Fazekas, Mrs. Julius (d. 1929)

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Fazekas, Mrs. Julius (d. 1929)

Hungarian murderer. Died 1929 in Hungary.

Obtained large quantities of arsenic and went into business as poison merchant, supplying many of village's women with arsenic to murder their husbands, lovers, and family members; with chief accomplice Susanna Olah, served approximately 50 clients who may have been responsible for as many as 300 murders (1914–29). Many of the 26 women who were tried in Szolnok received death sentences or life sentences; sources vary as to fate of Fazekas, who either committed suicide by poison to escape punishment or was among those executed.