Elizabeth L’Etoile, Massachusetts Acid Queen - 1901

HEADLINE:

Held In $1,000 – Mrs. L’Etoile Probably Guilty of Mayhem

Her Alleged Victim John Bouchard a Sorry Sight— He is Totally Blind and His Face is Disfigured — He Admitted Being on Friendly Terms With the Woman — He Also Told of Quarrel With Her Husband

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FULL TEXT: Mrs. Elizabeth L’Etoile was arraigned in court today on a charge of mayhem. She was found probably guilty, after several witnesses had testified, and was held for $1,600 for the February term of the superior court.

John Bouchard, the alleged victim of the woman’s jealousy, was a sorry sight. He was brought over from St. John’s hospital in a carriage, and was accompanied by his wife,  to whom he was married Sept. 26, and Dr. Robert W. Foster, of the hospital staff. He was led into the court room by Detective Laflamme and given a seat near the witness stand. The man is totally blind, his face is disfigured and his left arm burned. His face and head were swathed in bandages. Mrs. L’Etoile, his assailed assailant, sat in the prisoner’s dock. She was dressed in black, wore a large black had with feather, and white boa around her neck. She rested her in her right hand and covered her eyes with a handkerchief. As Brouchard passed her she saw him through the corner of her eye. During the taking of evidence she listened with the greatest interest to the testimony. Nine witnesses were sworn in for the government.

Brouchard in direct examination testified as follows: “My name is John Brouchard, and on the 25th of November. I visited Mrs. L’Etoile at her home in Herford place. I called at 10:30 a. m. and, Mrs. L’Etoile and her sister were there. I asked Mrs. E’Etoile if she would write a letter for me to come back in the afternoon. I went back in the afternoon to have the letter written. I remained there till about 5 o’clock, when I said I guessed I would go. She said ‘Wait a minute, don’t go in a hurry.” I told her I wanted to go home to supper. She said ‘Wait and I will give you a drink.’ I refused to drink as I already had two drinks. I suppose she wanted me to drink whiskey. She then said ‘Wait a minute,’ and she went into the kitchen and came back with a tin dipper filled with something she threw at me and which I could not see. I ran down stairs and later the ambulance came and I was taken to the hospital, where I have been ever since.”

He denied ever having had trouble with Mrs. L’Etoile but when questioned by Judge Hadley said that when he told Mrs. L’Etoile he was going to be married, she told him that he was foolish to get married.

“When she told you, she would get you a drink, did she say she would get you whiskey?” asked Judge Hadley.

“No, she did not say what she wanted to give me to drink,” answered Bouchard.

~ CROSS-EXAMINED. ~

Bouchard was subjected to a searching cross-examination by Lawyer Donahue, counsel for the accused. In reply to questions, he said “I have known Mrs. L’Etoile four years and I lived at her house before my marriage.” He admitted being friendly with her and having had his arms around her at different times before his marriage. He also admitted her husband had warned him to keep away from his wife and that on one occasion the husband struck him and kicked him down stairs. He also said that on one occasion Mrs. L’Etoile complained to him that he was acting indecently toward her 10-year-old girl. “My trouble with her husband occurred after my marriage. I met him on the stairs when I was coming from his house and he kicked me. I have been to her house four times since I was remarried. I went there on business for some of my clothing. On the Sunday when the vitriol was thrown at me I went there to have a letter written to my folks. I did not ask my wife to write it because she cannot write French. When I went to her house, I went out to but a half a pint of whiskey.”

“Did you buy whiskey on Sunday in the Highlands?” asked Mrs. Donahue.

“I did. I bought half a pint,” was the answer.

Further questioning, he said: “On that Sunday, I was leaning against the bed in the front room when she threw the vitriol at me. I had my coat off, for it was warm. I do not know whether I had my vest off. I may have taken it odd. I drank two glasses of whiskey that afternoon. In the morning I drank one glass before breakfast.

~ DR. FOSTER. ~

The next witness called was Robert W. Foster of St. John’s hospital. He said both* the man’s eyes are going and his face disfigured.

The doctor was questioned as to the direction from which the acid came and he thought it came from directly the rear.

~ BOUCHARD’S WIFE. ~

Mrs. Bouchard, wife of the complaintant, was next called.

Her testimony was directed mainly to a conversation she had with Mrs. L’Etoile. “She came to my house,” said Mrs. Bouchard, “right after my husband got out the marriage license. She asked me if I was going to marry John Bouchard and I replied yes. She said if I married him I would be sorry as she would have him anyway. She said she could Fix him and that he owed her money and she would have Laflamme arrest him. She said she had him for five years and she would have him even if I married him. She called on me again, the day we were married, I had a talk with my husband and told him she could go see that woman after our marriage, and that I would find no fault and was not jealous. I did not care if he went to see her because he was good to me and I could find no fault.” “If I had whiskey to my house, it’s for you to find out,” she said to Lawyer Donahue. “I want you to understand that I am here for my rights and you want to remember that I must support him while he lives.”

~ ROBERT MATTHEWS. ~

Robert Matthews, who lives under Mrs. L’Etoile, said that he heard Bouchard screaming and went to the door to learn the trouble. Bouchard said his eyes were burned and he took him into his house and put a cloth over his face.

~ OFFICER CAWLEY. ~

Officer Cawley testified that he was notified of the affair by Mr. Matthews. He went to the house and saw Bouchard. Mrs. L’Etoile was also there. He removed the cloth from Bouchard’s face and asked him who threw the vitriol. He pointed to Mrs. L’Etoile. She said “No. Johnnie. I did not throw it at you. I threw it at some cockroaches.” The officer then reported to the captain, who made the arrest.

The defense put in no evidence. Mrs. L’Etoile was found for the February term of the superior court.

[* Typo in original corrected from “the man’s both eyes”]

[“Held In $1,000 – Mrs. L’Etoile Probably Guilty of Mayhem,” The Lowell Sun (Ma.), Jan. 3, 1901, p. 1]

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SEE: “Acid Queens: Women Who Throw Acid” for a collection of synopses of similar cases.

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[436-1/30/19; 629-6/22/23]
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Acid Queens: Women Who Throw Acid

Acid throwing is in the news these days due to the prevalence of this crime in South Central Asia. Reported statistics show victims to be about 80% female. Statistics on the sex of the perpetrator are much harder to find (and have not been located by UHoM yet). The epidemic of acid attacks started, we are told, in the 1980s. These crimes are, every reasonable person would agree, are of the most cruel kind and are deserving of the most extreme condemnation. Yet the specialists who make an effort to publicize this horrible crime epidemic are classifying it as a :gender issue." The term "gender" when used in such a way universally connotes "women," specifically in the sense of "victimization of women by men." Perhaps this classification accurately represents the proportion of each sex in the victim category, but it does not accurately disclose the fact that a huge number of the perpetrators are women, women who choose to commit atrocious crimes on other individuals.

It is worth looking at acid attacks in the West. This was a common crime in the US and occurred in Europe as well. All of the cases listed her feature female perpetrators. This is not meant to suggest that men were less frequently the criminal. Yet since female criminality has been severely under-served by researchers ever since the beginning of criminology it is worthwhile to examine a sampling of such cases. The most overlooked category of criminal violence in terms of sex of perpetrator and sex of victim is, of course, female against female. The selection here will assist those who wish to understand what the historical record reveals about the veracity of VAWA architects and “our belief in the inherent non-violence of women.”

A large share of acid attacks by women involve what nowadays we call “stalking.”
 

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From Wikipedia: One of the earliest recorded acid assaults occurred in 17th century France during Louis XIV’s rule. The use of vitriol, or sulfuric acid, became so widespread throughout Europe in the late 1800s that the term La Vitrioleuse was coined. La Vitrioleuse described women, the majority poor, who perpetrated crimes of passion against unfaithful mates or their mistresses in order to grotesquely disfigure them and ruin future amorous activity.

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► SUMMARIES & LINKS ◄

1865 – Margaret Boyle – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (stalker)

Mrs. Boyle pressured her daughter to marry the man of her choice. After the daughter divorced her mother-selected husband and remarried, Mrs. Boyle got even by throwing acid into the man’s face. She was arrested for assault and battery with intent to kill.

1879 – General article on female acid throwers (stalkers)

Satirical piece on the common crime committed by women who stalk and attack their victims with acid.

1879 – 3 cases: “Ellen,” Mary Chinnerny, Kate MacDonald – New York, New York 

“Ellen” was promised marriage and seduced by John McEnnerny, who then broke his promise. She sued him, won $500, but could not collect. McEnnerny, a wholly unsympathetic character apparently, then made fun of his victim. She got him back by dissolving his face and destroying one of his eyes with acid.

Mary Chinnerny attacked her fiancé, Bernard O’Neall, with acid, destroying one of his eyes and damaging the other.

Kate MacDonald got off with a light sentence for her attack on Joseph W. Taylor, by pretending to be insane, ending her act within seconds following her sentencing. MacDonald’s acid attack on Taylor, who had married another woman rather than Kate, was carefully premeditated and she was even assisted by an accomplice. (stalker)

1881 – Mrs. Clarkson – Chicago, Illinois

Mrs. Clarkson’s husband was more good-looking than her. So he had to die. But the murder attempt failed so destroying his face with acid became “plan B.” 

1884 – Amélie Sangle – France (stalker)

Amélie Sangle separated from her husband. When his friend, Delinon, refused to disclose the new residence of the estranged husband, Amélie dumped acid on his face rendering him deaf and blind. The chivalrous jury felt sorry for her and found her not guilty.

1885 – Mrs. Stadelman – Chicago, Illinois

Mrs. Stadelman was owed money by Joseph Schneider. He was slow to pay – repeatedly. Mrs. Stadelman decided to make him pay with his eyesight.

1887 – Maggie Lloyd – Reading, Pennsylvania

When Howard Potter learned that his fiancée, Maggie Lloyd, had a reputation for having an explosive temper, he set up a meeting so that he could, in the gentlest and most diplomatic manner, retract his proposal. The news prompted Maggie to take action. While seated in her parlor, the young man was offered a drink, which he declined. Maggie then shouted “Then take it this way,” and dashed the contents, acid, into his face. Potter was permanently disfigured. The left side of his face was made black and was “indented like a cancerous infection.”

1892 – Catherine Merkle – Akron, Ohio (stalker)

A middle aged woman was left by her much younger lover. She stalked him and springing from her hiding place shouted “I’ve got you now, take that,” threw a bottle of vitriol in his face. One of his eyes was dissolved and extreme damage was done to his face and neck.

1895 – Bridget Little – New York, New York

Widower George D. Smith, had a mother-in-law who loved him. But he did not to marry her, so she threw carbolic acid in his face when he decided one evening not to walk her home. He was not seriously injured, however.

1896 – Sarah Harris – New York, New York (stalker)

Stalker Sarah Harris threw a bottle of carbolic acid over John Schuss, at his home, and also over his mother, because Schuss refused to marry her. Fortunately for Mr. and Mrs. Schuss, the acid was diluted, but it was strong enough to burn their faces painfully.

1896 – Mrs. Heinebach – Butte, Montana (stalker)

“Because she thought her husband had been too attentive to another woman, Mrs. Edward Heinebach, wife of the manager of the Huston and Montana Mining Company, threw a pint of vitriol in the face of Mrs. Thomas Snelling last night. The fluid burned almost every shred of clothing off the woman’s body; her face and body were burned in a most frightful manner, and the sight of both eyes probably destroyed. Mrs. Heinebach and her sister, who accompanied her, are in jail. The condition of the victim is serious, and it is said there is no foundation for Mrs. Heinebach’s jealousy.”

1896 – George H. McCluskey – Chicago Illinois (stalker)

A man who left his wife leaves St. Paul, Minnesota for Chicago and is tracked down by his wife who then attacks him with acid.

1896 – Mrs. Otens – New York, New York (stalker)

Mrs. Otens had planned to shoot William R. Denman after he lost interest in her and began paying attention to another woman. Having failed to pull the trigger of her revolver when she confronted him, she tried another tack. She sprang from behind a bush and threw acid into the face of William R. Denman. William had blocked the attack with his arm, causing some of the vitriol to splash on his attacker. William was badly injured and blinded in one eye.

1897 – Edna Hitchens – Marietta, Ohio

William Beatty died from the acid attack of Edna Hitchens.

1898 – Martha Place – New York, New York

Martha Place murdered her young step-daughter, throwing acid in her face and then smothering her. After this she stabbed husband. The murder became a notorious case. The murderess was executed in 1899.

1899 – Mrs. McVean (victim) – St. Louis, Missouri (stalker)

A widow is stalked by a strange woman who throws acid in her face causing critical injuries.

1900 – Flora Worth – Fort Wayne, Indiana

Flora Worth, a prostitute, got drunk and threw muriatic acid (hydrochloric acid) on Ida McNaughton, a landlady who had previously made some remarks about another drunken female, a fiend of Flora’s. When Flora threw the acid toward Ida’s face, the victim dodged the spray, receiving only a slight burn and damage to her clothing.

1901 – Nellie Clark – St. Louis, Missouri

Nellie Clark: “I had the acid put in a small jar, such as is used for salves. As I was talking to Cole I unscrewed the lid, and, thinking I had a good chance, dashed the acid at his lace. He threw up his arm, and this caused most of the fluid to rebound in my face. The pain was fearful. I followed him across the street and ran into a woman, knocking her down, as I entered the Chemical building. If Cole got anything he deserved it. I am not sorry.”

1901 – “Detroit Girl” – Chicago, Illinois (stalker)

A Detroit girl travels to Chicago to stalk the young man who had dated her but had rejected her and attacks him with acid. The Chicago judge find her innocent because, in his judicial view, he deserved the assault because he decided against marriage.

1901 – 3 cases: Kate Hayden, Mamie Sheehan, Amelia Fleming – New York City

“Made desperate by the complaint of her neglected daughter, Mrs. Kate Hayden, whose address is unknown, went to the home of Mrs. Ruth Murphy, at No. 615 East Eighty-first street, and attempted to destroy her beauty by throwing acid upon her face and neck.”

“Mamie Sheehan, of No. 206 Baltic street, Brooklyn, and Patrick Lane, of No. 55 Van Brunt street, were at a dance last night in the Brooklyn Dancing Academy, in Fulton street, opposite the Borough Hall. They has formerly been sweethearts, but during the evening Lane did not dance with her. After midnight, when the dance broke up, Lane went out on the street and met the girl, who then threw acid in his face. Then she ran away.”

“After being foiled in an attempt to rob her aunt for the benefit, the police say, of her lover, and after disfiguring herself for life with carbolic acid in trying to bolster up a false story of robbery, pretty Amelia Fleming, of No. 642 Evergreen avenue, Williamsburg, has left her home for parts unknown after making a full confession of her duplicity to the police.”

1901– Elizabeth L’Etoile – Lowell, Massachusetts

“John Bouchard, the alleged victim of [Mrs. Elizabeth L’Etoile’s] jealousy, was a sorry sight. He was brought over from St. John’s hospital in a carriage, and was accompanied by his wife, to whom he was married Sept. 26, and Dr. Robert W. Foster, of the hospital staff. He was led into the court room by Detective Laflamme and given a seat near the witness stand. The man is totally blind, his face is disfigured and his left arm burned. His face and head were swathed in bandages.”

1901 – Mamie Lee – Trenton, New Jersey

She threw acid, a material used in her workplace, at a fellow worker, causing life-threatening injury.

1901 – Anthony Myers (victim) – Newburg, New York (stalker)

An unknown woman attempts to blind a 16-year-old walking to school, but his quick reflexes save his sight.

1901 – Emily Weeks – Albany, New York

Emily Weeks, “to prevent her mother discovering forgeries amounting to $2,900 which she had perpetrated by the use of her mother's name, she threw carbolic acid into her face, almost blinding her.”

1902 – Pearl Aukers – Greensburg, Pennsylvania (stalker)

George Loughner return home from his honeymoon was attacked by his former sweetheart, who, although carrying a pistol, decided tot to kill him but instead to disfigure him by throwing acid in his face.

1902 – “Jennie Smith” (alias) – New York, New York (stalker)

A married woman with a 13-year-old daughter stalks a man for two years, demanding that he marry her (in spite of the fact that she had a husband). Finally, she attacks him with acid, saying, telling a policeman “If he had kissed me it would have been all right.”

1903 – Amelia Cooper – Boston, Massachusetts

“When John Mulvaney, aged 22 years, a stock clerk, of 276 West 118th st, told his sweetheart, 18-year-old Amelia Cooper of 1755 3d av, yesterday, that he did not want to have anything further to do with her, she threw two ounces of carbolic acid in his face from a tumbler she held in her hand. He was removed to the Harlem hospital, and will lose the sight of his right eye. He also was badly burned about the face and hands. The girl escaped.”

1904 – Mrs. Guinan – New York, New York

She threw acid in husband’s eyes and rubbed it in, causing permanent blindness in the right eye and probably also in the left.

1904 – Jennie L. Kleimenhagen – San Francisco, California (stalker)

After her live-in boyfriend left her, Miss Kleimenhagen demanded money from him and afterwards stalked him, attacking him with acid. Having failed to disfigure his face, she stalked him again and attempted to shoot him.

1904 – Hollet Snow – Springfield, Missouri

“Mrs. Hollet Snow dashed a glassful of carbolic acid into the face of Mrs. Mary Bunel. Mrs. Bunel’s face, neck and chest were badly burned and she probably will lose her eyesight. Mrs. Snow was arrested.”

1905 – Esther Hacken – Chicago, Illinois

Daughter blinds 70-year-old father with carbolic acid over disagreements.

1905 – Elizabeth Saferian – Fresno, California

A woman attempts to poison another woman with lye in the presence of a small boy. The target of the attempt gets her revenge by destroying the sight of the 3-year-old with the lye.

1906 – Jennie Cosgrove – Warrensburg, New York

An estranged wife, who had not seen her husband for two years, used the claim she wanted to see their 9-year-old daughter, to set him up for a vicious acid attack in which she broke a bottle of vitriol over his head and shoulders causing serious injury.

1908 – Kate Phipps – Lexington, Kentucky (stalker)

Mrs. Kate Phipps said to Miss Mary Ryan: “If I can't have rosy cheeks, you can’t. Everybody likes you: nobody likes me.” She then threw carbolic acid in her face and cut her with a knife on the cheeks and hands.

1909 – Mlle. Ducosset – Paris France (stalker)

Mlle. Ducosset stalked M. Verdier for a year. She threw acid on him and in spite of the severe burns managed to shoot her to death.

1909 – “Parisian Acid Stalker” – Paris, France (stalker)

A woman threw vitriol in the face of a man whom she did not know but had mistaken for her recreant lover. The victim lost the sight of one eye, but a Paris jury acquitted the woman. Afterward she and her lover were reconciled.

 

1910 – Eugenie Baujean – Paris, France (stalker)

Jilted lover Eugenie Baujean flung the contents of a bottle of vitriol in the face of her beau, a retired sergeant major of gendarmerie named Sarrasin. The corrosive liquid burned him about the face, arms and throat, inflicting such injuries as to bring about his death two months later. She was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

1910 – Mrs. Thompson – Eugene, Oregon (stalker)

An unknown “woman who entered the room of Mrs. W. S. Thompson in the Hall building and attempted to throw carbolic Acid in Mrs. Thompson’s face. The woman was masked. As she hurled the burning fluid at her victim, the stranger shouted: ‘Now I’ve got you where I want you.’”

1910 – Barbara Walton – Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania (stalker)

“Ten men were burned by carbolic acid when Miss Barbara Walton of Plymouth near here, made an effort to destroy the features of Thomas Price, a handsome young mine worker, of whom she was jealous, because he had, after paying attention to her, transferred his attention to another girl.”

1911 – Rose Abels – Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (stalker)

Rose Abels threw the contents of a bottle of carbolic acid into the face of the woman whom she claims ruined her life and stole her husband’s love.

1911 – Susan Childs – Goldfield, New York

“Susan Childs, a pretty domestic, aged 21, is suffering from severe burns on the face and breast today, sustained when an unidentified woman, believed to have been prompted by jealousy, hurled a quantity of carbolic acid at her head. Miss Childs will be disfigured for life.”

1912 – Annie Raffleson – Chicago, Illinois (stalker)

“Annie Raffleson, the pretty Jewish girl, whose face has been described as that of the Madonna, is free today, through the humanitarianism of Judge Hines of the charge which might have sent her to the penitentiary. She recently came here from her country home to throw acid in the face of her lover who had given his love to another girl.”

1912 – Ann Heil – Buffalo, New York

“After throwing acid in the face of her chauffeur, Arthur C. Ferris, 34 years old, Mrs. Anna Heil, 29 years old, a widow with two small children, fired a wild shot at the man and then turned the revolver on herself, indicting n trifling wound in her right temple. The affair occurred as Ferris opened the door of his employer's motor car for her to enter.”

1913 – Mrs. Jones – Wheeling, West Virginia

A jealous wife attacks another woman with carbolic acid, splashing some of it on another woman, but missing her baby.

1914 – Mrs. Seamon – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

“Little Ralph Seamon, 1 year old, may pay with a scarred face and the sight of his right eye because his father danced the tango with a girl his mother doesn't like. Mrs. Seamon threw acid at her husband after the dance and it hit the child.”

1915 – Annie Cten – Pittsburg, Pennsylvania (stalker)

A stalking woman who uses cayenne pepper, then carbolic acid and then a pistol.

1915 – Thomas Potts (victim) – Holtville, California (stalker)

“Authorities are looking for the mysterious woman who rode on horseback last night to the in of Thomas Potts, a local druggist, and hurled a phial of nitric acid in his face as lie slept. Potts’ eyesight is totally destroyed and his shoulders and arms are badly burned. He could think of no enemies or no reason for such an attack.”

1915 – Lottie Ribichka – Vienna, Austria

An aristocrat fails to secure permission from the royal family to marry his mistress. He tries to console her by offering to give her a large sum of money so that she might live well. She finds this unacceptable and destroys his face with acid and shoots him four times, then kills herself. After eight months of agony he finally dies.

1916 – Margaret Daig – New York, New York

Mrs. Margaret Daig was arraigned on the charge of throwing carbolic acid into the face of William Knudsen. She not only said she did it, but said she was glad she did it.

1916 – Jennie Lodwick – Youngstown, Ohio

Mrs. Lodwick, according to her husband’s divorce filings, employed carbolic acid along with a dizzying array of devices to make him miserable.

1919 – Mayme McConnel – Elkhart, Indiana (stalker)

Unknown woman rings door bell and when Mrs. McConnel answers Carbolic Acid is thrown in her face, scarring her for life and blinding her, probably permanently.

1920 – Alexandria Sokolowsky – New York, New York

“Mrs. Alexandria A. Sokolowsky, twenty-eight, widow of Frank Sokolowsky, representative of the American Federation of Labor, who died of carbolic acid poisoning in their home at New Haven June 20, was arrested last night and locked up in police headquarters and charged with murder. The detectives say she confessed she threw acid on her husband as he slept, because she had found love letters in his clothing and wanted to spoil his good looks.”

1921 – Jesse Hassel – Dallas, Texas (stalker)

Mrs. Hassel stalked husband and woman and attacked them with acid, seriously burning her about the face, arms, and shoulders.

1921 – Anna Irene Hopkins – Prescott, Arizona (stalker)

Mrs. Anna Irene Hopkins was charged with haling thrown acid into the face of Miss Lucille Gallagher, a school teacher. Mrs. Hopkins denied that she had tried to rub the acid into the eyes of Miss Gallagher as a witnesses to the affair charged.

1921 – Grace Jackson – New York, New York

When Alexander Hirsh, eighteen years old, a law student, employed as a clerk by the firm of Weis & Ottenberg, went to the apartment of Mrs. Grace Jackson, an actress, to serve a subpoena in a civil suit, the actress emptied a bottle of carbolic acid in his face.

1922 – Mollie Cantor – Atlantic City, New Jersey (stalker)

“Six people were burned, one woman seriously, a near panic occurred, and a play in Hebrew, ‘An Eye for an Eye,’ was brought to a stop at the Globe Theatre on the Boardwalk last night, when Mrs. Mollie Cantor,  thirty-six years old, … scattered the contents of a bottle of carbolic acid broadcast in an effort to injure Mrs. Mary Kolmetsky, thirty-five, … of whom she is said to be extremely jealous.”

1922 – Noelie Fayolle – Nimes, France

“Noelie Fayolle was angry. She threw vitriol at the man she had loved. But she was so angry her aim was bad. The vitriol burned 28 curious bystanders. Now Noelie must spend two years in jail.”

1924 – Grace Dolby – Columbus, Ohio (stalker)

“Three little children were made orphans tonight when a woman known to police as ‘Grace’ [Dolby] dashed a bottle of acid in their father's face while he was sitting in a downtown theater, causing his death before he could be rushed to a hospital. The victim was George B. Hackney 30, who according to Rose, aged 9 his eldest daughter, had been keeping company with the woman but had refused her repeated requests to marry her. ‘Grace kept asking papa to marry her, but papa wouldn't do it, so Grace got mad,’ the little girl sobbed night when told of the tragedy. Her mother died a few years ago.”

1925 – Grace Bernice Day – Los Angeles, California

Grace Bernice Day was one of the most notorious American acid queens. In her first marriage she gave her husband a black eye. In her second she poured acid on her husband. She was convicted of the crime and sent to prison. The photos of Mr. Day’s injury show grotesque scarring. Yet the acid was not a strong variety and did not penetrate to the deepest layer off the skin so it was possible, through a series of skin grafts, to restore his face. The victim decided to forgive his violent wife and worked hard to get her released from prison.

1926 – Ethel Millard (victim) – Dallas, Texas (stalker)

An anonymous woman hurls a pot of lye at an 18-year-old girl.

1927 – Mary Waite – London, England

“A [London] coroner’s jury today decided that Louis Fisher, refrigerating engineer of the United States Shipping Board steamer, American Trader, died from “natural causes” and that Mary Waite, 24-year old stewardess, did not intend to do him “any previous harm” in pouring acid over him while he slept.”

1931 – Anna Galloway – Spokane, Washington (stalker)

Miss Galloway found her love rival in the presence of the man she wanted for herself, so she poured acid on her. Newspapers reported that “the girl was seriously burned, and probably will be disfigured for life.”

1933 – Mariam Thompson – Maryville, Missouri

“Right into Mabel’s bright eyes, wide with surprise, Mrs. Miriam Thompson swished the acid as she cried: ‘You’ll never see my husband again, Mabel!’”

1938 – Betty King – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

In a fit of jealousy, Betty King showered a man and his dancer-companion with acid last night in a Pittsburgh cafe.

1963 – Edith Nadine Beals – Corpus Christi, Texas image

Mr. Beals said he was inside his ex-wife’s car on Colonial Street and was writing her a check for a utility bill when she flung the acid at his eyes, permanently disfiguring him. “I knew it would keep him from raping me,” said the attacker. The victim said the accusation of rape was false.

1977 – Stacey Tinberg – Lynwood, Kansas

A schoolgirl attacked her schoolmate, Stacey Tinberg, 14, with acid because she was envious of her “Farah Fawcett” hair.

1985 – Jennetta Barnes – Lumberton, North Carolina

Threw acid on her boyfriend’s sister following an argument.

1995 – Salina Jones – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Jones threw sulfuric acid on four people.

2005 – Rihab Hagelkhider – Albany, New York (stalker)

Rihab Hagelkhider attacked a group of people at a wedding reception with acid so powerful it melted the gloves of the Fire Department responders who provided first aid to the victims.

2006 – Mallory Rush – St. Louis Missouri, USA

Victims: a dozen persons, 3 of them permanently disfigured. Date of crime: Apr. 9, 2006; Chemical used was drain cleaner brand “Liquid Fire.”

2008 – Soni Devi – Malsalami, Patna, India

A wife and her extra-marital “love interest” pour acid on the husband.

2009 – Bhavanam Venkatravamma (49) – Gattikonda village, Piduguralla Mandal, India

Attack: Jun. 6, 2009; Gangiredd Saidamma (65, aunt)

2010 – Maria Garcia-Olvera, Ofelia Garcia & 3 unnamed girls – Chicago, Illinois

Two women, related by marriage and having an affair with the same man arranged for three teenaged girls to attack the woman who had won the affections of the man who left them. The victim had sulfuric acid poured on her and was hit by a baseball bat and is severely disfigured despite a long series of surgeries.

2010 – Charlis Harris – Chicago, Illinois (stalker)

Ms. Harris was accused of following another woman in her car, tossing acid on the victim, shooting her and then taking a hammer to the car.

2011 – Tikia Shauntice Anderson & Tamara ChrystalJackson – Oxon Hill,  Maryland (stalker)

Jealous Tikia Shauntice Anderson coaxed her friend to attack a woman with drain cleaner, injuring their target along with the 3-year-old daughter. 

2011 – Aarti Dikshit – Anand Vihar, Delhiu, India

Aarti Dikshit carried a bottle of acid in her purse which she used to punish her boyfriend for breaking off their engagement.

2011 – Angela Paterson – Indianapolis, Indiana

The acid attack followed the victim’s having refusing to accede to Paterson’s demand that she give her half her pain medication following a visit to the doctor as payment for living in her home.

2011 – “Brooklyn woman”; New York, NY, USA

Attack: May 8, 2011; “Woman throws sulfuric acid on 59-year-old Brooklyn man, burning him and herself; motive unknown,” NY Daily News, May 9, 2011]; Man (59)

2012 – Erma Jean Broyles – Forrest City, Arkansas (stalker)

Erma stalked her ex-boyfriend and threw acid in his face.

2012 – Rith Savan (victim) – Phnom Penh, Cambodia (stalker)

It was the first acid attack in Cambodia since a new, harsher, law against the crime had gone into effect only six weeks earlier. A jealous wife was motivated, it is believed, by an imagined relationship between the victim and the stalker’s husband.

2012 – Mary Konye (22) – Dagenham, East London, England

Dec. 30, 2012, attack; Victim: Naomi Oni; at Victoria’s Secret shop.

2013 – Lourdes Keefe (56) – East Pensboro (Enole), London

Aug. 22, 2013, attack; Victim: Diane Ensminger.

2014 – Martina Levato – Milan, Italy

Nov. 2, 2014, attack; victims: Antonio Margarito, Giuliano Carparelli, Stefano Savi; Also allegedly threatened to castrate another ex; other threats

2015 – Ung Limey (21) – Cambodia

Oct. 5, 2015; Victim: Leng Socheata (23); Woman Throws Acid On Ex For Breaking Up With Her, Ends Up Burning Herself Cambodia's Leng Socheata broke things off with his fiancée, Ung Limey. In retaliation, Limey attempted to pour acid over his head.

2016 – Monil Mai (32) – Mukhdoom Rashid neighborhood of Multan, Pakistan

Attack: Jun. 17, 2016; Victim: Salaqat Ali (bf); married woman wanted boyfriend to promise to marry her and he refused.

2016 – Shamima Akhtar – Bani town of Jammu’s Kathua district, India

Victim: Mohammed Din (h); “Jammu: Woman throws acid on husband for remarrying; Shamima Akhtar flung acid on her husband of 10 years, with the help of her daughter and two other individuals, said the SHO.,” The Indian Express, Sep. 23, 2016

2016 – “Ghaziabad woman” (45) – Ghaziabad, India (stalking)

Attack: May 17, 2016; Victim: Dr. Amit Verma, veterinarian.

2016 – “Nellore woman” – Nellore, Andhra Pradesh, India

Victim: Girija (27) – Attack: Aug. 19, 2016;  “After an astrologer told Girija's family that she would have a girl, the in-laws of the 27-year-old woman from Nellore, Andhra Pradesh threw acid on her stomach, NDTV reported on Thursday. It was the mother-in-law and sister-in-law who threw acid on Girija on August 19, the news channel reported. Neighbors took her to the hospital where she is now recovering from 30 percent burns. She already has one daughter.”

2017 – Liza Frazer – West Ruimveldt, Georgetown, South Africa?

Sep. 2, 2017, attack; Victim: Kelton King (common-law h)

2017 – “Woman from Nalasopara” – (25) – Goreagon, Mumbai, India

Jun. 9, 2017 attack, Victim: Om Solanki (26), boyfriend.

2017 – Lidiya S. (26) –Vijayanagar, India

Attack: Jan. 18, 2017; Victim: Jayahumar (bf); after acid attack she sliced his face with a surgical knife, leaving a 14 inch wound.

2017 – Huma Bindu (21) – Venigandala, Guntur district, India

Attack: May 23, 2017; Victim: Sheikh Mohammed Ilyas (24), died from attack

2017 – Ali Siangshai (57) – Pamra Kmai village, East Jaintia, Hills, India

Attack: Apr. 12, 2017; Victim: woman (20)

2017 – Yasmeen (30) – Luddan, India

Attack: May 23, 2017; Victim: Imram (35, h)

2017 – “Deula woman” – Deula village, Balasore district, India

Balasore, June 13: In a tragic incident, a woman belonging to Deula village in Balasore district was allegedly attacked with acid by her mother-in-law over a dowry issue. Sustaining severe burn injuries, the woman was rushed to the Balasore DHH, where she is stated to be in critical condition. As per the complaints, the woman’s husband and her mother-in-law had been torturing her since the marriage for dowry. After her husband beat up her earlier yesterday, unable to tolerate the heat, the woman asked her father to lodge a police complaint regarding the matter, to which her mother-in-law reacted and threw acid on her.

2017 – Margaret Masai – Soysambu, Ndalu, Bungoma County, Kenya

Attack: circa Feb. 6, 2017; Victim: Regindla (20); “her mother-in-law allegedly admitted to hospital after the woman allegedly threw acid on her legs and tied her to a pole inside a room – for two weeks “to rot.” According to the chief doctor, he received her on Feb. 22 with both her legs and fingers in a state of decay after the acid has liquified parts of her limbs.

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SEE: Dan Perrins, “Acid Attacks: Telling only Half the Story,” A Voice for Men, Jun. 26, 2014

 
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[5825-2/25/19]
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An Acid Queen Gets the Chivalry Treatment: Mary Waite - 1927

FULL TEXT: London, Aug. 10. – A coroner’s jury today decided that Louis Fisher, refrigerating engineer of the United States Shipping Board steamer, American Trader, died from “natural causes” and that Mary Waite, 24-year old stewardess, did not intend to do him “any serious harm” in pouring acid over him while he slept.

Fisher died aboard the American trader at sea last Friday [Aug. 5] and Miss Waite was arrested when the vessel arrived here. Captain H. C. Fish, master of the American trader, testified that Miss Waite had told him she threw acid on Fisher to disfigure him because of his attention to other women and that she had no idea of ending his life.

Miss Waite later appeared in the Dow street police court and was discharged. She will sail for the United States tomorrow under a deportation order.

[“‘Natural Causes’ Is Coroner’s Verdict When Girl Throws Acid on Sailor; Dies,” syndicated (AP), Aug. 10, 1927, p. 1]

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SEE: “Acid Queens: Women Who Throw Acid” for a collection of synopses of similar cases.

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[1405-3/4/22]

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Margaret Boyle, Philadelphia Acid Queen - 1865

FULL TEXT: Last evening (Wednesday) a woman named Margaret Boyle threw a lot of vitriol into the face of her son-in-law named Henry De Wolf. The affair happened at Fifth and Buckley streets, and seems to have originated out of a family difficulty. Mrs. Boyle's daughter had married De Wolf against the mother’s wish having previously abandoned her first husband. The daughter stated that the first husband, who was a soldier, she never liked, she having married him on her mother’s account. After living together a short time, she left him and married De Wolf. This incensed the mother, who, in revenge, procured a bottle of vitriol, the contents of which she threw in De Wolf’s face, burning him in a most shocking manner. A warrant was issued for her arrest by Recorder Ensu, who committed her to answer the charge of assault and battery with intent to kill. 

[“A Woman Throws Vitriol In Man's Face.” (from Philadelphia North American), Daily National Republican (Washington, D.C.),  May 19, 1865, p. 2]

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 SEE: “Acid Queens: Women Who Throw Acid” for a collection of synopses of similar cases.

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[1794-9/24/21]

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Maggie Lloyd Lives Up to Her Reputation for Having a Bad Temper by Throwing Acid - 1887

FULL TEXT: Reading, [Pa.], Dec. 6. – Young HOWARD POTTER, who was so horribly burned with vitriol in the parlor of Dr. Frank Rieser by Miss Maggie Lloyd, a few days ago, was able to-day to give his side of the story of the desperate attempt to kill him. Potter is the son of Gen. Potter of Painesville, Ohio, and his mother is a lady of Montreal, where Gen. Potter spends much of his time. The vitriol victim is not yet 21 years of age and quite boyish in appearance. Potter was advised by his parents not to marry on account of his youth, and he meant to obey them. He tried to be manly and straightforward and break off the engagement as gently as possible. He had discovered that Miss Lloyd’s vicious temper might cause him trouble in later years, and rather than risk a life of misery he determined not to marry.

He says he went to Miss Lloyd’s house on Sunday evening, as requested by her note. They calmly sat for nearly an hour, talking over their separation. “I was sitting in an easy chair,” he says,” and Miss Lloyd in another. When I finally told her of my decision she said she felt weak, and excused herself, saying she would go to her room for a little brandy, which she kept there for illness. In a few minutes she returned with a small wine glass filled with dark liquid which I took to be brandy. She held the glass to me asked me to take some. I refused, saying I did not need any. ‘Take some just to please me,’ she continued and once more held the glass toward me. I did not smell anything, but then for the first time I noticed a wicked glare in her black glistening eyes. Just as I refused for the second time she quickly drew back her right hand and exclaimed, ‘Then take it in this way!’ and she dashed the vitriol into my face.

“I had just time sufficient to close my eyes, or I would have received much of the contents in my eyes.  It felt as I red-hot coals were clinging to my face and eating in to the blood. I clapped my handkerchief on my burning face and ran to the kitchen in my confusion and agony I tried to wash the stuff off with water. The heat then became more intense, and I hurried out of the house to a near-by restaurant and sent for a doctor. Miss Lloyd did not hold a handkerchief to my eyes, but she deliberately dashed the vitriol into my face. A few minutes before that she had vowed her eternal love, and said she could not live without me. That is the truth, and reluctant as I am to speak about it, yet the truth might as well be known.”

Miss Lloyd has loft the city for Pottsville. Before going she looked at the scar on her right wrist caused by a few drops of the vitriol that fell on her and exclaimed: “I love that scar I could look at it forever.” Later she said: “I have Welsh blood in my veins and I am proud of it.” To-day slut is in tears and is bewailing her fate, sorry that she ever did such an inhuman act.

Potter will be terribly disfigured to his dying day. The left side of his face will be black and indented like a cancerous affliction. His many friends deeply sympathize with him. When Miss Lloyd first came to Reading she worked in a spectacle factory at $3 a week. Later friends procured her a position as cashier in this city.

[“The Girl Potter Jilted. – She Swore One Moment She Loved Him and the Next Dashed Vitriol in His Face.” The Sun (New York, N.Y.), Dec. 7, 1887, p. 1]

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 SEE: “Acid Queens: Women Who Throw Acid” for a collection of synopses of similar cases.

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[631-3/1/22]

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3 Acid Queens of New York City - 1879

FULL TEXT (Article 1 of 2): Vitriol throwing is becoming one of the fine arts. It is generally practiced by maidens who have been discarded by their lovers, and the victim is always either the aforesaid lover or the girl who ultimately succeeded in winning his affections. It will be the proper thing to establish in every female boarding school a chair of vitriol practice, and proficiency in the art will entitle the miss to the highest honors of graduation.

[Untitled, St. Paul Sunday Globe (Mn.), May 18, 1879, p. 4]

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FULL TEXT (Article 2 of 2): Three men with bandaged heads and horribly mutilated features sat among the witnesses in the General Sessions Court yesterday. They were the victims of recent cases of vitriol-throwing by jealous women. One was John McEnerny, a musician, of No. 419 East Forty-third-street, who had vitriol thrown on him at No. 303 East Forty-eighth-street. McEnerny, as alleged, compassed the ruin of a girl under promise of marriage. She sued him civilly, and obtained judgment of $500, but failed to collect it. Her betrayer, as alleged, taunted her with her failure to hold him responsible for his acts, and, infuriated by his conduct, she watched him leaving a ball-room, and threw vitriol in his face, destroying one eye completely and burning his head and face in a shocking manner. On being arraigned some days since Ellen pleaded guilty, and yesterday she was called up by Assistant District Attorney Bell for sentence. Her counsel pleaded for leniency on the grounds that she had suffered wrongs at the hands of McEnerny which rendered her action excusable. If she had shot him, he said, he should have no hesitation in asking the jury for an acquittal. Judge Cowing said that while he entertained great sympathy for the prisoner he could not forget that she had no right to take the law into her own hands. The law of the present day did not demand “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth,” but had provided other means for the redress of grievances. Vitriol-throwing had become alarmingly prevalent since the prisoner had committed the act of which, on her own conviction, stood guilty, and his duty to society demanded that he should impose a penalty as would check the commission of such terrible crimes. He would, therefore, sentence her to five years in the Penitentiary. On hearing the sentence, Miss Mead, addressing Judge Cowing said: “I am much obliged to your Honor for your lenient sentence, but you might as well send me up for life.” On reaching the corridor, on her way to the Tombs, she said, alluding to McEnerny, “The scoundrel, if I had him now I would cut her heart out.” All the way to the prison she wept and called down the curses of heaven on her betrayer.

The second of the mutilated men was Bernard O’Neill, a peddler, at whom Mary Chinnerny, his reputed fiancée, threw vitriol a few days since, blinding one eye and injuring the other. Mary, who is a young woman of rather pleasing appearance, pleaded not guilty, and, on motion of her counsel, her trial was postponed for a few days.

Joseph W. Taylor, the third victim of vitriol-throwing, was then called to the witness stand by Mr. Bell, and the prisoner, Kate MacDonald, was brought to the bar. Her appearance caused a decided sensation in court. She had discarded the rich costume in which she appeared in court a week ago, and she wore a dark-colored wrapper, trimmed with red, and no other outer garment whatever. She wore no head-covering, and her long, black hair fell in disheveled masses over her shoulders. A pair of gold ear-rings and a lace ruffle at the throat were her only ornaments. Her eyes glared wildly, and as she strode with unsteady step toward the bar it was evident that her manner was not that of a person of sound mind. It was speedily announced that the defence would be insanity, and the actions of the prisoner gave color to the theory put forth by the defence. In the witness-box, were seated several at Miss McDonald’s female friends, while the complaintant’s family was represented by his father, a clergyman, living at Lawrenceville, Tioga County, Penn., his sister, and his wife, in revenge for marrying whom the infuriated girl, to whom it is claimed he was engaged to be married, has so horribly disfigured him. The circumstances of the case, as told by the complaintant, Taylor, who appeared nervous and excited, are, briefly, as follows: He became acquainted with Kate MacDonald, who was housekeeper at the Astor-Place Hotel, while boarding in that house last Fall. He left the house on April 17, and called to see Miss MacDonald, in response to her invitation, on the evening of the 10^th last. She asked him to have supper, but he declined. She had sent him some money while he was out of employment, and he, feeling rather “cheap” at not having been able to repay her, asked if she could wait until the next month, as he had many other debts to pay. She replied that she was in no need of the money, and told him he could pay it when he found himself able. Just then a laundress entered the room and spoke to him, and Kate left for a few minutes. On returning she carried two vessels in her hands, but witness supposed they contained refreshments and had no reason to suspect anything wrong. After the laundress had left the room Kate arose to walk toward the bed, but suddenly turned and threw something at him. The fluid burned his eyes and forehead, and he ran into the wash-room and bathed himself. He then groped his way to the office of Dr. Franklin Smith, No. 185 Grand-street, who dressed his head and ordered him to the Chambers-street hospital.

On cross-examination, Taylor said he had been an organist in the Alanson Methodist Church and in a Presbyterean Church, and subsequently obtained employment as gateman on the New-York Elevated Railroad; he now lived at No. 30 Suffolk-street with his wife; he admitted getting money from the prisoner during his idleness, and also admitted that he had been intimate with her, but denied he had ever promised to marry her.

Mr. Mackinley, for the defense, called Ezra Haskell, proprietor of the Astor-Place Hotel, who testified that after Taylor had left the hotel Kate, who had previously been an excellent housekeeper, became morose and careless in the performance of her duties. Dr. Sheppard testified that he was called in to attend Kate on the night Taylor left the hotel, and found her suffering from hysterical epilepsy; he considered her insane then and thought she was of unsound mind now.

The prisoner herself then took the witness-stand and, with apparent truthfulness, testified that when she heard of Taylor’s marriage she became frenzied, and knew nothing whatever of what occurred subsequently: she had no knowledge of procuring vitriol or throwing it at her former lover. Assistant District Attorney Bell cross-examined her, but failed to shake her statements.

This closed the evidence, and Judge Cowing submitted the case to the jury in a concise charge. After an hour’s absence the jury returned, and as they filed into their seats the prisoner scanned their faces closely, and for their first time during the trial seemed perfectly rational and cognizant of her position. The jury found her guilty of assault and battery, and showing that although merciful in their verdict, they had disregarded the defense of insanity. The indictment, as in the case of Ellen Mead, charged felonious assault with intent to kill. Judge Cowing said that the jury had been very merciful to her, and sentenced her to the full penalty under the verdict – one year in the Penitentiary. “I am satisfied,” said Kate, as she bowed her acknowledgments and shook hands with her lawyer. She was warmly congratulated by her female friends, with whom she chatted gaily, in marked contrast with her demeanor during the progress of the trial. “Come Kate,” said one of the court attendants as he took her by the arm to load her to the Tombs, “tie up your hair now; you have played it well.”

[“Three Victims of Vitriol – The Revenge of Jealous Women. – How They Punished Their Recreant Lovers – Two of the Women Tried and Convicted – The Third Case Postponed.” New York Times (N.Y.), May 29, 1879]

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 SEE: “Acid Queens: Women Who Throw Acid” for a collection of synopses of similar cases.

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[638-12/28/20]

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Amélie Sangle, French Acid Queen & Beneficiary of Chivalry Justice - 1884

FULL TEXT: A curious case of vitriol-throwing was tried to-day. Amélie Sangle had married a young wood-turner last June, but had since separated from him. She afterward met one of her husband’s companions named Delinon, and asked him the former’s address, as she wished to return to him. Delinon refused to give it, whereupon Mme. Sangle bought a bottle of vitriol, and again urged him acquaint her where she could find her husband. On his still refusing she threw the contents of the bottle over them, covering his face with vitriol, and disfiguring his features in a horrible manner, causing him to lose both sight and hearing. At the trial to-day the woman avowed that she adored her husband, and, being jealous of Delinon’s influence over him, acted as she did in a fit of ungovernable rage. Notwithstanding the brutal character of the crime, the jury acquitted the prisoner.

[“Threw Vitriol And Yet Not Guilty.” New York Times (N.Y.), Feb. 9, 1884]

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SEE: “Acid Queens: Women Who Throw Acid” for a collection of synopses of similar cases.

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[595-10/29/21]

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