Full Description
In 1686 in Geneva, a single mother named Jeanne Catherine Thomasset is charged with poisoning two young children: her own illegitimate daughter and the son of a rural wet nurse. So begins a harrowing criminal trial during which authorities interrogate Jeanne Catherine several times, sometimes with torture, to determine the truth.
The Trial of Jeanne Catherine is a suspenseful historical mystery that offers students the opportunity to learn about motherhood, child rearing, gender, religion, local politics, and the practice of criminal justice in early modern Europe. This edition provides the complete trial transcript as well as the deliberations of the Genevan authorities and relevant correspondence.
Contents
List 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
