Soon after the trial, one of William Randolph Hearst's newspapers, the New York Journal, printed what was purported to be Toppan's confession to her lawyer that she had killed more than 31 people and that she wanted the jury to find her insane so she could eventually have a chance at being released.
Kort efter retssagen, bragte en af William Randolph Hearst’s aviser, New York Journal, en artikel, som foregav at være Toppan’s tilståelse til sin advokat, at hun havde dræbt flere end 31 personer og at hun ønskede, at juryen skulle finde hende sindssyg, så hun i sidste ende havde en chance for at blive frigivet.