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Cape Cod Borgia

Near the town of Falmouth there is the little village of Cataumet. Thirty-one people were murdered in that quiet little village unbeknown to anyone. They were thought to have died natural deaths.

Years before, Captain Abner Toppan and his wife adopted a little girl in Boston. She became a trained nurse and was respected by the whole town. When evidence was uncovered of her guilt, everyone was shocked. It was lack of motive that diverted suspicion from her.

Jane Toppan was committed to Taunton Asylum where she lived to be eighty. She had poisoned her victims and while committed refused to eat for fear of being poisoned herself. She had to be forcibly fed. The newspapers called her the Cape Cod Borgia which pleased her very much.

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