Jane Toppan, Very Jolly - Poisoned History

What this episode covers

Jane Toppan, aka Jolly Jane, was a nurse in the late 19th century who cared for the elderly and also murdered at least 31 of them. She admitted to taking pleasure in watching them die and her deeds were drooled over by the public. William Randolph Hearst’s sensationalist newspapers had a field day with her.Sources andresources:WikipediaThe Clinton Morning Age, July 27, 1902,Page 3, https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6ncmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=CgEGAAAAIBAJ&pg=4194%2C996821Jane Toppan “Jolly Jane,” serial killerresearched by E. Allen, A. Averil, E. Cook; 2005, Dept of Psychology, RadfordUniversity, Radford, VA. Accessed June 11, 2025. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/psyc%20405/serial%20killers/Toppan,%20Jane%20-%202005.pdf“Jane Toppan is Dead,” Old Colony HistoryMuseum, accessed June 15, 2025. https://ochm.medium.com/jane-toppan-is-dead-be9888540c15Fontes, K., “Women of Taunton: SerialKiller Jane Toppan spent her final years at Taunton State Hospital” TauntonDaily Gazette, Oct 18, 2022. Accessed June 15, 2025. https://www.tauntongazette.com/story/news/history/2022/10/18/women-taunton-jane-toppan-serial-killer-and-poison-nurse/8209014001/In Their Footsteps: Cape Cod History -Jane Toppan's Poisoning Murders, https://christophersetterlund.blogspot.com/2019/10/in-their-footsteps-cape-cod-history_31.html,accessed June 15, 2025.Lombardo, P., Image archiveon the American eugenics movement, Dolan DNA Learning Center, Cold SpringHarbor Laboratory, http://www.eugenicsarchive.org/html/eugenics/essay8text.html Accessed June 21, 2025Lowell’s ties to“Jolly” Jane, Massachusetts’ female serial killer, October 29, 2022, https://www.lowellhistoricalsociety.org/lowells-ties-to-jolly-jane-massachusetts-female-serial-killer/ Accessed June 15, 2025. This podcast uses sound from Freesound.org:minor-key-music-box by user darkwaryurmc (http://freesound.org/s/318908/) licensedunder CCBYNC 4.0All statements in this podcast represent the opinionsof the host and her guests.Cover art photos: photo, public domain.

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How long is this episode of Poisoned History?

This episode is 1 hour and 7 minutes long.

When was this Poisoned History episode published?

This episode was published on July 1, 2025.

What is this episode about?

Jane Toppan, aka Jolly Jane, was a nurse in the late 19th century who cared for the elderly and also murdered at least 31 of them. She admitted to taking pleasure in watching them die and her deeds were drooled over by the public. William Randolph...

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