Prisoner name: Martha Browning. Court and Date of Trial: Central Criminal Court,...

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1845

Prisoner name: Martha Browning.

Court and Date of Trial: Central Criminal Court, 1845.

Crime: Murder.

Outcome: Execution date, January 1846.

Petitions and letters: Petition from Charles Jones, Surgeon, stating he had to put the prisoner's father under restraints in 1840, due to his deranged mind.

Petition from William Curtis Junk(?), Surgeon, saying that in 1837, Harriet Browning, sister of the prisoner was put in restraints for insanity.

Letter from J. Williams, saying he'd employed the prisoner for nearly 3 years, but let her go in 1840, because she was unfit to look after children.

Letter from Mary Hellis, another employer, who said the prisoner was honest, but weak and simple-minded. Elizabeth Major Dicker, Eliza Grosgrain, John Langrish and Mrs Browning, all testify to the prisoner's weak mind and ill health.

Letter from William Henry Newnham, formerly a surgeon and apothecary, who states the prisoner murdered Elizabeth Mundell because she comes from a long line of relatives all of whom are insane. He believes the prisoner was not in her right mind when she committed murder.

Letter from the Under Sheriff, David William Wire, on behalf of the Sheriffs of London, stating that the date for execution has been fixed. Also on behalf of the Sheriffs of London, he pleads for mitigation for the prisoner, on the grounds of sex, age and weakness of mind. He states that no female prisoners have been executed for 14 years in London or Middlesex.

Additional letter from W Ivenst(?), asking for mitigation on the grounds of mercy, that an alternative punishment of transportation for life would be better and a statistical analysis of how, in the years where there hasn't been a public execution, the incidence of murder by a woman has become a rare occurrence. It is suggested that the punishment of death is not necessary for the suppression of this crime. Finally, clemency is implored, both for the prisoner and the community.

Petition from William James, Mayor of Hereford and signed by 56 others, pleading for mitigation.

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Topics

Labour

Mental illness

Children

Pardons

Crime