of Abraham Clerc May 7, 1686: Interrogation of Pierre Quiby May 7, 1686: Testimony of Jeanne Vautier May 7–17, 1686: Witness Testimony Collected at Laconnex May 7, 1686: Second Interrogation of Jeanne Thomasset May 8, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 8, 1686: Report of auditeur Bagueret March 4, 1685: Letter Written by Jeanne Catherine Thomasset April 13, 1685: Letter Written by Samuel Thomasset May 8, 1686: Third Interrogation of Jeanne Catherine Thomasset May 10, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 10, 1686: Fourth Interrogation of Jeanne Catherine Thomasset May 10, 1686: Interrogation of Louise Ducré May 10, 1686: Interrogation of Jeanne Marie Favre May 10, 1686: Interrogation of Pierre Favre of Avully May 10, 1686: Confrontation between Louise Ducré and Jeanne Catherine Thomasset May 11, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 11, 1686: Fifth Interrogation of Jeanne Catherine Thomasset May 14, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 15, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 15, 1686: Sixth Interrogation of Jeanne Catherine Thomasset (with torture) May 17, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 17, 1686: Seventh Interrogation of Jeanne Catherine Thomasset (with torture) May 17, 1686: Deposition of châtelain Sarasin May 17, 1686: Reports of Physicians and Surgeons May 17, 1686: Testimony of Daniel de la Flechère May 18, 1686: Testimony of Jeanne Vautier May 19, 1686: Eighth Interrogation of Jeanne Catherine Thomasset (with torture) May 22, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 24, 1686: Letter Written by Jean François Thomasset and Other Relatives May 24, 1686: Letter from the Bailiff of Nyon, Nicolas Steiguer May 24, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 24, 1686: Report regarding Evidence of Powder Found inside the Corpses of the Two Dead Children Undated Invoice Submitted by the Two Surgeons Undated Invoice Submitted by the Two Physicians May 24, 1686: Ninth Interrogation of Jeanne Catherine Thomasset May 24, 1686: Declaration of Surgeons regarding the Death of Samuel Thomasset May 25, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 26, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council May 28, 1686: Letter Written by Jean François Thomasset and Other Relatives May 28, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council June 2, 1686: Letter Written by Romier Laisné, a Relative of Jeanne Catherine July 5, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council July 16, 1686: Summary of the Trial against Jeanne Catherine Thomasset July 18, 1686: Letter from Romier Laisné July 19, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council July 23, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council Late July 1686: Letter Written by Jean François Thomasset July 23–24, 1686: Four Letters Exchanged between the Bailiff of Nyon and the Small Council July 24, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council July 26, 1686: Final Sentence against Jeanne Catherine Thomasset July 26, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council July 26, 1686: Report of auditeurs Perdriau and Master of the Keys July 27, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council July 27, 1686: Report of the Ministers Who Heard Jeanne Catherine’s Final Confession July 31, 1686: Deliberations of the Small Council July 31, 1686: Testimony of Pierre Seure References
