"At the turn of the twentieth century, people in Missouri experienced unexpected and horrible deaths due to arsenic. Two different women in two different areas of Missouri, and for two different reasons, used arsenic as a means to get what they wanted. Emma Heppermann, a black widow killer, craved money. Bertha Gifford, an angel of mercy, took sick people into her home and nursed them to death. Follow the trails of these women who murdered for decades before being tried and convicted. From Wentzville to Steelville, Emma left a trail of bodies. And Bertha is suspected of killing almost 10 percent of the population of the little town of Catawissa. Authors Victoria Cosner and Lorelei Shannon offer the gruesome history of Missouri's murderous matrons." -- Amazon

Introduction to two murderesses -- A brief history of arsenic -- Meet Bertha : the Morse mill years -- Bertha : Catawissa, Missouri -- Bertha hits her stride -- Bertha : 1925 (a very busy year) -- Bertha : 1926 -- Bertha : the beginning of the end -- Bertha : 1928 -- Bertha : the trial -- Bertha : death -- Meet Emma : Charles Schwack, hustband #1 -- Emma's middle years -- Emma : Frank Lee?, husband #2 -- Emma : Frank Joseph Bremser, husband #3 -- Emma : Bert Lee Roberts, husband #4 -- Emma : William Andrew Baughn, husband #5 -- Emma : Aloysious Schneider, husband #6 -- Emma : Tony Heppermann, husband #7 -- Emma's arrest, inquest and trial -- The end of Emma -- Why did the do it? -- Poisoners : who are they? -- The psychology of poisoners -- A very brief history of Missouri State Prison and Mental Health Instituion Systems -- Other Missouri poisoners.