Mary Edmondson

Identification

Mary Edmondson

Background

Mary Edmondson was the daughter of a farmer who lived near Leeds, Yorkshire. She had gone to live with her widowed aunt, Mrs Walker, of Rotherhithe. Mary lived with her aunt for two years, comporting herself in the most decent manner and regularly attending the duties of religion.

The offence

Mrs Walker, Mary Edmondson’s aunt, was murdered. Neighbours discovered Mrs Walker lying on her right side with her throat cut, with her head near a table covered with linen.

Investigation

A woman named Toucher had spent the evening with Mrs Walker. Mary Edmondson lit her across the street on her way home. Shortly after Mary’s return, a woman who cried oysters through the street observed that the door was open and heard Mary cry out: “Help! Murder! They have killed my aunt!”

Mary ran to the house of Mrs Odell, wringing her hands and bewailing the misfortune. Some gentlemen who had been spending the evening at a public-house went to inquire into the affair. One of the gentlemen, named Holloway, said: “This is very strange; I know not what to make of it: let us examine the girl.”

Mary’s account was that four men had entered at the back door, one of whom put his arms round her aunt’s neck, and another, described as a tall man dressed in black, swore that he would kill her if she spoke a single word. Holloway observed that Mary’s arm was cut and asked how it had happened. Mary replied that one of the men, in attempting to get out, had jammed it with the door. Holloway judged from appearances that no men had been in the house, said he did not believe her, and supposed she was the murderer of her aunt.

On charge of murder, Mary fell into a fit. She was removed to a neighbour’s house and was bled by a surgeon, and continued there until the following day.

Investigating Mary’s statement that the men had entered to steal valuables, Mrs Walker’s executors caused the house to be diligently searched. They found a variety of things that Mary said were stolen were not missing, and they could not discover that anything was lost. Mrs Walker’s watch and some other articles which Mary said had been carried off by the murderers were found under the floor of the necessary-house.

Arrest / Committal

A coroner’s inquest sat on the body and brought in a verdict of wilful murder. Mary was committed to prison on the coroner’s warrant. She was committed to the New Jail, Southwark.

Trial

Mary Edmondson was tried at Kingston at the next assizes for Surrey. She was convicted on evidence which, though acknowledged to be circumstantial, was such as, in the general opinion, admitted little doubt of her guilt.

Mary made a defence, but it was described as having not enough probability to have any weight.

Sentencing

Mary was condemned on Saturday and was to be executed on the Monday following.

Appeals

No appeals were described.

Execution and final statements

Mary Edmondson wrote to her parents from prison at Kingston, most solemnly avowing her innocence. She begged that the minister of the parish would preach a sermon on the occasion of her death.

She asserted her innocence on the Sunday when she was visited by a clergyman and several other people. Her behaviour was described as devout and apparently sincere. On the Monday morning she was taken out of prison, got into a post-chaise with the keeper, and arrived at the Peacock, in Kennington Lane, about nine o’clock. She drank a glass of wine, was then put into a cart, and was conveyed to the place of execution.

Mary was executed on Kennington Common. An address she made to the surrounding multitude was recorded verbatim:

“It is now too late to trifle either with God or man. I solemnly declare that I am innocent of the crime laid to my charge. I am very easy in my mind, as I suffer with as much pleasure as if I was going to sleep. I freely forgive my prosecutors, and earnestly beg your prayers for my departing soul.”

Her continued assertions of innocence were noted at the execution.

Aftermath

After execution, Mary’s body was conveyed to St Thomas’s Hospital, Southwark, and dissected “agreeably to the laws respecting murderers.”