The 26th of September 1842 started as a normal Victorian day for thirteen-year-old William Eccles. His stepmother gave him some food; Betty claimed it was from her plate, and he then went to work.
While at work, he started to feel unwell and was sent home. Halfway home, he collapsed and was helped by a passer-by. Betty was at home to greet her son and his helper. The Good Samaritan suggested she give the boy some tea; she commented she had just made some.
This was the first red flag for the authorities: why had Betty prepared tea for a boy who was not due home for hours?
William Eccles died later that night. The next morning, Betty went to his place of work and asked for the 50-shilling burial allowance that employees were entitled to. The clerk became alarmed when he recognised the woman as the same person who had asked for a burial allowance on 10 September for her daughter Alice Haslam’s death.
