AMAZING CRIME PLOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 October 1921, Page 5

AMAZING CRIME PLOT.

POISON BY TYPHOID GERMS. AFTER INSURING LIVES. . By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Received Oct. 30. 5.5 p.m. Paris, Oct. 28. The Gentleman Girard case, one of the strangest in the history of scientific crime, has opened. Henri Girard, an insurance clerk, with two men and two women accomplices, was charged with poisoning five persons with typhoid germs after heavily insuring their lives. Two victims died, and Girard has since died in prison.

One accomplice of Girard’s, Mrs. Doneteau Girard, first of all induced a friend named Godel to insure his life for £23,0(70. Godel was soon afflicted with a mysterious illness, but recovered. She next insured Delmas for £l6OO. She then bought typhoid germs and invited -Delmas to dinner at Doneteau’s house, where Delmas was typhoid stricken, but after drinking an aperient, recovered. One fatal ease was ascribed to mushroom poisoning.

A maid says she was forbidden to touch the victim’s plates after dinner, Girard and Doneteau washing the plates with antiseptics. Another victim was Girard’s first wife. The insurance people were suspicious of this case, and investigations led to revelations of the previous mysteries.—-United Service.