Dubbed the 'Black Widows', the two women, from Los Angelos, were originally natives of Hungary. As they were sentenced to life in prison, Helen Golay, 77 and Olga Rutterschmidt, 75, sat stony faced in court. There would be no possibility of parole. (Whatever that means to women in their late seventies?)

The women transferred the men's signatures onto rubber stamps, which they then used to sign the forms. Next they arranged to have the two men killed by hit-and-run accidents, in a dark alley.

Rutterschmidt said she was a cousin, while Golay claimed she was the fiancée of both victims. The women proceeded to collect $US2.8 million, before their grisly scheme was revealed. The homeless men had been only looking for some neighbourly assistance. Sadly they received a lot more than they had anticipated.

Judge Wesley's closing comments summed it up, “The two men you killed needed a helping hand. They thought they were getting this from you. Instead these unfortunate men were sacrificed on your altar of greed." Wesley said he had looked up the word greed. Among other things, he found the definition, 'A selfish desire for money with no need to purchase anything, but just the desire to have it.'

What were women so late in life, going to do with all that money? Even more terrifying is the unanswered question of whether or not the women are responsible for deaths, involving six life policies, which remain unpaid, due to suspicious circumstances. Paul Vados and Kenneth McDavid were also insured by Golay and Rutterschmidt. In 1999 and 2005 they were inexplicably crushed by cars.

When 'Arsenic and Old Lace' was first produced, it was a startling break-away from the usual run of the mill theatre of the day. The producers, Mr. Lindsay and Mr. Crouse knew what all successful entrepreneurs know - one whacky idea can either make or break you. They were fully aware of the risk they were running. Either the play would be a rip roaring success, or they would be run out of town by outraged citizens.

With 1,444 performances 'Arsenic and Old Lace' proudly takes its place amongst some of the longest running shows on Broadway, paying its backers 40 to 1. It is one of the most frequently reproduced plays of the last four decades, even in countries as far reaching as Brazil and Rumania. It was once again reproduced on Broadway in 1986. This time costing a lot more than the original play.

The comedy plot centred around the Brewster sisters, who were known for their charities and devotion to each other. They were well-known also for the neighbourly attentions they lavished on any who needed them. who had no families, However, the kidnly sisters kindly put a dozen old lonely men out of their misery. The sisters' designated task was to let the men gain eternal peace, thanks to the delightful concoction of homemade elderberry wine. This was liberally dosed with arsenic, strychnine and cyanide. The Brewsters then buried their victims in their cellar, giving them a proper funeral. They chose hymns according to the religious preference of the victim. The graves had been dug by the sisters’ unsuspecting nephew.

Frank Capra converted the stage play into the much loved comedy movie, 'Arsenic and Old Lace', starring Carey Grant. The film script had considerable alterations from the original play. It also included a sugar-coating ending, though the play had had a definite feeling of foreboding. Down through the generations, thousands have enjoyed a good laugh watching the movie.

Very few things become classics, such as the 1934 song ‘Blue Moon’, or films such as 'Arsenic and Old Lace'. It is rare that any of the classics become played out in real life. How many times was the movie watched by Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt before they copied it? There are some who may have called the Black Widows merely eccentric. For the victims it was a movie plot gone wrong.

Either Golay and Rutterschmidt are two very clever old women, or mad. Maybe they are lunatics who have no logic, morons with twisted logic, or confused fools, merely looking for entertainment. You be the judge.