Jane Toppan

Overview

Jane Toppan, born Honora Kelley on March 31, 1854, in Boston, Massachusetts, is an infamously chilling figure in American criminal history. This American serial killer, who earned the macabre nickname "Jolly Jane," is believed to have murdered at least 12 people between 1895 and 1901, although she confessed to a staggering 31 deaths and is suspected of being responsible for over 100 more. What makes Toppan's case particularly sinister is that she committed these heinous acts while working as a nurse, targeting vulnerable patients and their family members. Her chilling ambition, as she once stated, was to "have killed more people — helpless people — than any other man or woman who ever lived."

Quick Facts

• Born: Honora Kelley, March 31, 1854, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
• Died: August 17, 1938 (aged 81), Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.
• Other Names: Jolly Jane
• Motive: Sexual fetishism; possible jealousy (regarding her foster sister)
• Criminal Charges: Murder (12 counts)
• Verdict: Not guilty by reason of insanity
• Penalty: Involuntary commitment to a mental hospital for life
• Victims: 12 confirmed, 31 confessed, 100+ suspected
• Span of Crimes: 1895–1901
• Date Apprehended: October 29, 1901

Early Life

Toppan's backstory is as tragic as it is disturbing. Born to Irish immigrants, her early life was steeped in hardship. Her mother, Bridget Kelley, succumbed to tuberculosis when Jane was just a child, leaving behind a household marked by chaos. Her father, Peter Kelley, gained a reputation as an eccentric and abusive alcoholic, known locally as "Kelley the Crack" for his erratic behavior—including a bizarre incident where he sewed his own eyelids shut while working as a tailor.

By 1860, after losing his wife, Peter abandoned his two youngest daughters, Jane and her sister Delia, to the Boston Female Asylum—an orphanage for impoverished girls. The asylum’s records hint at the grim realities of their lives, noting that the girls were "rescued from a very miserable home." Sadly, Delia would later fall into prostitution, and their sister Nellie was committed to an insane asylum.

In November 1862, Honora was placed as an indentured servant with Mrs. Ann C. Toppan of Lowell, Massachusetts. Although never officially adopted, Honora adopted the Toppan surname to distance herself from her troubled past, eventually becoming known as Jane Toppan. This transition marked the beginning of her complex and twisted life.

The Murders

Toppan's career as a nurse began in earnest in 1885 when she trained at Cambridge Hospital. Here, she was initially described as bright and friendly, earning her the affectionate nickname "Jolly Jane." However, beneath this facade lurked a darker intent. She developed a penchant for experimenting on her patients, particularly the elderly and gravely ill, using them as guinea pigs for various drug dosages, including morphine and atropine. She would create false medical charts, sedate patients, and even climb into bed with them, all while concealing her lethal intentions.

Her nursing career took her to the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital in 1889, where she claimed several more victims. However, her reckless administration of opiates led to her dismissal, and she transitioned to working as a private nurse, where her dark deeds continued, despite increasing complaints of petty theft.

Toppan's killing spree truly began in 1895 with the murders of her landlord Israel Dunham and his wife, Lovely. By 1899, she had escalated her crimes to include the murder of her foster sister, Elizabeth, with a lethal dose of strychnine. The following year, she moved in with the elderly Alden Davis and his family, ostensibly to care for him after the death of his wife, whom she had also poisoned. In a chilling series of events, Toppan murdered Alden Davis, his sister Edna, and two of his daughters, Minnie and Genevieve, all within weeks.

The unraveling of Toppan's murderous activities began when surviving family members of the Davis clan ordered a toxicology exam on Minnie, which confirmed poisoning. Local authorities placed Toppan under surveillance, leading to her arrest on October 29, 1901. By the following year, she had confessed to a staggering 31 murders.

Trial and Insanity Defense

In a twist that would baffle many, Toppan attempted to assert her sanity during her trial, insisting that her awareness of her actions and their wrongness proved she was not insane. However, her claims fell on deaf ears. On June 23, 1902, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to the Taunton Insane Hospital for life. She remained there until her death on August 17, 1938, at the age of 81.

Victims

Toppan's confirmed victims include:

• Israel Dunham: Patient, died May 26, 1895, aged 83
• Lovely Dunham: Patient, died September 19, 1897, aged 87
• Elizabeth Brigham: Foster sister, died August 29, 1899, aged 70
• Mary McNear: Patient, died December 29, 1899, aged 70
• Florence Calkins: Housekeeper for Elizabeth, died January 15, 1900, aged 45
• William Ingraham: Patient, died January 27, 1900, aged 70
• Sarah (Myra) Connors: Patient and friend, died February 11, 1900, aged 48
• Edna Bannister: Sister-in-law of Elizabeth, died June 19, 1901, aged 77
• Mattie Davis: Wife of Alden Davis, died July 4, 1901, aged 62
• Genevieve Gordon (Annie): Daughter of Alden and Mattie Davis, died July 30, 1901
• Alden Davis: Died August 8, 1901, aged 64
• Mary (Minnie) Gibbs: Daughter of Alden and Mattie, died August 13, 1901, aged 40

Motives and Psychological Profile

What drives a person to commit such horrendous acts? Toppan's motivations appear to have been a blend of sexual fetishism and deeply rooted psychological issues. An article in the Hoosier State Chronicles notes that Toppan would fondle her victims as they died, seeking to witness the "inner workings of their souls through their eyes." She derived a sexual thrill from manipulating the boundary between life and death, administering drugs that would bring her patients to the brink only to revive them before they succumbed again.

Often categorized as an "angel of mercy" killer, Toppan’s profile fits the mold of a caregiver turned predator. However, her actions were not solely motivated by the desire to relieve suffering. There were more personal motivations at play, particularly evident in the murder of her foster sister. Toppan later described her compulsions as a paralysis of thought and reason, an overwhelming urge to poison.

Interestingly, Toppan's use of poison extended beyond murder; she reportedly poisoned a housekeeper just enough to make her appear intoxicated, allowing Toppan to steal her job and infiltrate the family. In a desperate bid for sympathy, she even poisoned herself to attract romantic interests.

Conclusion

Jane Toppan remains one of the most disturbing figures in the annals of American crime history. Her life and actions raise unsettling questions about the nature of evil and the complex interplay of nurture, mental illness, and desire. While she claimed to have a “modest ambition” to be the most prolific killer, it’s her chilling methods and the vulnerability of her victims that continue to haunt our collective imagination.

Sources

• Schechter, Harold (2003). Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 978-0-671-01450-6.
• Lane, Brian; Gregg, Wilfred (1995). The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers (Second ed.). Berkley Books. ISBN 978-0-425-15213-3.
• Smith, Col Robert Barr (2015). "The Modest Ambition of Jane Toppan". Outlaw Women: America's Most Notorious Daughters, Wives, and Mothers. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 155. ISBN 978-1-4422-4730-7.
• Myers, Jennifer (November 2, 2011). "For 10 years, 'Jolly Jane' poured her poison". Lowellsun.
• The Indianapolis Journal (June 25, 1902). "Jane Toppan's Crimes: Confessed to Killing Thirty-one Human Beings. Also Told Her Counsel She Set Fires and Committed Other Serious Offenses. Said She Was Not Insane Knew What She Was Doing And Therefore Could Not Be Mad". Hoosier State Chronicles.
• Potts, Michael. "Jane Toppan: A Greed, Power, and Lust Serial Killer". Academia. Retrieved October 12, 2017.