Mary Ann Brough
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- Gender
- female
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Location
- Esher, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
- Date of birth
- 1811
- Age at first offence
- 43
- Characteristics
- parricide, child abuse
- Victim profile
- Six of her seven children (Georgiana, 11; William, 8; Cary, 7; twins Harriet and Henry, 4, and George, 2)
- Method of murder
- Cutting their throats with a razor
- Date(s) of murder
- June 10, 1854
- Years active
- 1854
- Date of arrest
- Same day (suicide attempt)
- Status
-
Imprisoned
Found not guilty on the grounds of insanity on August 8, 1954; ordered to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure
Case name
Mary Ann Brough
Background
Mary Ann Brough was forty-three years old and had been a former wet-nurse to the Prince of Wales. Her husband, also George, was a servant in the royal household, and they had been married for twenty years. Their years together had been turbulent, and George suspected that Mary was being unfaithful to him.
On Monday 29th May, Mary was seen leaving a tavern in London with a man before they went together to a "questionable house". The following day George left their home and told Mary that he would be taking legal action to have the children taken from her custody.
The offence
On the morning of Saturday 10th June 1854, two men, Mager and Peasley, were walking past the Brough home in Esher when they were alarmed to see a bloodsoaked pillow on a window-sill. Neighbours were alerted and they entered the house to investigate.
Mary Brough was discovered with a throat wound. Six of her seven children were found in the house with their throats cut: eleven-year-old Georgiana, eight-year-old William, seven-year-old Cary, Harriet and Henry, four-year-old twins, and two-year-old George.
Investigation
Mager and Peasley alerted neighbours after seeing the bloodsoaked pillow on a window-sill. Neighbours entered the house to investigate and found Mary Brough with a throat wound and six children with their throats cut.
Arrest
Mary Ann Brough recovered from her injuries and was charged with murder.
Trial
Mary Brough appeared at Surrey Assizes on 8th August.
Despite a biased summing-up by the judge, the defence of insanity was accepted by the jury. The jury returned a verdict of not guilty on the grounds of insanity.
Outcome
She was ordered to be detained during Her Majesty's pleasure.
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