The First American Woman to Face the Death Penalty in the UK was Actually Innocent

Florence Maybrick was also related to two Jack the Ripper suspects.

Florence and James Maybrick — Photo in public domain

Florence Chandler was just seventeen when she sailed aboard the Baltic liner from American to Liverpool, England. Onboard was 41-year-old James Maybrick, a cotton trader. During the voyage, the couple became close and spent much time together alone, which was not common in 1880.

By the time the couple d…